Season 01/02 - September

Police continue arrests hours before Germany - England showdow - 01/09/2001

Source: Reuters

A dozens of English and German football fans have been arrested ahead of Saturday's crucial World Cup qualifier between the two countries, police said. Figures from German and English officials said a total of 91 supporters had been detained in Munich and Frankfurt since late Friday. Police, bidding to defuse a potentially volatile situation where German fans taunted their English rivals at Marienplatz, in the centre of city, surrounded the supporters before taking them into custody. A police spokesman confirmed that the fans, many of whom had tickets for the match, would be held until after the game which gets underway at 17H30 GMT in the Olympic Stadium. Police confirmed that 10 English fans who were detained in Frankfurt and 11 detained in Munich are due to appear in German courts later Saturday. Frankfurt police said arrests were made as some 450 German hooligans, several armed with bottles and batons, combed the city looking for English supporters. Police said windows were smashed and cars damaged with seven people being
arrested. In Munich there was little trouble following a tight police crackdown, but there were several arrests mainly due to drunkenness. "Munich was quiet overnight," a police spokesman said. At the famous Hofbrauhaus in downtown Munich supporters were prevented from bringing beer glasses onto the street in a bid to avoid trouble breaking out between rival fans. Although there will be an alcohol ban around the stadium for three hours before and three hours after the match, people can drink as much as they want in the city. About 10,000 England fans are expected to be in the city by Saturday evening although only 6,000 will have tickets, with German police expecting up to 1,000 suspected German hooligans to travel for the tie which gets underway at 5:30GMT. British police on Friday detained more than 50 people believed to be potential hooligans at airports and at docks in Kent, southeast England, one of the country's major centres for passenger sea travel to Europe.Magistrates Saturday stopped six suspected football hooligans from travelling to Germany by ordering them to report to police stations near their homes just a few minutes before the game is due to start in Munich. Eight hundred police will be on the streets of Munich Saturday, including 300 trained in riot control, with a further 300 border police patrolling transport systems.

Five men stopped on way to England match - 03/09/2001

Source: Lancashire Evening Telegraph

FIVE men from East Lancashire were prevented from travelling to see England's glory night in Munich by a police anti-hooligan operation.

The suspects were stopped at Manchester Airport as they made their way to the World Cup qualifier, which the visitors won 5-1.

Duncan Bradshaw, 32, of Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley, Paul Rawson, 31, of Bluebell Grove, Burnley, and Lee Tattersall, 31, of Sycamore Avenue, Burnley, were ordered to surrender their passports by Manchester City magistrates and will reappear before the court on October 29, after being stopped on Thursday.

The following day, undercover police arrested Damian Hartley, 29, of Swinless Street, Burnley and John Houston, 26, of Clayton-le-Moors, under powers given them by the new Football Disorder Act.

They were bailed to appear before Manchester city magistrates on Saturday morning when Hartley had his passport confiscated to stop him travelling.

Houston failed to appear and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

At the next hearing police are expected to argue the men should be banned from attending any international matches involving England, home or away.

A spokesman for Manchester Police said all the men were detained as part of a surveillance operation running at Manchester Airport in a bid to stop known hooligans travelling to the Gemany game.

He said all the arrested men were checked against the National Criminal Intelligence Service database, which gives details of soccer thugs, and against Lancashire Police records.

Three-year ban for two Clarets fans - 08/09/2001

Source: Lancashire Evening Telegraph

TWO Burnley fans who joined in racist chanting have been banned from all football matches for three years.

The ban, which includes Premiership, Nationwide and international matches, was imposed by Bradford magistrates on Leon Carlile, 27, of Greens Lane Helmshore, and Leighton Bannister, 26, of Carr Road, Colne.

Both pleaded guilty to racist chanting at a football match, and were also fined £100 with £40 costs. Nicola Phillipson, prosecuting, said the offences were committed last Sunday during Burnley's match against Bradford City at Valley Parade.

A police officer at the top of the stand containing visiting supporters saw the defendants stand, turn towards the Bradford fans and shout abuse.

John Kelly, defending, said both men were lifelong Burnley supporters who had never been arrested at a match before. They did not regard themselves as racist, and abhorred racism.

They were among 1,500 to 1,700 Burnley fans who were all singing the same chant. They were the only two arrested as they were immediately in front of the police officer.

"They were prevented from seeing the game, which was an excellent one from their point of view because Burnley won," said Mr Kelly. "They accept that the chant was inappropriate, but they are not football yobs. They are not football hooligans."

Three other Burnley fans arrested the same day also appeared. A charge of being drunk inside a sports ground was withdrawn against Martin Walsh, 21, of Napier Street, Nelson, and Kevin Hindle, 37, of Stanley Street, Oswaldtwistle, after they agreed to be bound over in £100 for a year.

