Season 11/12 - November

Euro 2012: Ukraine sets up hooligan monitoring force - 30/11/2011

Source : Football.co.uk

Ukraine's interior ministry has set up a special unit (NFIP) to prevent known football hooligans from attending matches at the 2012 European Championship in the country, local media reported on Wednesday.
"We have created a special unit within Ukraine's interior ministry, which will monitor football hooligans and 'ultras' registered in European and Ukrainian databases," said Alexander Birsan, deputy head of the Ukrainian committee preparing for Euro 2012.
"The creation of NFIP was a UEFA initiative. In the NFIP databases, all the football hooligans are recorded by name and UEFA uses our information in case they need to prevent those fans from attending certain matches."
The NFIP has already started its activity, the press reported.
On the eve of the Champions League match between Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk and Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg on October 19, the NFIP supplied Ukraine's border guard with information that allowed them to prevent seven Russian ultras from crossing the border.
"The majority of ultras were prevented from making the trip to Donetsk," Birsan said. "It's evidence that our system is already working and that its work is successful."

A return to all riot on the east German front - 30/11/2011

Source : Independent.co.uk

Dynamo Dresden fans are in the vanguard of a new and worrying wave of hooliganism spreading among hordes of disaffected youth in the former GDR

They started by blocking the Borussia Dortmund players from entering their own ground. Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes, and once under way they had the game stopped three times for launching fireworks on to the pitch. They set the toilets on fire, vandalised the kiosks and destroyed 200 seats. The damage cost €150,000, and 17 people were injured, including two police officers. It was the fifth time this season Dynamo Dresden fans have put their club in trouble with the authorities, but by far the worst. "That's Dynamo, I suppose," shrugged coach Ralf Loose after last month's game, which they lost 2-0.

There is much to admire about German football, and particularly German fan culture: its organisation, its vibrancy, its solidarity. But there is a growing problem of hooliganism, with Dynamo Dresden at its vanguard.

The largest team from the former East Germany, they have a mass following of fans who saw them robbed of East German titles by the state through the 1980s and now feel victimised by the authorities in the west. Combined with the frustrations of reunification, it has bred a powerful sense of grievance.

As punishment for the troubles in Dortmund, Dynamo have been banned from next year's German Cup by the DFB (German Football Association). "It is one of the worst punishments ever in German football history," German historian and Dynamo supporter Dr Jan Vermeiren told The Independent. "People feel that they have been treated unfairly."

Dynamo supporters do have a case: clashes between Nuremberg and Mainz fans this month even led to a supporter losing an arm, although Dynamo are still seen as Germany's worst. Eintracht Frankfurt, Hertha Berlin and St Pauli (who play in Hamburg) have all had recent fan troubles, with no similar bans.

"The ban demonstrates once again the permanent hatred of all East Germans," wrote one Dynamo supporter on Die Welt's website. "This would never happen to Bayern Munich," wrote another. "Not with the DFB, the 'Deutscher Fanclub Bayern!'."

For Dynamo, this feels like a rerun of their unfair treatment in 1995, when the DFB denied them a professional licence due to debts, forcing Dynamo into the regional leagues. "The fans relate it back to the mid-1990s when Dresden had a problem with their licence," said Dr Vermeiren, who teaches at the University of Essex. "They consider the punishment exaggerated and unfair."

The feeling of DFB bias against East German football is pervasive. Dr Christopher Young, a visiting fellow at the Freie Universitat Berlin, watches successful women's team Turbine Potsdam. "It's a very unreconstructed East German crowd," he told The Independent. "Absolutely every decision that the referee makes against their team is some sort of conspiracy theory: 'It's a DFB referee, they don't like us'."

Discrimination is part of Dynamo's history. While today it is seen to be coming from the former west, for years it came from Berlin. Sport was a crucial propaganda tool for the East German regime. "Sport was a really significant arena in which the East Germans could gain recognition," says Dr Young. "In Olympic sport, they made an unbelievable success, mainly through absolutely rigorous talent-spotting, top-to-bottom organisation, and also a drug programme."

