Season 02/03 - August

Hamburg SV - Manchester City - Friendly game - 03/08/2002

Source: Reuters

46 people(mostly Germans) were arrested after riots between German and English Hooligans in the redlight district of Hamburg.The fights errupted on the nights before and after the match.Also some minor incidents in the stadium between Hamburg fans and 3000 Manchester supporters.
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Source: A Man City forum

The night before the game, some locals attacked Man City fans, who were inside pubs. The day of the game, local police forces tried to stop violence, surrounding normal fans.
Fights occured between ManCity fans and (it seems) St Pauli fans. Chairs and bottles were used.

RSC Anderlecht - Everton FC - Friendly game - 06/08/2002

Source: BBC

An Everton fan has been slightly injured and a Belgian police officer hurt in separate incidents in Brussels.
Officers from Merseyside police, in Belgium as observers, reported seeing a large group of fans enjoying and behaving themselves ahead of the match between Anderlecht and Everton.
But one fan was hurt following a confrontation with home supporters after Everton fans got off at the wrong metro station as they made their way to the game.
After the match, which Everton lost 2-0, a Belgian police officer was injured as supporters of the Merseyside club were moved away from the stadium to a local station.
A number of bricks were thrown during the disturbance, a spokesman for Merseyside police said.





Belgian newspapers and TV:
At the end of the game, riots occured, opposing Everton lads and immigrates in the city centre of Brussels. A total of 25 Everton fans were arrested.
Prior to the game, a fight also occured, opposing hardcore of both sides (30-40 a side).
Daily Post:
Belgian police used CS gas and water cannon in an attempt to break up ugly scenes both before and after Everton's pre-season friendly match with Anderlecht last night. About 100 supporters from each club clashed before the start of the match, and afterwards Everton fans were
involved in another confrontation with police as they tried to leave the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on the outskirts of Brussels. Police and Everton fans each blamed the other for the disturbances, in which a Belgian police officer was hurt and an Everton fan slightly injured. In one incident, a supporter claimed police sprayed CS gas only a few yards away from his two children-Bar manager David Mitter, 35, had taken his son Adam and his 13-year-old daughter, Jemma, for their first match abroad,when they got caught up in a roadblock before the start of the game. Speaking from Brussels last night, he said: "We were just 100 yards away from the ground, when the police ran at us with batons and shields. Before we knew it, there was CS gas all over the place. My nine-year-old son was hysterical. His eyes were streaming and he was coughing.
The police's attitude towards us was an absolute disgrace. The fans were just walking towards the ground and there was nothing untoward going on. Supt Dave Lewis, the Merseyside police football match commander, said the trouble started after a number of Everton fans got off at the wrong Metro station before the game and ran into a group of home fans. He said: "There
was a confrontation involving about 100 supporters from each side, which was quickly broken up by the police using CS gas.

An Everton fan has been slightly injured and a Belgian police officer hurt in separate incidents in Brussels. Officers from Merseyside police, in Belgium as observers, reported seeing a large group of fans enjoying and behaving themselves ahead of the match between Anderlecht and Everton. But one fan was hurt following a confrontation with home supporters after Everton fans got off at the wrong metro station as they made their way to the game. After the match, which Everton lost 2-0, a Belgian police officer was injured as supporters of the Merseyside club were moved away from the stadium to a local station. A number of bricks were thrown during the disturbance, a spokesman for Merseyside police said.

Bordeaux - Paris SG - 09/08/2002

Source: mail + pariscasuals.com

The day before the game, on the evening, a little fight took place in city center between 25 fans of Paris (hools and ultras) and about 40 Ultras/Devils of Bordeaux, some kicks and punches but cops intervened rapidly. One bordeaux fan injured. The day of the game, a group of 30 lads of Paris attacked the ultras stand of bordeaux, these last gathered a firm of 50 persons, 10 fans of Paris rapidly gone away and a big fight occured between the 20 Paris and the bordeaux group. After a good fight, Paris ran back, and came back some minutes after with approximately 15 lads. Other fight but Paris, really outnumbered ran back another time. 4 Bordeaux fans injured and 3/4 Paris ones. Paris had a group of 60 lads in the city but never succeeded in gather the whole group. Good fights with no weapons.