Peter Heaton, 20, of Whitehall Street, Nelson, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a club steward but admitted resisting a police officer. His case was adjourned until next month for a pre-trial review.

SK Sigma Olomouc - AC Sparta Prague - 07/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

This match was played at 4:30 PM. On 4AM 40 drunken Sparta hools were in the city already. They were in the pub, when police came. Sparta hools smashed the pub and attacked police. Two policemen were injured and the rest retired. Then special police force came and attacked hools in the pub. After short fight two hools were arrested and many injured. There were fights between small groups of both sides during day. 2 Sparta lads were arrested.

FK Jablonec 97 - FC Bohemians Prague - 09/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

130 supporters from Prague travelled to this match. Near by railway station 30 home hools waited for them. Bohemians hools promptly attacked them and the group of home hools had to ran off in the pub. Police came very soon and began hard fight between Bohemians lads and police. Five policemen were injured (one broken hand). On the stadium visitors had some flares and smoke bombs and during the match fought with security and police (2 arrested). They also have stolen and then burned flag "Fanatics aus Gablonz"

SK Slavia Prague - FC Brno 1913 - 09/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

Before the match group of 8 Brno hools went for some stolen scarves. But they met a main group of Slavia hools and got outnumbered. They attacked them and beat them. Some incidents were after the match too. There was about 100 supporters from Brno at this match.

FC Bohemians Prague - SK Slavia Prague - 16/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

During this match were several times incidents between security and Slavia supporters. They thrown smoke bomb, security attacked them. Began really hard fight between these sides, but after a few minutes involved police. One Slavia hool striked home with bottle a police man on head and after that police roughly beaten all supporters in visitors end

FC Svit Zlin - Sigma Olomouc B - 16/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

Group of 40 Sigma hooligans arrived to this match. They came after the beginning match and attacked home supporters straight away, who were waiting in visitors end. Police got involved and seperated both groups. Both sides attacked them, especially Sigma hools beaten one policeman quite badly. Sigma hools then attacked security and involved the pitch. 2 arrests were made.

SK Slavia Prague - Servette Geneve - 27/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

During this match Slavia hools fighted the police on the tribune. 2 hools were arrested.

SK Ceske Budejovice - Viktoria Pilsen - 23/09/2001

Source: hooligans.cz

One coach with Pilsen supporters travelled to this match. They wanted fight with home casuals, but police presence was strong. So after the match the coach went away, and then returned back after 30 km and smashed one pub with home supporters.

Coventry City - Portsmouth - 22/09/2001

Source :

Here is the BBC's report
Police have arrested 28 people after crowd trouble during Coventry's home game against Portsmouth. Officers in riot gear were called in to deal with violent scenes after club stewards and security staff were unable to stop the fighting. The second half of the Nationwide Division One game was held up for 10 minutes after Portsmouth fans gained entry into a home section of the stadium. Coventry City Football Club says it wants to consider all the evidence before commenting on the trouble. The two teams remained in the dressing room while police dealt with the fans. No-one appeared to be injured, although plastic seating was hurled between the two sets of supporters.
The police formed a shoulder-to-shoulder line to divide the fans as the second half was played out. One Coventry supporter told BBC Radio WM that he believed the club should have done more to prevent the incident. "We were sat in the east stand and a fan came running over to the stand. "My kids were sitting there saying 'Daddy Daddy, he's going to get me'. "My kids wouldn't come out during the second half of the game." Roland Nilsson, Coventry City's caretaker manager, condemned the violence in the wake of the terrorist attacks on America. He said: "After New York, I thought people would be a bit calmer."
Here is the local newspaper's report
THE Football Association has confirmed it will wait for reports from Coventry and Portsmouth before deciding what action to take over yesterday's serious outbreak of crowd violence at Highfield Road. Around 60 police officers in riot gear waded in to break up a fight between 200 rival fans, delaying the second half by 10 minutes, injuring two stewards and contributing to a total of 19 arrests, before, during and after the match. The home side won 2-0 - but the game was overshadowed by disgraceful scenes as supporters traded punches and threw seats at each other. FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said both Coventry and Portsmouth will be asked for their versions of events. He said: "We're waiting for reports from the match officials, and I'm sure we will be asking both clubs for their observations. "When incidents of this nature do occur, we make it our obligation to look into them. We have a crowd safety officer and will usually have someone in the crowd as an observer." Coventry police inspector Nigel Bird added: "There was certainly a degree of disorder, but we got it under control fairly quickly. "There were a number of fans from both sides who were extremely aggressive towards each other - and police and stewards were stuck in the middle. "I would say both sets of supporters were intent on getting at each other, although it is too soon to start apportioning blame. We will need to look at video footage first."
Here is the Telegraph's report
Police in riot gear helped to quell crowd trouble after Portsmouth fans gained entry into a home section of the stadium and attacked their Coventry rivals, throwing seats and other missiles. The start of the second half was held up for 10 minutes after club stewards and security staff were unable to contain the violence but police eventually cleared the trouble while the referee held the two teams in the changing-rooms. At least one Portsmouth fan was taken away but no one appeared to be injured and the police formed a shoulder-to-shoulder line to divide the fans as the second half was played out.