The desire for sport's reflected prestige applied within the GDR as well as beyond it. The regime was desperate for Berliner FC Dynamo (BFC), their own team, to dominate the Oberliga. Dynamo Dresden won five Oberliga titles between 1971 and 1978, but as they were celebrating that fifth win Minister of State Security (and BFC patron) Erich Mielke walked into the dressing room and told the players it was now BFC's turn to be champions. To the surprise of no one, BFC won the next 10 straight titles. They benefited from bought referees and coerced transfers, as the oppressive weight of the East German state was thrown behind them, and against Dynamo. "Dresden was disadvantaged by the referee," said Dr Vermeiren. "It was very one-sided. Some of the players went but they didn't always have a choice."

Although the Stasi (East Germany's state security service) could rig the league they could not buy the fans. "Right across Germany the stadium is a place where dissent and disagreement can be articulated," said Dr Young. "Especially in the 1980s when a free-kick was being taken and a defensive wall was set up, the fans would shout 'Die Mauer muss weg' ('the wall must go')." The double meaning all too obvious.

BFC, the team of the state, were hated, while Dynamo Dresden, the team of the people, were loved. Oberliga average attendances fell below 10,000 in the 1980s, but Dynamo, then as now the vessel for the hopes of the region, drew 25,000.

But since 1990 Dynamo, along with other teams from the East, have struggled. Hansa Rostock's two sixth-placed finishes in the Bundesliga remain the best showings by teams from the former GDR. There has been no team from the East in the top flight since Energie Cottbus were relegated in 2009.

It is difficult to avoid comparisons with the post-reunification struggles of East Germany as a whole. With much more economic growth in the west, youth unemployment and the attractions of radical politics are problematic in the East. Ostalgie – the sense that things were better under the GDR – is common, even among those too young to experience it fully; many of Dynamo's hooligans would have been infants at the time of reunification.

"For younger people who didn't grow up with the East, it's more a sort of despair," said Dr Young, "a sense of the West having got all the good stuff. And there it can be quite dangerous: sometimes it falls over into neo-nazism, or a pretty unreflecting support for Die Linke, a fairly hardcore socialist/communist party. The sense is that they're very hard done by."

While Dr Vermeiren does not believe the recent troubles with Dynamo fans are inherently political, he does fear that the draconian measures from the DFB could strengthen Dynamo's hooligans. "This is no solution," said Dr Vermeiren. "Some people may well solidarise now with the aggressive few who attacked the police officers."

Bristol City - Southampton FC - 26/11/2011

Source : Thisisbristol.co.uk

Southampton fans assaulted after Bristol City clash at Ashton Gate

Police are appealing for witnesses after an apparently unprovoked assault on a group of Southampton fans after their match against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

The three Saints supporters were attacked in the Clarence Road area near Cumberland Basin at about 6.30pm on Saturday after one of them was asked for a mobile phone. When he replied he didn’t have one, one of the group of suspects threw a punch, missed, and then kicked the victim.

The trio, who were trying to reach Temple Meads station, continued on their way but claim they were followed by a group of between 10 to 15 people chanting that they were Bristol City fans.

When the Southampton supporters ignored them, a group of five or six Bristol City attacked one of them, kicking him in the head after he had fallen to the floor. A second Saints fan was also assaulted.

Both went to hospital where one treated was for a fractured cheek bone and the other for bruises and abrasions to his head.

Avon and Somerset Police are now working with Bristol City and Southampton football clubs to track down the suspects. They are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident who may be able to help with their enquiries.

Avon and Somerset Police football officer Roger Thayer said it was believed to be an isolated incident and appealed to anyone who knows those involved or responsible to get in touch.

He added: "After a trouble-free start to the new season, which saw the opening month not registering any football-related arrests, we are not prepared to tolerate the behaviour at the weekend.

“We will not hesitate to take these offenders before the courts and seek a football banning order.

Slovakia: AS Trenčín - Spartak Trnava - 26/11/2011

Source : YouTube

Trnava fans.

1. FC Köln - Mainz 05 - 19/11/2011

Source : Rhein-zeitung.de

Troubles broke out at the Remagen train station, with 150 Mainz 05 supporters who were on the road to Koln.
It seems the train used by supporters stopped in the same place where right-extremists mobbed up.
Mainz supporters went out of their train singing "nazi pigs" but police intervened between both sides.
One supporter was arrested but then released.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

OGC Nice - AS Saint-Etienne - 19/11/2011

Source : L'Equipe

High tension in the pitch with three players sent off, but also in the stands and near the stadium.
During the game, local supporters fought and one of them was arrested.
After the game, St Etienne fans, joined by their friends from Brescia, fronted police.