Cherno More - Levski Sofia - 10/08/2002

Source: Soccer Fans

Ultra Levski fans have made a good fight against the fans of Botev Plovdiv.
As as result, 4 cars with Botev fans has been smashed and 3 fans and 2 policemans are in hospital.
Then later our fans fight in the stadium with some Cherno More fans.

Zeljeznicar - Newcastle United - 14/08/2002

Source: Zeljeznicar website

Zeljeznicar lads trying to attack Newcastle group, well escorted by Bosnian cops.

FC Basel - FC Luzern - 17/08/2002

Source: Soccer Fans

The ultras of Basel made a big pyro show durin the beginning of this match. Then the cops came into the stadion and the ultras began to fight against them.
FC Basel lost the match 2:3 and after the game they stormt out of the stadion and went to the Luzern sector and waited. When the Luzern fans came out they began to throw with rocks, bottles and molotow
cocktails because the police protected the luzern fans.
The fights lasted three hours!
it was the biggest street fight ever seen in Swizerland. Result of this night:15 injured cops,3 snackbars were burnt.
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Source: forum

Riots occured inside the stadium, opposing Basel ultras and police forces, after local fans made a big show with smoke bombs and firecrackers. When Luzern fans went out of the stadium, escorted by police, locals threw bricks, bottles and other missiles at them. Fights occured for 3 hours with a result of 15 injured policemen and 3 burned snacks.

SK Lokeren - Beerschot - 17/08/2002

Source: belgian press

Lokeren Police prevents clash between hooligans

Saturday hooligans of Lokeren and Beerschot arranged an off, but the planned battle was prevented by the pressence of a big police force. Inside the Daknam stadion was a lot of damage caused to the fences. De hard core of Beerschot was reïnforced by twinty friendly hooligans from Groningen and already went to Lokeren, three hours before kick off.
The local hooligans would invite their colleauges from Breda. After all, there was some unfinished business: januari this year rivals met eachother for the first time, before and after the friendly game Breda-Beerschot, where there were several wounded people.
The Lokeren police seemed to notice what could happen and called up a big number of officers, reïnforced by the Federal Police and by cavalary from Brussel.
Chief commissioner Patrick Trienpont: "It was soon clear the expected hooligans from Breda would show up. So the Lokeren group, about thirty lads, stayed all the time in a pub near the station, where we could keep an eye on them. As soon as we spotted the Beerschot group, we also watched them all the time."
After two hours of waiting for a signal from their rivals, the Beerschot hooligans went to the stadion to watch the game. After a couple of heavy discussed decisions from the referee - who gave two penalties to Lokeren and also excluded two Beerschot players - a part of the Beerschot fans had a go at the fences of the stadion. After they destroyed a fence, some hooligans tried to invade the pitch and to disturb the game, but were stopped by police.
After the game there were some incidents at the parking lot. The hooligans were pushed back fasted by cavalary.
Saturday, the Beerschot hooligans confirmed their bad reputation once more.

Locals


Visitors

Swindon - Swansea City - 24/08/2002

Source: BBC

Cardiff City's reputation for football trouble looks set to continue after four fans suspected of being banned by the courts from attending games were arrested at the team's away match against Swindon Town.
The four were held by Wiltshire Police before the game had begun.
Officers said they were expecting around 4,000 Bluebirds supporters for the clash at Swindon's County Ground - many without tickets - and were prepared for any problems.

Scotland: Police smash Capital football riot gangs - 29/08/2002

Source: Evening News

By JANE HAMILTON Crime Reporter

POLICE said today they have smashed some of the city’s worst football hooligan gangs amid fears the problem is once again on the rise.

After a two-week intelligence operation, five men have been arrested in connection with serious trouble that flared following the season’s first Edinburgh derby between Hearts and Hibs.

Senior officers are now vowing to continue the crackdown against an estimated 20 more so-called "soccer casuals", warning they know exactly who they are looking for.

The latest arrests mean that police have charged a total of nine people in connection with a running battle between up to 40 rival fans following the match on August 11.

Hooligans caused mayhem in Lothian Road in the wake of Hearts’ 5-1 victory over Hibs.

Innocent bystanders were struck by missiles as the thugs threw bottles and traffic cones .

CCTV operators who monitor the city centre alerted police to the running battles and officers raced to the scene .

