Season 14/15 - March

Hooligan violence in Greece persists, as football championship resumes behind closed doors - 08/03/2015

Source : http://www.globalpost.com/

Hooligan violence in Greece persisted this weekend as the Super League football championship resumed behind closed doors amidst a fresh campaign to curb clashes between fans.

Two weeks ago the Sports Ministry suspended the games for a week following the violent scuffles between fans during two matches in the third time in six months.

This weekend the Super League games restarted behind closed doors as the ministry in cooperation with football associations examines measures to address the problem.

Shut out of stadiums hooligans clashed this time outside the offices of a fan club in the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.

At least one person was seriously injured during the clashes between fans of PAOK and rivals who supported Aris club, local police said.

Among the measures examined at the moment was the shutdown of fan clubs.

In autumn a football fan died in similar clashes during a third division game on the island of Crete. The second time the championship was suspended after the injury of a referee official in an assault.

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Watford FC - 07/03/2015

Source : http://www.eurosport.com//

Watford fan badly injured in attack

A Watford supporter is in a critical condition after being attacked in the street following Saturday's match at Wolves.
West Midlands Police said the 44-year-old travelling fan was on his way from Molineux to Wolverhampton train station when he was assaulted and suffered a serious head injury. The incident followed a 2-2 draw between the teams in the Sky Bet Championship. Wolves have expressed their "disgust" and along with Watford have expressed concern for the injured man. In a statement released on Sunday, West Midlands Police said: "Detectives have launched an investigation after a Hertfordshire man received life-threatening injuries in an unprovoked assault in Wolverhampton yesterday. "The 44-year-old was with a group of friends making their way to the train station to return home to Hemel Hempstead just after 5pm when they were attacked in Littles Lane." Detective Sergeant Adam Keen said: "The group of friends were completely outnumbered and the victim suffered a severe head injury which has left him in a critical condition in hospital. "His family have been informed and we are in the process of taking statements from witnesses and locating any CCTV which might have captured those responsible for the attack. "I would urge anyone with information which will help our investigation to contact me as soon as possible on 101." Police also urged anyone wishing to offer information anonymously to call the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111. Watford expressed shock over the incident, saying on the club's website: "The thoughts of everyone associated with Watford FC are with a Hornets' supporter - at yesterday's game - who is now critically ill after an unprovoked post-match attack." Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of this incident and our thoughts go out to the supporter concerned and his family. "As a club we deplore any violence in or around football matches, and we will work closely with the relevant authorities to help bring the perpetrator, or perpetrators, to justice. "All right-minded football supporters will share in our disgust at this violent incident, and I would implore anyone with any information to contact the police."

Real Madrid - Schalke 04 - 10/03/2015

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Schalke fans arrested after row with police ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid in Spanish capital

Police in Madrid have arrested two Schalke fans after a scuffle broke out between officers and supporters on the eve of their Champions League second-leg clash with Real Madrid.
The German club have over 3,000 fans in the Spanish capital as they looked to overcome a 2-0 defecit from the first leg in Gelsenkirchen - and some had been enjoying the hospitality of the city's bars the night before the game.
But fights broke out after police tried to shepherd fans off the streets and into a bar in the Puerta del Sol square, which then saw beer thrown over officers who reacted to stop the trouble.

One supporter was arrested and put into a police car in the square, covered in blood from the melee that ensued while another was also later arrested.
Schalke supporters are known for the vocal backing of their team, often travelling in huge numbers for away trips across Europe.




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Source : Mail

Juventus - Sassuolo - 09/03/2015

Source : http://forzaitalianfootball.com//

Juventus Fans Empty Curva In Protest

Juventus fans emptied part of the Curva during their 1-0 win over Sassuolo in protest against action of the police.

Paul Pogba got a late winner in the match, and during the second half the Bianconeri fans sitting behind the goal emptied half the Curva Sud.

It is thought the protest by one of the ultra groups was due to the grievances against the treatment of fellow fans by the police.

England: Three charged over Villa vs West Bromwich Albion derby violence - 09/03/2015

Source : http://www.expressandstar.com/

Three men have been charged by police after trouble flared at the Aston Villa vs West Bromwich Albion FA Cup derby.

