Season 01/02 - October

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Millwall FC - 24/10/2001

Source: BBC

Two Wolves fans were stabbed and five people were arrested as pre-arranged football violence erupted in the West Midlands for the second time in a week. Trouble flared before Wolves' encounter with Millwall last night 60 rival fans squared up to each other near Molineux. Police said a number of the travelling supporters from London arrived with baseball bats hidden under trench coats and knuckle dusters with blades on the end. Shocked onlookers described how volatile Millwall supporters were "kicking, swinging and punching at anything which moved". Two Wolves fans in their 20s, were slashed in the melee in Molineux Way, with one likely to have permanent facial scarring. Four Millwall supporters and one Wolves fan were arrested and have been charged with public disorder offences.
Superintendent John Colston said: "I find it very sad that a mindless minority of idiots take the focus of attention away from the club who are working really hard to achieve Premiership football status."
He praised the special constables for their "sterling work" as they arrived first on the scene and attempted to quell the violence. There was no trouble inside the ground. The violence came six days after rivalry between Albion and Wolves boiled over at The Hawthorns, leading one police chief to condemn it as the worst act of soccer violence he had witnessed.

West Bromwich Albion - Wolverhampton Wanderers - 25/10/2001

Source: local newspapers

Violence erupts at derby game

A Sandwell police chief today hit out at Albion and Wolves fans for "the worst acts of violence" he had experienced at a football match. Chief Sup Bruce Gilbert said the level of malevolence between the fans was unbelieveable. He said: "There was a hardcore of vicious fans from both sides who were just out for trouble."
Officials try to control the crowds during the match Mr Gilbert said more than 100 officers were on duty for last night's clash and they were stretched to the limited. He said there were only four arrests but he said that figure could have been much higher but officers were having to quell and contain the rival fans. He said: "At one point Wolves fans smashed down the gates to get into the Smethwick End. "Albion fans, and that included men in their 40s, were spitting on the Wolves directors sitting watching the game. "It was quite shocking and disgusting," he added. Mr Gilbert, who was in charge of the policing, said he had covered the clash for the last four years and this was the worst violence he had witnessed. He said: "The Albion fans are normally quite compliant, but there was a hardcore last night that were very agressive."
Mr Gilbert paid tribute to the work of a number of special constables who were on duty last night. "They were magnificent and stood their ground well. At the end of the day it must be remembered they were only volunteers," he added. Mr Gilbert admitted that because of the problems it meant some fans were late getting into the ground or even missed the game completely. "We did have to put up a cordon in Halfords Lane at one point but it was for the fans safety. It left many fans, some season ticket holders and others corporate box holders unhappy. Husband and wife Martin and Tracy Jeavons of Copse Road, Netherton, said they were stopped at the bottom of Halfords Lane by police even though they were season ticket holders and had a car park pass. Tracy said: "I thought the police were over the top. We gave up after the game was 25 minutes old and went home. "There were a lot of disgruntled fans who had been kept out."
Mr Gilbert said at the end of the game Albion fans were held back so that the Wolves fans could be taken out of the ground. He said: "I was amazed at the amount of abuse my officers got from the Albions fans. "They were only held up for 10 minutes and it was for their own safety and the end of the day. "But the abuse from from men, women and even young children," he added.

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

Source : BBC News

There was serious disorder outside the ground during the match. After the match a group of Albion fans broke through the police line and there were running battles between supporters from both clubs. There were later reports of fighting at Midland Metro Parkway Station.