Four Manchester United fans arrested for harassment - 26/09/2001

Source: Reuters

Four Manchester United fans including one woman have been arrested here in connection with sexually harassing three young women, police said on Wednesday. The four were arrested ahead of United's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday.

Police said they were part of a group of around 20 drunken hooligans who vandalized parts of Santiago de Compostela, a town near La Coruna on the northwest tip of Spain. The four fans, including the woman, were due to appear in court on Wednesday to face charges of sexually harassing the girls. Around 500 United fans attended the match at the Riazor stadium.

Liverpool fans arrested in Barcelona - 21/09/2001

Source: Reuters

Seven Liverpool supporters were arrested in Barcelona today after fighting that left two Spaniards in hospital.
The English fans were arrested early in the morning when police moved in to break up violence outside the Opera House in the city centre.
Some 3,700 Liverpool fans are expected at the Nou Camp for tonight’s UEFA Cup semi-final first-leg tie against Barcelona.

Switzerland - Yugoslavia - 01/09/2001

Source: Yahoo

Trouble flares between Yugoslavian supporters and security officers after the World Championship 2002 qualifying match Switzerland vs Yugoslavia in Basel.

Hooligans plot Munich mayhem - 02/09/2001

Source: Reuters

Neo-Nazi German football hooligans plan to mount attacks on England
supporters in a deliberate attempt to create mayhem at this week's World Cup
qualifier in Munich. Some of German soccer's most notorious troublemakers
will try to spark violent clashes with the estimated 10,000 English fans
travelling to the match. Far-right thugs attached to clubs such as Hamburg,
Hansa Rostock and Hertha Berlin, who regularly cause problems at Bundesliga
games, are known to be plotting. With many of England's most notorious thugs
travelling to Saturday's showdown, concern is growing that it will be marred
by clashes between rival fans and police. The German authorities insist they
can handle any violence. But some English officials involved in the huge
policing operation fear their counterparts are 'complacent' about the
likelihood of serious disorder. 'Their view seems to be that because they're
used to policing Bayern Munich league games at the Olympic Stadium, the
international there next weekend won't throw up any unusual problems,' said
one official. 'Given the unsavoury history and reputation of England fans
abroad, that's astonishing.' The German police are apparently reluctant to
accept that around 5,000 England supporters will be arriving in Munich
despite not having official tickets for the match. They also seem to have
underestimated the number of visiting fans, thought to be at least 2,000, who
have been paying up to �200 for black market tickets in German sections of
the 66,000-seat stadium. Every day dozens of England followers buy tickets
from Germans through internet auction sites. There are fears that supposedly
strict segregation inside the stadium could break down, with disastrous
consequences. Some of those England supporters will be moved to an area near
the halfway line, for which no tickets have been sold, to try to prevent
fights. But the British Government and National Criminal Intelligence Service
are worried that the empty section, which holds fewer than 500 people, will
be too small. Peter Reichl of Munich police said 600 officers would be on
duty, some armed with tear gas. 'That's unusually high compared to a league
match but not the highest number for an international match in Germany,' he
said. 'We are well prepared. We are not expecting a pitched battle.' A big
policing operation starts in Britain tomorrow to stop known troublemakers
from leaving the country. More than 500 of England's worst thugs have already
been served with banning orders. Special Branch will monitor everyone heading
for Europe from ports and airports.

England fans in more trouble in Munich - 03/09/2001

Source: Reuters

England football fans were again involved in overnight trouble in the wake of
the World Cup defeat of Germany, police said Monday.
Police said that drunken fans who had stayed on were responsible for fighting
which resulted in nine of them being arrested and another 29 detained.
There had been trouble also prior to the match on Saturday, won 5-1 by
England, with fighting between rival sets of fans which left ten policemen
and four passers-by injured. Before last night's violence police had arrested 47 supporters and detained 137 others.

