Season 00/01 - April

Chesterfield - Lincoln City - 21/04/2001

Source: NCIS

Just before kick off, a group of 15 Lincoln supporters were confronted by 20 Chesterfield supporters. One Lincoln supporter sustained a broken nose before police separated the two groups. After the game, Lincoln supporters left in a group of 50 looking for Chesterfield but went the wrong way and were grouped together and escorted to the station. While being taken to the station 15-20 Chesterfield supporters including some of those on Banning Orders tried to confront the Lincoln supporters but police kept them apart. A much larger group of 50-60 Chesterfield supporters then came across a car park towards the Lincoln group. Police managed to keep them apart and a Chesterfield supporter was arrested. The Lincoln group was escorted to the station and with the help of BTP put on a train.

Wigan Athletic - Rotherham United - 21/04/2001

Source: NCIS

There were no problems before or during the game. After the game a Wigan group that included supporters attacked a mini bus containing Rotherham. The windscreen of the vehicle was shattered and the driver injured. Fighting took place and further up the street a group of five Rotherham fans were also attacked. Two of this group required hospital treatment. There was also disorder at another public house on Wallgate where more arrests were made.

Hull City - Chesterfield - 28/04/2001

Source: NCIS

A large police presence kept fans apart until they were queuing for entry. The north east corner turnstiles saw a charge by Hull supporters collapsing the segregation fence. Horses, dogs and officers were deployed and order was restored. Unfortunately several officers were injured. CS Spray and batons were used and 15 were arrested. A large police and steward presence inside the stadium prevented anything further. After the match, police kept fans apart and a well timed heavy downpour of rain helped enormously. There was no disorder after the match.

Emley - Stalybridge Celtic - 28/04/2001

Source: NCIS

Prior to the game, there was an incident of disorder at a public house where supporters calling themselves Manchester City fans had to be ejected for abusive behaviour. Further resources were deployed at this pub. There were reports of disorder taking place in Wakefield City centre between Stalybridge and other unidentified fans. Due to the large amount of fans arriving late at the ground and minor skirmishes occurring around the ground, the game was delayed for 15 minutes. At half time over 80 Stalybridge fans made their way to a public house. Inside the pub, these fans became abusive towards families and couples. The licensee refused to serve alcohol to the group and they were asked to leave. Officers eventually escorted them away from the pub towards the train station. Eventually this group was put on a train for Manchester. The train was delayed for 20 minutes whilst more and more supporters arrived at the station. In total over 120 fans boarded the train; they were banging on the windows and trying to rock the train. There was a number of calls requesting police assistance. When the train stopped at Kirkgate station the group of 120 fans forced the train doors open, which immobilised the train. There were no further reported incidents.

Oldham Athletic - Stoke City - 28/4/2001

Source: NCIS

Stoke supporters arrived in the Oldham Town centre from 11 am and gathered in large numbers of up to 250 -300. At about 2.00pm a minor confrontation between Oldham and Stoke supporters occurred at a local public house. Police resources were diverted from the main Stoke group by this incident. En route to the ground, the main Stoke group passed through a large Asian area and a confrontation between Stoke supporters and took place and arrests were made. The Stoke supporters were escorted to the ground where racist chanting was heard. During the game there were four arrests. After the game the Stoke group were escorted back to the railway station and all roads leading to Asian areas were cordoned off. As the escort drew level with the scene of the earlier skirmish Asian youths who had congregated made their feeling known and abuse was hurled in both directions. Positive policing prevented the groups from attacking each other. Arrests were made at this stage. The Stoke group was escorted from the area.
Officers holding back the Asian youths came under fire of bricks, bottles and petrol bombs only one of which ignited. Damage was caused to a number of police vehicles and a small number of officers were injured. The Asian youths were eventually dispersed again without further incident.

Oxford United - Swansea City - 28/04/2001

Source: NCIS

A group of Swansea supporters were in a pub on the edge of the city and remained drinking there until their bus was bought to them at 2 pm. Just prior to the bus arriving the group began to smash the pub up and police entered the pub to clear it. Some arrests were made. The group was then escorted to the ground. This group left the ground after 30 minutes. They were rounded up and placed on the coach and which were escorted into Wales.