Boavista face wrath of UEFA following racist jibes at Heskey - 26/10/2001

Source: Reuters

European football's governing body UEFA has charged Boavista following alleged racist taunts directed at Liverpool striker Emile Heskey in the sides' Champions League match on Wednesday. The Portuguese first division club will be called to a disciplinary meeting in two weeks time after fans in Oporto taunted Heskey, who is black. "We've charged the club with fans guilty of racist chanting," UEFA spokesman Mike Lee told BBC Radio Five Live on Friday.
"They have to respond to that now and there will be a disciplinary hearing on November 9."
England international Heskey has often been the victim of such abuse over the last two years playing for club and country, leading the English Football Association to lodge official complaints with UEFA. After the 1-1 draw in Oporto, Liverpool team officials said they will take no further action in the matter. Heskey had to withstand constant monkey noises from large sections of Boavista's support, but claimed he would not let it get to him. "It does happen a lot in Europe and the fact is I have got used to it - I have had to," said Heskey. "It's sad that this sort of thing goes on. "I have had to put up with it on several recent away trips. All it tells you is that there are still some ignorant people about. "I try to answer them the best way I can - on the pitch. I find it astonishing it should happen against Boavista as some of their players are black."
UEFA spokesman Lee said if Boavista, as with any other club, could not depend on its fans not to display racist tendencies, they would fall foul of UEFA's anti-racist ruling. "The club (Boavista) will have to deal with its fans, it's the only way we can deal with this and other issues.
"I'm sure the club would want to condemn that behaviour and I'm sure they've taken their own steps. "But the fact is it happened and it's been officially reported. It's unacceptable to us and they know that and therefore we will take steps. "We've changed our rulebook so if clubs have this as a persistent problem, we've have the right to force them to play their games behind closed doors."

Zadar's stadium suspended after incident - 26/10/2001

Source: Reuters

Croatian first division officials have Friday suspended Stanovi Stadium in Zadar, after an incident that occurred Thursday during 13th round match. It is still not confirmed for how long suspension would last, because all details of an incident are still under investigation.
According to the first reports, in 81st minute of a match between Zadar and Osijek, someone from the crowd hit side-line referee Armando Lusetic with a stone. Lusetic has reported head injury, but continued to do his job till the end of a match that ended with Zadar's victory 4-3 over Osijek.

Iran - United Arab Emirates - 26/10/2001

Source: Kayhan

More than 600 Iranian fans were arrested in the wake of their country's World Cup play-off victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the evening newspaper Kayhan reported Saturday. According to the paper, citing police sources, 223 people were arrested in Tehran, 23 in Shahr-e-Rey to the south of Iran, and 372 in other major towns and cities around the country after Thursday's match. Several thousand Iranians gathered in the streets after the 1-0 victory of their national team in the first leg of their play-off match from the Asian qualifying zone for the 2002 World Cup.

RSC Charleroi - RC Genk - 27/10/2001

Source: mail

For this high-risks game, visitors came by coach, so it was impossible to create an incident, but before the game, a group of CH-lads were present in the coaches-area, waiting for visitors. Police forces arrested about 12/15 locals, released them after the game, but confiscated all the mobiles for the Court.

Millwall and Spurs lads fight at Euston station - 27/10/2001

Source: ITK

A toe-to-toe erupted at Euston Statio, opposing about 50 Millwall lads and 40/50 Tottenham lads on they way back from Stockport. Spurs lads have to retreat, before the OB intervention.

AS Roma - Lazio Roma - 27/10/2001

Source: Tifonet

Before the roman derby, at 7pm, a group of about 100 Lazio fans threw bottles, fireworks and cocktail-molotovs against a small contingent of carabinieri, who used teargas. Several charges were made and many vehicles were damaged. A the end of the game, losed by Lazio, it was the same situation: fans fought with carabinieri. A police-car was also damaged. During the night and the day after, about 20 fans from both sides were arrested.

Manchester City - Nottingham Forest - 27/10/2001

Source: ITK

Prior to the game, a fight broke out, opposing rival fans. The same meeting-point was used at the end of the game, but OB made an intervention, using horses. Fight broke out with these policemen.

Luton Town - Swansea City - 27/10/2001

Source: ITK

For this game, Swansea lads came with about 75 boys. A toe-to-toe erupted after the game, in front of the Luton mob main pub. Luton lads wera about 20. The fight took place for 1 or 2 minutes.

Luton: Hatters fan banned for life - 02/10/2001

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

Swift reaction after new outbreak of hooliganism
A football supporter was yesterday banned from Luton Town home matches for life in the latest move in a crackdown by both club and police on hooligans who are casting a shadow over Kenilworth Road.