Hardcore Lazio fans stay away from Shalom cup - 03/09/2001

Source:

Hardcore fans of Italian first division club Lazio carried out their threat
to stay away from an anti-racism tournament Monday but those who did turn up
enjoyed a festive atmosphere. The three-cornered Shalom Cup involving Lazio, Ivory Coast club Asec Mimosas and Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa had been planned by Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti as the latest in a series of measures to disassociate the club with racist and anti-semitic supporters. But as action got underway the Curva Nord of the Olympic Stadium - where Lazio's notorious 'ultras' traditionally congregate - was virtually empty with fans apparently heeding a call to boycott the tournament.
However, it was not all bad news for Lazio with ANSA reporting that up to
10,000 fans turned up to the 80,000 capacity arena and they were rewarded
with plenty of goals. Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Franco Carraro criticised the absentees. "I think their reaction was a superficial and a mistaken one," said Carraro. "Especially because this is a great show tonight. I only hope they rethink
seriously what they have done."
Cragnotti was pleased with the turnout, however. "I am happy and satisfied how the public has reacted to the call," said Cragnotti. "This evening has given a sign of civility and as far as Lazio is concerned our fight against racism and anti-semitism continues.
"Some may have tried to boycott us but in general the message has been
received by all and I am proud of that."
Three supporters groups - the Irreducibili, Piazza d'Armi and the Gruppo Mr.
Heinrich - had urged a fans boycott. "The current political situation, particularly in the Middle East, renders the tournament unsustainable and anachronistic," said the fans in a statement which called for the tournament to be cancelled. "The word peace (Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace) seems inadequate at a time where blood, death and terrorism dominates a reality that is so close and painful to us."

One dead and 18 injured after Costa Rica qualify for World Cup - 06/09/2001

Source:

One person died and 18 people were injured in the aftermath of Costa Rica's
qualification for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan after beating
the USA here. Police further revealed there were 89 car accidents, other cars had been
vandalized and one was set alight during the night of Wednesday to Thursday
here. The worst incident was when a 35-year-old man was shot dead.
Costa Rica's qualification sparked off a party mood which escalated into
collective hysteria.

Swansea fans helf after ugly clashes - 07/09/2001

Source: BBC

Police have swooped on the homes of Walsall Football supporters in connection with violent clashes at a game against Notts County back in March . Officers from Nottinghamshire Police and the WestMidlands staged a joint operation on Wednesday and made a series of arrests . A spokesman for Nottinghamshire police said " Four people from the Walsall area were arrested in connection with an incident of violent disorder following the game at Meadow Lane in March , and further arrestes are anticipated . Fans were quizzed by officers from West Brigford CID in Nottinghamshire and have been bailed pending further inquires . Police are investigating trouble after last seasons match at Meadow Lane where Walsall slumped to a 2-0 defeat . Officers had to draw batons when they were confronted by a group of 50 walsall fnas as they left the ground . There were ugly scenes as fans started stoning and kicking cars and threatening passers-by . The fans were eventually taken to the railway station and put on trains back to the west midlands . More than 500 walsall fans had travelled to Nottingham for the game , which ended with promotion chasing Walsall slipping to fourth in division two . It is believed that suspects have been identified from closed circuit TV footage .

Osijek - Dinamo Zagreb - 07/09/2001

Source:

This match was broken up on the 87th minute Dinamo leading 2-1. One of the Osijek fans came down to the pitch and hit Dinamo's player Dujmovich. The referee was forced to stop the game. The final decision on the game result is still expected.

SK Lokeren - KAA Gent - 09/09/2001

Source: mail

A toe-to-toe erupted between a group of about 15 Gent lads helped by 25-30 Bruges lads and a group of about 40 locals. Firstly, when visitors went out of their pub, they attacked locals, who had to retreat, before they came back. Visitors also made a run.

Brighton & Hove Albion - Queen's Park Rangers - 09/09/2001

Source: ITK

A fight erupted in the car park outside the away end, between 30 Brighton lads and about 20 QPR lads.

Chieti - Pescara - 09/09/2001

Source: Tifonet

As this derby was a high-risks game, the match was diffused on 2 different local televisions, with the aim to control all supporters. Unfortunetely for local police forces, a fight erupted between them and Pescara's ultras. Three ultras were injured.

Palermo - Pistoiese - 09/09/2001

Source: Tifonet

Before the game, a local fan was arrested after he fought with a local policeman, who was present in front of the stadium.

Olympiakos authorities seeking to keep the peace with United fans - 10/09/2001

Source:

The board of Greek giants Olympiakos have banned water bottles from
Wednesday's Champions League match with English Premiership titleholders
Manchester United among a range of extra security measures in a bid to avoid
trouble. Greek officials expect a sell-out crowd of 75,000 at Spiros Louis Stadium in
Athens, with some 700 Manchester United fans coming from England.
Olympiakos will distribute about 40,000 leaflets to spectators demanding they
behave themselves, while in the stands regular police will be supported by
private police hired by the club. Police have ordered 2,000 seats to be left empty, which will separate the
Manchester United fans from their Greek counterparts.