Disorder in Watford - 28/04/2001

Source: NCIS

Following Watford v Tranmere on Saturday 28/4/01 Watford supporters were refused entry at one public house and they settled in another public house they frequent. At 6.20 pm a group of ten Luton supporters arrived at this pub and taunted the Watford supporters. Watford supporters then left the pub and disorder occurred following which the ten Luton supporters ran up the High Street. A further confrontation took place at Watford Junction train station. On police arrival the Luton supporters were put into taxis and left the area.

Hajduk Split - Dinamo Zagreb - 14/04/2001

Source: Soccer Fans website

Minor incidents happend on the north-east part of stadium. Special police tried to stop fight between members of Torcida wich leaded to attack on police. Supporters from east part of stadium jumped over the fence to help
supporters on the nort-east and fight was going really nice. Torcida burned flares and just started to beat bolice with them, but it lasted only few minutes because Hajduk scored goal and it gave time for police to run away.
Except that there were no bigger fights on biggest Croatian game.

RSC Anderlecht - Standard Liege - 07/04/2001

Source: Soccer Fans website

70 hell-side made the trip to Brussel by train with a mob of 30 Leverkusen
lads (and friends), who had no tickets for the match. At the arrival in
Brussel, the OB was waiting for this very dangerous group. They wanted to
arrest all the people who hadn't tickets. So, violent clashes occured
between cops and standard lads. About 40 arrestations were made in the
station. No BCS (Anderlecht hools) were seen on the road to the stadium. In
the stadium, the match ended on a 0-0 but Standard won the supporters match
: they were singing during the whole match, and it was said too on TV (Canal
+). After the match some BCS came just behind cops but no real contacts with
Standard lads. On the road to the station, no BCS.
They just made one thing : attack 10 hell-side with a group of 40. It is
exactly the spirit of this group ...
Since several years, only one mob may be respected : Beerschot Hools who
came with 80 lads behind Standard zone five minutes before the match.

Dynamo Dresden - VFB Leipzig - 06/04/2001

Source: Soccer Fans website

Sevilla - Betis - ??/04/2001

Source : Mail

Yugoslavia - Russia - 25/04/2001

Source : Press

Seven soccer fans die in crush - 29/04/2001

Source: http://www.iol.co.za

Kinshasa - At least seven people were killed and 51 injured on Sunday when fans invaded the pitch during a football match in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A witness said victims were trampled to death or suffocated.

Authorities in Lubumbashi, capital of the southeastern province of Katanga, said some of the injured were in serious condition.

They said the incidents began 10 minutes before the final whistle in a match between local teams.

After an equalising goal, rival fans began exchanging insults and hurling stones, then rushed onto the pitch.

Iraklis Saloniki - Olympiakos Pireus - Cup - 04/04/2001

Source: forum

Red card these riot fans, Martin; Call on Celtic boss after police injured - 09/04/2001

Source : The News Letter

CELTIC manager Martin O'Neill has been challenged to "red card'' his club's supporters who left 12 police officers injured after they sparked a riot in a Ballymena pub.

Police officers were stamped upon, beaten and bitten during the riot.

Two were still seriously ill in hospital last night.

DUP leader and North Antrim MP Ian Paisley condemned the ''riotous behaviour and sectarian activities'' of the Celtic fans.

Violence erupted after police were called to the Grouse Inn to deal with three supporters shouting and singing at customers in the bar - just hours after the club had clinched the Scottish Premier League title.

An RUC spokeswoman said that when police went to the bar a small crowd erecting an Irish tricolour became abusive.

The situation escalated when people started pouring into the area from other bars.
The crowd, which at one stage swelled to over 100, attacked officers with glasses and bottles.

One police officer was hit over the head with his own baton which had been taken by the crowd and another had multiple fractures to his leg which was stamped on as he lay on the ground.

A woman officer was bitten by someone she was trying to restrain.

Six people were arrested after police donned riot gear and broke up the crowd in a bid to restore order.

One person was charged with disorderly behaviour and three were released on police bail.

Another man is being sought in relation to a serious assault on a police officer.