Seventeen people were arrested in total on Saturday evening, with 13 being held at the Witton Arms pub next to Villa park.

Play was halted in the closing minutes at Villa Park before home fans streamed onto the pitch in a full-scale pitch invasion at the final whistle and seats were thrown from the end housing West Brom supporters.

Villa issued a swift apology on Saturday evening for their fans' behaviour while West Brom vowed to take a "zero tolerance" approach after promising to co-operate fully with the FA inquiry.

And Baggies boss Tony Pulis, who was concerned with the apparent ease in which Villa supporters got onto the pitch, has called for a lifetime ban for any of the club's fans who were found to be responsible for throwing seats.

Chief Superintendent Chris Johnson, from West Midlands Police, said: "We carried out a large policing operation for the FA Cup on Saturday evening to ensure supporters could enjoy the game in a safe environment.

"An investigation has been launched to identify people involved in a disturbance before the match at the Witton Arms pub.

"Anyone who saw what happened should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

Police say the timing of the match was fully discussed with both clubs ahead of the game.

Inspector Howard Lewis-Jones said: “We were approached by Aston Villa with the proposed later kick off time and expressed concerns that this increased the likelihood of alcohol fuelled disorder. As a result we increased the policing resources to deal with this increased threat.

“The encroachment of the pitch by Aston Villa supporters was a disappointing end to an exciting local derby and we continue to work with the Football Association and the club to identify those involved."

Villa issued a further statement on Monday afternoon saying the club would co-operate fully with the FA's investigation.

" Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and West Midlands Police are all working together to investigate events which took place both during and after Saturday's FA Cup match," said the club statement.

"The club will also cooperate fully with the Football Association.

"There will be no further comment until all inquiries are complete."

Chelsea FC vs PSG - 10/03/2015

Source : http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

POLICE PRESENCE

The behaviour of fans will be in the spotlight around London on Wednesday after racism by Chelsea fans in Paris last month. A black commuter was filmed being forced off a train by supporters who then chanted: “We’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

Matches between PSG and Chelsea have also led to violent clashes between hooligan elements of both clubs in the past.

PSG published a message from British police addressed to its travelling fans on its website Monday, advising fans not to “frequent pubs near to the stadium, before and after the game.”


Chelsea fans in Paris

POLICE LOOKING FOR 15 ROME FEYENOORD RIOTERS - 09/03/2015

Source : http://www.nltimes.nl

A Rotterdam detective unit kickstarted an investigation last week aiming to identify Rotterdam Feyenoord fans accused of rioting in Rome on February 18th and 19th before the Europa League match against AS Roma. Video and photo evidence gathered in Rome by Italian police, and footage from mobile phones submitted to Dutch police points to an additional 15 Rotterdam supporters suspected of public violence, Dutch police reveals.

The team consisting of over twenty investigators also acquired evidence via social media.

Dutch legislation indicates that a Dutch person suspected of an offence abroad can also be arrested and prosecuted in the Netherlands.

The investigators will first try to identify the suspects internally before showing new evidence to the public. Police are asking Feyenoord supporters suspected of violence in Rome to turn themselves in.

A 26-year-old from Apeldoorn did just that, and is now under investigation.

AEK - Olympiakos - Greece Cup  - 11/03/2015

Source : http://www.theguardian.com/

AEK Athens v Olympiakos quarter-final abandoned due to pitch invasion



The Greek Cup quarter-final between AEK Athens and Olympiakos Piraeus was abandoned after a pitch invasion by supporters on Wednesday as the country’s turbulent football season continued.

A group of around 20 AEK fans ran on to the pitch and threw objects at players and police moments after their team fell 1-0 down in the second leg to Franco Jara’s 89th-minute goal for Olympiakos.

The visiting players immediately left the pitch and were soon followed by the match officials and AEK players as police moved in to restore order.

Just over half an hour later officials announced that the game would not resume and Olympiakos will progress to the semi-finals automatically.

The Greek Super League resumed only last weekend with matches played behind closed doors following a one-week suspension due to persistent crowd trouble.

AEK, who lead Greece’s second tier, now face the threat of a three-point deduction which is the disciplinary penalty for a game being abandoned due to a pitch invasion.