France: Olymique Alès - AS Monaco - Cup - 19/11/2011

Source : Football.fr

300 Monaco supporters made the trip to Ales to supporter their players.
Troubles opposed Alès and Monaco supporters.
Locals provoked Monaco supporters before the game, trying to force a gate between both areas so about 20 french CRS intervened to calm them down.
One Monaco supporter threw firecracker in direction of a policeman who used his tear gas.
On Alès side, 8 knives and one cutter were founded.

Germany: SV Liesborn - RW Ahlen - District Cup - 19/11/2011

Source : mv-online.de

Another time this season, RWA supporters provoked troubles.
Just before the game, they entered the pitch and took the direction of local stand so police intervened and kick-off was delayed.
At the end of the game, about 50 of them fronted police who used pepper sprays.
Two people were slightly injured.

Translation Underground fans (c)

Bayern München - Borussia Dortmund - 19/11/2011

Source : Focus.de

Some skirmishes erupted before and after the game so eight people were arrested.
Two Munich fans were also wounded.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Hungary: Zalaegerszegi TE - Diósgyőr vtk - 19/11/2011

Source : Blikk.hu

After 26 minutes of playing, about 20 Diosgyor hooligans invaded the pitch. They were pushed back by local stewards and policemen.
It seems they were provoked by a photographer, a ZTE supporter.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Argentina: Boca Juniors - Racing Club - 20/11/2011

Source : Reuters

Paraguay: Cerro Porteño - Olimpia - 20/11/2011

Source : Diariopopular.com.py

At 3pm, Cerro supporters ambushed a bus fulled with Olimpia supporters.
When they stopped the bus, they pelted it and caused many damages.
Olimpia supporters responded with firecrackers and rocks.
Later, other troubles broke out, opposing rival supporters with gunshots but no one was wounded.
About 150 supporters were arrested and one policeman wounded.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Denmark: Brøndby IF - FC Copenhague - 20/11/2011

Source : Politiken.dk

FCK supporters refused to go to Brondby because it was a combi game and because, for security reasons, the game was played at 1.30pm.
Generally, more than 1000 FCK supporters travelled but for this game, only 24 of them were present.
Only 5 people were arrested.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Denmark: Lyngby BK - Koge BK - 20/11/2011

Source : Politiken.dk

25 supporters were arrested after troubles broke out.
One police car was damaged and over-turned into its roof.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Bosnia: Omladinac - Čapljna - 21/11/2011

Source : Vesti-online.com

At the end of this game, about 20 local hooligans, armed with knives, batons and axes entered the changing rooms to attack Capljina players and the referees.
The trainer and one player lied on the floor with blood all over them. Only 5 to 6 policemen were present to protect them.
The referee, Drago Tabak ran away passing through a hood to save his life because fifty people tried to attack him.
He ran for 2 kilometers before being safe.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

CSKA Moscow - Lille OSC - 22/11/2011

Source : Footlille.com

Only a few LOSC supporters made the trip to Moscow: about 20 of them were present inside the stadium, including a few "Y'est d'dins" (a dozen) normal fans and a few DVE.
First ones stayed in Moscow for 4 days and locals have stolen their banner and burned it during the game.

Marseille - Olympiakos - 23/11/2011

Source : RMC.fr

Some troubles erupted near the stadium and police needed to intervene to separate both sides of supporters.
Two people were arrested.

************************************

Source : Mail OM

40 to 50 Marseille Fans (Fana-MTP-Indep') have attacked a bus full with Gate 7 members, using chairs, firecrackers and bricks but no one went out of this bus.
But then, this mob of 30 to 40 Greeks came back and charged. Firstly we retreated for a few meters but then, a thirty or so locals charged Greeks who ran away and some were fought.
Marseille, outnumbered, won

Jeunesse Marseille 1899 > Gate 7

ps : to be said: a bad local attack in direction of about 20 AEK friends joined by a few Doriani.