The Football Association has already warned the Hatters that parts of the stadium could be shut down following a worrying series of missile-throwing incidents last season.

The club was also told that league points could be deducted and heavy fines imposed if the safety of players and officials continued to be threatened by coins and other objects hurled onto the pitch.

During the summer a concertina-style cover, pictured, was erected over the players tunnel, but it was unable to prevent an incident at the Division Three game against Oxford United earlier this month.

A Hatters season ticket holder was arrested when a steward was struck by a coin at the end of the match.

Mark Dalton, 28, appeared before Luton magistrates yesterday and pleaded guilty to throwing the coin.

He was prosecuted under the Football Offences Act and was banned from all professional football in England and Wales for three years.

Dalton, of Lapwing Road, was also fined £200 and told that he must surrender his passport and report to his nearest police station every time England has a match abroad.

On hearing the sentence, Luton Town FC banned Dalton from Hatters home games for life.

Luton Police s football liaison officer, Pc Peter Palmer, said: We have not had this problem for a number of years, but towards the end of last season there were several incidents in which objects were thrown from the crowd.

Frustration over the team s poor performance had something to do with it.

During the close season, discussions took place between Luton Town, the police and the FA to prevent and deter this offence happening again. Unfortunately there was an incident at the Oxford game.

We are pleased to see that the court agreed with us on the seriousness of the matter. It is difficult to detect, but we can t allow this sort of behaviour.

We will continue to come down hard on anyone who throws an object at players, match officials or stewards.

Dalton, who was described in court as of previous good character, had a season ticket for the main stand enclosure at Kenilworth Road. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs

Stoke City - Bristol City - 27/10/2001

Source : BBC News

There was a fight on a train between fans from both clubs.

Huddersfield Town - Wrexham - 27/10/2001

Source : BBC News

A pre-arranged fight in a town centre pub before the match was thwarted by police spotters. Groups from Huddersfield attacked Wrexham, who were in a police escort, from the front and from the rear. Police eventually restored order but there was continuing trouble all the way to the station.

Nottingham Forest - Manchester City - 28/10/2001

Source : BBC News

Forest gathered at Radcliffe Road in readiness to ambush City. Police had to use their batons to prevent the two groups from fighting each other. There was disorder all the way to the train station.

A fight also broke out in a city centre pub as rival fans hurled glasses at each other. A 19-year-old man injured his throat when bottles and glasses were thrown inside a pub.

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Millwall FC - 31/10/2001

Source : BBC News

A large group of up to 250 Millwall hooligans burst through the police lines at Wolverhampton station. They attacked the Feathers Pub, near Molineux, where members of the Wolves "Subway Army" were drinking. Two Wolves hooligans were slashed in the face with Stanley knives. The groups were split up before the rest of the Wolves hooligans could arrive on the scene.

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

Source: local press

Two Wolves fans were stabbed and five people were arrested as pre-arranged football violence erupted in the West Midlands for the second time in a week.
Trouble flared before Wolves' encounter with Millwall last night 60 rival fans squared up to each other near Molineux.
Police said a number of the travelling supporters from London arrived with baseball bats hidden under trench coats and knuckle dusters with blades on the end. Shocked onlookers described how volatile Millwall supporters were "kicking, swinging and punching at anything which moved".
Two Wolves fans in their 20s, were slashed in the melee in Molineux Way, with one likely to have permanent facial scarring.
Four Millwall supporters and one Wolves fan were arrested and have been charged with public disorder offences.Superintendent John Colston said: "I find it very sad that a mindless minority of idiots take the focus of attention away from the club who are working really hard to achieve Premiership football status."
He praised the special constables for their "sterling work" as they arrived first on the scene and attempted to quell the violence.
There was no trouble inside the ground. The violence came six days after rivalry between Albion and Wolves boiled over at The Hawthorns, leading one police chief to condemn it as the worst act of soccer violence he had witnessed.