A capacity crowd of 65,000 packed into the Olympic Stadium for the derby, the first high-profile match watched by fans since the Super League resumed last weekend with games played behind closed doors.

The league was suspended on 26 February due to persistent crowd trouble and after a Super League board meeting ended in a brawl.

Greece’s recently elected Syriza government has said it is determined to stamp out soccer crowd violence.

Germany : Cologne hit by partial stadium closures after fans invade pitch - 11/03/2015

Source : http://www.espnfc.co.uk/

Cologne have been fined 200,000 euros and hit with three partial stadium closures by the German FA (DFB), with the move following recent fan violence.

Last month, Cologne supporters invaded the pitch at Borussia Park and clashed with police following the 1-0 defeat at local rivals Borussia Monchengladbach.

The DFB imposed the fine and ruled that, for the forthcoming home games against Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke, two home sections of the Mungersdorfer Stadium must be closed.

The closed sections hold around 2,500 fans and the club said conditions, including personalised tickets, had also been imposed for its remaining away games.

Cologne officials banned around 40 members of the Boyz Ultras group from attending matches in the aftermath of the pitch invasion, but later rescinded six of those punishments.

The DFB said it had also taken into account problems during Cologne's cup match at Duisburg in October and a previous suspended ban for incidents dating back to 2013.

"The fine hits 1.FC Cologne hard and is a great challenge both financially as well as organisationally," a club statement said.

But it called the partial stadium closure instead of a full one "an important signal from the DFB that the association is interested in targeted sanctions in the fight against the unsporting behaviour of problem fans."

Greek supporter ban to continue after cup pitch invasion - 12/03/2015

Source : http://www.sbs.com.au/

Super League matches in Greece will take place behind closed doors for the second week running following a pitch invasion that led to the abandonment of a Greek Cup quarter-final between AEK Athens and Olympiakos on Wednesday.



"Following recommendations from the deputy minister for culture, education and religion Stavros Kontonis, as well as the Hellenic Police and DEAV (the commission against violence), the 28th round of games will take place behind closed doors," a government statement said on Thursday.

"The decision will be forwarded to the (Super League) organising authority," it added.

Greece's turbulent soccer season continued as the second leg tie between Athens rivals AEK and Olympiakos at the Olympic Stadium was abandoned after a group of around 20 AEK fans ran on to the pitch and threw objects at players and police.

The incident occurred moments after their team fell 1-0 behind to Franco Jara's 89th-minute goal for Olympiakos.

The Olympiakos players immediately left the pitch and were soon followed by match officials and AEK players as police moved in to restore order.

A little more than half an hour later, officials announced that the game would not restart and Olympiakos would progress to the semi-finals automatically.

The Super League resumed only last weekend with matches played behind closed doors following a one-week suspension due to persistent crowd trouble.

AEK, who lead Greece's second tier, now face the threat of a three-point deduction which is the disciplinary penalty for a game being abandoned due to a pitch invasion.

A capacity crowd of 65,000 packed into the Olympic Stadium for the derby, the first high-profile match attended by supporters since the league resumed last weekend with games played in empty stadiums.

The recently elected Syriza ruling party has said it was determined to stamp out soccer crowd violence.

Hardcore Spanish football fans filling the stands, but violence is going down - 13/03/2015

Source : http://www.globalpost.com/


Antonio Menéndez, 'El Niño

Football transforms people, and those prone to violence may find the stands of the stadiums a suitable place to unleash their wildest instincts.

This has always been the case, and the number of radicals has been the same, however soccer stadium violence in Spain has actually decreased significantly in recent years.

Recent reports regarding the brawl that took place on Nov. 30 in Madrid have sparked debates regarding the relationship between football and violence.

The riots witnessed the death that day of a Deportivo La Coruna fan, the arrest of Ultrasur leader "El Niño", and later the verbal assault at the Estadio Benito Villamarin against a player's ex-girlfriend.

Yet these events do not indicate that soccer violence has erupted again, a Madrid security official told Efe.

"The level of violence in Spain within the realm of soccer has fallen considerably," the official explained, and current levels are incomparable with what was happening in the 1980s or 1990s, "when riots used to take place almost in every game, and police interventions were necessary."