Argentina : the sale of tickets degenerates - 24/11/2011

Source : Clarin.com

The sale of the 15,000 tickets planned for the fans of Boca Juniors with Godoy Cruz turned to the riot. The police was forced to use gas with pepper to push back the hysterical supporters. There remained nothing any more but 5,000 tickets when the first brawls burst. Fans launching out stones and striking themselves with blows of sticks. 25 police officers on the spot were literally overflowed before reinforcements do not arrive. Thereafter, a hundred police officers faced the rioters by using gas with pepper. The police received stones and bottles in answer. There were several slightly injureds.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

1. FC Köln - Borussia Mönchengladbach - 25/11/2011

Source : Express.de + RP-online.de + Nordkurvenfotos.de

Several troubles broke out for this derby game.
One Gladbach supporter, 40 years old, was beaten up by a dozen of locals.
Supporters from both sides also exchanged missiles, like bottles and firecrackers so police used pepper sprays and dog-handlers to calm them down.
Nine hooligans were arrested.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Benfica - Sporting CP - 26/11/2011

Source : Yahoo.co.uk + Merca + Record.xl.pt

Benfica beat Sporting, so Sporting fans set their stadium on fire

Angry Sporting fans set their section of Benfica's Estadio da Luz on fire because their side lost 1-0. Seriously, they set the section on fire. Here's news footage of how it looked from the outside... 2 fans were arrested.
Luckily, firefighters were able to put out the blaze before it could spread beyond that one section. This will probably just be taken as a challenge for Sporting fans the next time around, though.
Before the game, 20 Sporting fans were arrested.

Tottenham Hotspur - PAOK - 30/11/2011

Source : Reuters

PAOK Salonika fans clash with stewards before the game.

Tunisia: Stade Tunisien - Etoile Sahel - 30/11/2011

Source : Koora.com + ES website

Chesterfield - Sheffield United - 26/11/2011

Source : Thestar.co.uk

Football fans locked up by police before game

A GROUP of Sheffield United fans were effectively put under house arrest... in a pub.

The supporters had stopped for a drink at the Blue Stoops in Dronfield town centre, en route to their team’s League One derby game at Chesterfield, on Saturday when police would not let them leave.

A number of Derbyshire Police vans pulled up at the pub, halting traffic on High Street.

One officer with a video camera started recording the group of supporters.

The officers told fans they were being confined in the pub until a given time, and then arrangements would be made to get them to the B2net stadium in time for kick-off.

Some fans unhappy at being locked in the pub complained and claimed they had been deprived of their liberty even though there was no trouble.

One fan asked a Derbyshire police officer whether they were using ‘kettling’ - a technique employed for crowd control. Officers surround and confine protesters to stop them leaving an area.

He said decent fans were being ‘tarred with the same brush’ as troublemakers.

The officer told the fan they were trying to prevent the possibility of disorder.

The PC said they received intelligence suggesting that there were ‘a couple of characters’ in the group known to police.

This year three teenagers brought a case against the Metropolitan Police use of ‘kettling’ to the High Court in London, claiming that it contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights but they lost their action.

A Derbyshire Police spokeswoman said: “Intelligence officers from both forces spotted a number of fans in the pub who were linked to football disorder and known to police as being part of the risk group. Officers had received a number of pieces of information about potential disorder between rival fans.

“Police took the decision to keep the fans in Dronfield and escort them to the ground to minimise the possibility of disorder. The match was policed robustly and as a result there was no serious disorder.”

There were five arrests on the day.

Germany: fights between supporters - 26/11/2011

Source : Presseportal.de

Hannover 96 supporters who played against Hamburg SV and about fifty Babelsberg supporters, who came back from a game played in Bielefeld, fronted.
Police used truncheons and pepper sprays to calm them down.
Four policemen were wounded.

Translation Underground Fans ©

Switzerland : Kriens - Grasshopper Zurich - Cup - 26/11/2011

Source : lematin.ch

At the end of this cup game, won by Grasshopper after penalty kicks, 5-3, Kriens supporters threw rocks in direction of Zurich busses and some windows were smashed up.
Then, GC supporters went out of their busses to confront these troublemakers so finally one man was hospitalized and police used rubber bullets and water canons.