Four men were arrested at the time and have already appeared in court in connection with public order offences.

In a planned operation, police mounted an early morning operation last Saturday and arrested a further five men in connection with the incident.

However, officers said they could be hunting for up to 20 further football casuals who caused mayhem after the game on Sunday, August 11.

At the beginning of last season, police warned a new generation of football hooligans were being spotted at Scottish Premierleague matches.

Casual crews such as the CCS (Capital City Service), who were linked to Hibs, and the CSF (Casual Soccer Firm), linked to Hearts, caused violence in the 1980s and 1990s, but the problem seemed to disappear as those involved grew older.

However, almost a decade on, police have said they fear the casuals have re-emerged.

Chief Superintendent Charlie Michie, commander of C Division which takes in Tynecastle stadium and the West End area of the city, vowed to continue to root out the thugs .

Mr Michie said: " We know exactly who is involved and a number of ringleaders have been charged and more will be in the future, " he added.

The chief said the force had identified an increase in violence among football casuals during last season and had drawn up plans to tackle the problems head on.

"We have gathered significant amounts of intelligence on these people who have no interest in football.

"Many of them are mature individuals who are sad and misguided and we will make Edinburgh an unwelcoming place for those types ."

The Chief Superintendent also vowed that all of the thugs involved in the derby day violence would be traced .

A spokeswoman for the force said: "Five men have been arrested and charged in connection with an incident on Lothian Road on August 11.

"The men, two of whom are aged 36, a 34-year-old man, a 33-year-old man and a 24-year-old man, have all been charged with public order offences and a report submitted to the procurator fiscal."

That same day, about 50 hooligans smashed up the Polwarth Tavern, in Polwarth Crescent, before the game. Windows were smashed and bottles thrown as the pub, popular with football fans, came under attack .

Violence also marred the Hearts-Hibs derby in March when police were forced to use dogs and CS spray to subdue rioting football hooligans .

It was thought that hooligans from Aberdeen and Chelsea were among those involved in the initial fighting, as well as about 40 football casuals from Hibs.

Fan dies after Stockholm brawl - 02/08/2002

Source: Reuters

A man has died in hospital four days after suffering horrific head injuries in a pre-match fight between 50 AIK Stockholm and IFK Gothenburg supporters in a park in south Stockholm on Monday. He is Sweden's first football hooligan-related death. The unnamed 26-year-old IFK Gothenburg supporter had been in a coma since Monday after having been kicked in the head and beaten with an iron bar, according to eye witnesses. 'Despite all attempts, his life was impossible to save,' hospital Karolinska sjukhuset press officer Margareta Hamark told Swedish news agency TT. 'He was declared dead at 6:37 (Swedish time) when no brain activity was registered.' Police have questioned eye witnesses since Monday but are yet to arrest anyone for the incident they are viewing as a likely murder. 'The damages were so serious that whoever caused them must have known what they could lead to,' Stockholm police officer Ulf Goranzon told daily Expressen on Friday.

Hull City - Middlesborough - Friendly match - 02/08/2002

Source: local newspaper

Police were pelted with missiles as more than 200 football hooligans clashed at Friday's friendly between Hull and Middlesbrough. The two sets of supporters clashed just prior to kick off at Bootham Crescent. A Humberside Police spokeswoman said one man was arrested in connection with public order offences. "At about 7.15pm we received a call to problems outside the ground at Boothferry Park," she said. "There were approximately 200 football fans in altercations, about 100 from each side. "Police officers were being pelted with missiles." Around 7,500 attended the friendly, which Middlesbrough won 1-0, and riot police were stationed outside the stadium after the game to avoid further trouble. England defender Gareth Southagte scored the winner for Steve McClaren's men.

Feyenoord Rotterdam - Tottenham Hotspurs - Friendly match - 04/08/2002

Source: forum

From a Spurs-lad:
Just back. fuck all happened in the dam. no further comments on this , too depressed still. however, spurs gave it proper to feyernoord. according to yids numbers 50-60, charged a larger group dutch, legged them. escort to ground. spurs leave after half time, about 40-50, have it again with feyernoord at tram stop, do the dutch again. ob apparently not really bothered, same in the dam. some yids still in r'dam.