The inspector explained that the number of fervent fans is roughly the same, between 600 and 700 in Madrid, and almost 3,000 in Spain as a whole, however they are markedly "under control," and the number of arrests have reduced to "nearly zero."

In 2012, Madrid police arrested 105 people and in 2013, only 68; a trend that would break in 2014, when a total of 170 people were arrested, largely taking place following the Manzanares brawl, accounting for 82 arrests.

"Soccer transforms people, some simply cheer their team, and others go further by insulting, while others take advantage of the environment of the ultras to unleash their wildest instincts," the official added.

Ultra-fans are typically young men, adolescents between 14 and 16 years old, who often get recruited into ultras groups by getting free tickets to games.

An ultra-fan has a radical passion invested in soccer, and often finds a sense of belonging in a group.

These ultras groups are often "highly ideological," either to the far right or the far left.

For example, the leader of Ultrasur of Real Madrid, Antonio Menendez Mories, also known as "El Niño" (the little child), is said to also be leading a group of neo-Nazis, according to investigations.

Menendez Mories has been in prison since mid-February, after being arrested for blackmailing an acquaintance and trafficking narcotic drugs and steroids, and he has a history of criminal activity.

"He takes advantage of friendships inside soccer communities to form small criminal groups," the security official said.

To detect these activities and avoid riots, police forces get deployed on the ground for every game, and collect data from social networks, which many radical fans use as an outlet to voice threats.

However, police efforts proved inefficient in preventing the Manzanares brawl in November 2014.

At the same time, police forces arrested some of those involved in the riots, including the alleged perpetrators who are suspected to have killed the Deportivo fan, although the case is still open.

The event prompted several measures to be taken against ultras groups, the last of which was announced earlier in the week, when the sports council announced a possible amendment to the law against violence that would consider insults as a form of violence, in addition to interdicting joining of groups considered as radically aligned.

The security expert considers these measures to be successful, but that "the clubs are the ones who have to take the first step to eradicate violent groups, because if there isn't a first step by institutions, it will be difficult for eradication measures to be effective," he added as he threw a ball onto a field.

"Maybe we should ask whether the clubs are interested in these groups, or if they really are determined to completely calm the stands," he added.

Investigators believe that "if clubs do not want to eradicate or expel them from the stands, it is because of their level of support, and for creating an atmosphere of intimidation and hostility against visiting teams."

German side Erzgebirge Aue fined for banners comparing RB Leipzig to Nazis - 13/03/2015

Source : http://www.theguardian.com/

The German second division side FC Erzgebirge Aue have been fined €35,000 (£25,000) after their fans displayed two banners comparing RB Leipzig to Nazis last month.

A banner with the message of “An Austrian calls and you follow him blindly/Every child knows how that story ends/You would have made good Nazis” as well as a banner with the image of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in Nazi uniform was unfurled on the terraces in the 2. Bundesliga match on 6 February. Pyrotechnics were also set off, causing unrest in the stands.

In addition to the fine, the Supervisory Committee of the German Football Association also ruled that two blocks in FC Erzgebirge Aue’s stadium be closed for 12 months on probation.

Sunderland AFC - Aston Villa - 14/03/2015

Source : http://www.theguardian.com/ + http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Sunderland fans storm Gus Poyet's dugout and thousands leave before half-time as Aston Villa run riot at Stadium of Light

A few feet away a season ticket and a red and white scarf were hurled to the ground before stewards ushered their former owner away from the Uruguayan’s immediate orbit.

Soon the police were involved, joining stewards to form a tight cordon behind the home bench and discouraging the growing band of locals who seemed keen to provide Poyet with helpful hints.

Chester FC - Grimsby Town - 14/03/2015

Source : http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/

Three men arrested following 'several incidents' involving Grimsby fans at Chester

Three men were arrested in Chester following "several incidents" involving Grimsby fans at the game with Chester FC in the North West today.

Chester police tweeted: "Several incidents involving Grimsby FC fans dealt with around City. 3 males arrested for various separate offences."

It is not known if any of the arrested men were Grimsby supporters.

It is understood a pub had to close its doors while pictures on social media showed a heavy police presence around the railway station in the city.