Mr Paisley, who rep- resents Ballymena, claimed the fans knew their actions would stir tensions in a predom- inantly Protestant town.

''The Celtic manager ought to make public his condemnation of his clubs' followers," he said.

"He should ensure that any club supporter involved in this riot or in any such attacks on the police are removed from the supporters' club and ostracised by the football club.

''Celtic must not only condemn this attack but take steps to ensure that its supporters do not get involved in any sectarian behaviour in the future.''

A call to Celtic Park in Glasgow yesterday found no one available for comment.

Chief Superintendent Bob Foster, who is leading investigations into the disturbances, said those involved brought shame on the town.

''I clearly condemn what has happened. It's a small crowd in a town where community relations are excellent. This crowd brought shame on the town as a result of this totally unprovoked attack," he said.

''We used the minimum force that was necessary and investigations are ongoing.''

Mayor of Ballymena, James Currie, said the riot would only tarnish the town's image.
''This incident does not help Ballymena. It doesn't help the business community in Ballymena,'' he said.

''It is caused by people who cannot follow normal rules of life.''

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Source : The Mirror

12 POLICE HURT IN CELTIC RIOT

TWELVE police officers were injured yesterday as Celtic fans went on the rampage after their team's league victory.

Violence flared after supporters tried to put up a tricolour in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

RUC officers donned full riot gear when the group refused to move from near the Grouse Inn on Ballymoney Street.

More fans spilled out from nearby pubs forming a mob of around 100.

Bottles and glasses were thrown at police. Two officers were described as "seriously ill" last night.

One suffered severe head injuries when he was beaten with a baton seized by the crowd.

Another had triple fractures to his legs when he was stamped on by the mob.

A woman officer was badly bitten as she tried to restrain a rioter.

Chief Superintendent Bob Foster said the crowd was given a chance to disperse peacefully but that the situation rapidly deteriorated.

Six people were arrested for offences including assault and public disorder. Police will be studying closed-circuit TV footage of the fighting.

DUP Assembly member Ian Paisley Junior called on Northern Ireland-born Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to speak out against the violence.

He said: "I hope that the manager of Celtic will condemn this sort of divisive action by people claiming to be supporters."

Ballymena Mayor James Currie said the riot tarnished the town's image.

"This incident does not help Ballymena or the business community in Ballymena.

"It is caused by people who cannot follow normal rules of life."

There was no-one available for comment at Celtic Park yesterday.

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Source : The Daily Mail

Ulster riot as Celtic fans taunt townsfolk

CELTIC fans celebrating the team's Premier League victory sparked a riot in Northern Ireland at the weekend.

Three police officers were badly injured when trouble flared in Ballymena, County Antrim.

Celtic supporters tried to raise an Irish tricolour in the predominantly protestant town after an all-day party which followed the team's title-clinching victory over St Mirren. RUC officers donned full riot gear when the group refused to move and a mob of about 100 gathered.

More than a dozen officers were hurt in the fighting.

One suffered severe head injuries when he was beaten with a baton seized by the crowd.

Another had triple fractures to his legs when he was stamped on by the mob.

A female officer was badly bitten as she tried to restrain one rioter.

Local RUC commander Bob Foster said the crowd was given an opportunity to disperse peacefully, but the situation quickly worsened.

Six people were arrested for assault and public disorder.

Ballymena Mayor James Curry said the incident was caused 'by people who do not follow the normal rules of life'.

In recent weeks, as Celtic neared clinching the title, their supporters have been blamed for sparking sectarian violence in Belfast and Londonderry.

Groups of youths in Celtic shirts have been accused of 'invading' protestant areas taunting protestant gangs about Celtic's victories.

Democratic Unionist Party Assembly member Ian Paisley Jnr, who represents Ballymena, said: 'It's absolutely contemptible that people would engage in what is clearly sectarian triumphalism, which they knew would cause trouble.'

He urged Celtic manager Martin O'Neill to condemn the fans responsible. No one from Celtic was available to comment.

Malmö FF - AIK Solna - 09/04/2001

Source : pppress.se

About twenty AIK hooligans were arrested near the stadium and in the city center.

Translation Underground Fans (c)