According to the Chester Chronicle, local pub The Town Crier closed its doors and a sign in the window said: "We are closed for the remainder of the day. We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause."

The website also said British Transport Police confirmed Grimsby fans were escorted back to the station by police and put on the train back.

Derry City - Dundalk FC - 13/03/2015

Source : http://www.u.tv/

Buses attacked leaving match at Brandywell

The supporters were beginning their home journey after Dundalk defeated the home side one-nil.

Ciaran Culligan said a group of youths - who he believes were not connected to Derry City FC - threw large bricks which shattered glass inside the packed buses leaving the stadium.

At least one person suffered an injury to their face.

“The atmosphere between the fans inside the stadium, walking back to the bus, there was absolutely no problems. It was only when we got down to the corner,” he told UTV.

“I do not know, I would not associate the boys that were doing this with Derry City Football Club.

“The relationship between the two clubs is good so I do not know. I think personally it might have been local youths hanging around street corners because the rocks they were using, they put in windows on a bus.”

UTV contacted both clubs for comment but received no response on Saturday.

The PSNI and Gardaí said they have received no reports of the attacks.

Foyle Area Commander Chief Inspector Tony Callaghan added: “We have a good relationship with Derry City Football Club, and their supporters, and work with them on an ongoing basis on many matters including supporter safety.

“Matches at the Brandywell are largely good humoured and peaceful and as such the club has not required a police presence outside the ground.

“We have not received any reports of buses being attacked on Friday night however the security situation is kept under constant review and any issues arising from Friday night will be discussed with the club and action taken as appropriate.”

Chile: Colo Colo - Universidad de Chile - 14/03/2015

Source : http://www.chilevision.cl/

130 fans were arrested.

Montpellier - OGC Nice - 01/03/2015

Source : Mail

Nice lads

Spain: FC Granada - Málaga CF - 07/03/2015

Source : http://granadacf.ideal.es/ + mail

A fight opposed rival supporters outside a pub close to the stadium.
Three people were wounded, including one working for the pub.
Nobody was arrested.

Translation Underground Fans

Hamburg SV - Borussia Dortmund - 07/03/2015

Source : http://www.wa.de/

After this game played in Hamburg, about 150 Dortmund fans created troubles at Hamm train station so police intervened with dog handlers.

Translation Underground Fans

SSV Markranstädt - Lokomotive Leipzig - 07/03/2015

Source : http://www.lvz-online.de/

On their way back home, Lok Leipzig supporters stopped their train at Leutzsch train station after they saw BSG Chemie rivals, on their way back from a game in Dresden.
Bottles and rocks were exchanged and police separated both sides.

Translation Underground Fans

Montpellier HSC - Lyon - 08/03/2015

Source : http://sport24.lefigaro.fr/

The night before the game a violent fight erupted in Montpellier, opposing several dozens of local ultras and Lyon supporters.
police intervened in large number.
So Montpellier supporters mobbed up in the zoo car park and waited.
At 00.20am Montpellier ultras took the way to the thirty or so Lyon lads who waited for them.
Charges on both sides and clashes too place for several minutes.
Seven trucks and four police cars were called to intervened.
Some people were slightly wounded.

SC Bastia - OGC Nice - 07/03/2015

Source : http://www.football365.fr/ + http://www.spiritu-turchinu.com/

Because Bastia supporters, the game was stopped two times.

NK Osijek - Hajduk Split - 08/03/2015

Source : http://www.vecernji.hr/

Some skirmishes broke out when away fans arrived.

1.FC Köln - Eintracht Frankfurt - 08/03/2015

Source : http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/

Before the game, the escort of 300 Frankfurt ultras stopped the road of a tram so police intervened.
When they arrived to the stadium they also tried to enter with violence inside the stadium so police and stewards intervened.
During the game, as 30 Frankfurt hooligans were outside the stadium a severe fight erupted with Koln hooligans.
Police intervened and ten people were arrested.

Translation Underground Fans

Lazio Rome - Fiorentina - 09/03/2015

Source : http://www.lanazione.it/

Before the game, Lazio tifosi thrown missiles in direction of Fiorentina fans' busses.
Nobody was wounded.