Derby County - Sheffield United - 10/08/2002

Source: ITK forum

Sheffield lads were present in the city centre with a massive 200 blokes group. As the saw no opposition, except a few punches with some locals, they caused damages, smashing windows.

Carlisle - Hartlepool - 10/08/2002

Source: ITK forum

For this game, both firms were present with good number: 150 locals were waiting for action, and 50'Pool lads made the transfer, but local police forces were on top on no major incidents occured.
At half time: Some pewlies managed to get the concourse doors open and charged through, few punches thrown, Carlisle charge at them and they went back at a rate of knots.

Lorient - Toulouse FC - 10/08/2002

Source: FC Lorient.net

After Lorient scored, a young fan crack a firecracker. Five stewards tried to arrest him and fought many people before arriving at him. People of all ages received punches by stewards. When steward arrived at the guy, he was hitted at his face. Local fans accused these stewards and requested some 'counts' at their club.

Clashes between Man UTD and Cardiff fans - 10/08/2002

Source: ITK forum

Here is a United view:
... Cardiff turned up in Manchester before their game with Oldham and lads from both sides were in contact. United had 30-40 lads out and it wasn't the greatest turn out (very poor in fact) and Cardiff said they had the same .We were told you were in the Crown & Anchor so we headed towards the said boozer. On arriving no Cardiff were in there bar a female Cardiff fan that said they had gone looking for United. Then we heard you were heading towards the Crown & anchor near to Victoria (and not Piccadilly). So we head over that way and go in the Black lion near Victoria. A CR lad then decides to see where Cardiff are, and goes to call it on. As he walks up to where Cardiff are he bumps into a few United. At this time the 30 Cardiff are coming across the road. They see 6 United and run at them. The CR lad shouts at the Cardiff lot "not here as we're up the road". The Cardiff lads take no notice and run at the 6 United lads who have to retreat. That's all that happened before the game. Cardiff phone up and even say that they could see what the CR was trying to do but a few of them were pissed up and got overexcited (fair enough these things happen). After the game calls are made and Cardiff say they're in Shambles square. 8 United head up towards Shambles sq when they bump into 20 Cardiff. A couple of Cardiff start saying that "you've got to give us some respect for at least turning up" as if they're expecting loads of United to turn up and batter them and they’re trying to get out of it. Anyway the big CR says “respect what fucking respect there's only 8 of us” and they steam into Cardiff. Cardiff back off at first and then the big CR get's a dig (good one at that) and get's knocked out. A couple of United get him up and send him away as he's fucked. Then Cardiff get the better of things and run towards the 8 United who get backed off about 10-20 yards. It fizzles out and a few more United come up the road and Cardiff disappear down some alley and the OB turn up. So credit to Cardiff for turning up and getting away from the OB and for being up up for it. Also credit for not weighing in to the CR lad after he got KO'd, and also for phoning up later to see if he was OK. No United have got any complaints about getting turned over but the lads who were there can't believe the bit that what Cardiff have posted re the numbers. The first incident 30 Cardiff ran 6 United and the second time 20 Cardiff got the better of things against 8 United. Out of that 8 only 2 are well known and the bit about Cardiff saying it was United's main lads is a joke...

Portsmouth FC - Nottingham Forest - 10/08/2002

Source: ITK forum

Here is a PFC view:
Saturday morning Pompey lads met at various watering holes at 11 o clock as we heard some Forest lads were coming to pay us a visit. After various messages exchanged it became apparent that Forest who travelled down on two coaches were actually in Fareham which is actually about 10 miles from Portsmouth. They told us they would be arriving at Frattton via train at about 2.15 so we sent a reception party to meet them. As this time came and went is was obvious they were not coming on the arranged train so the meeting party moved down towards the ground. Some of us stayed drinking in pubs near the station thinking they may be on the next train. On leaving the pub at 2.50 to walk down Goldsmith Avenue to the ground the exit from the station was surrounded by OB and about 10 meat wagons. At this time the Forest lads came of the train and exited the station immediately being surrounded by OB. There were some Pompey boys walking to the ground but no large group or mob of any kind. Forest seemed to number about 80 in total and were constantly shouting abuse at the various passers by such as " come on then Pompey " " your supposed to be at home " and a few very minor scuffles occured. Most of the Forest lads seemed game enough especially the few coloured lads but they also seemed quite happy to have the OB around them and made no effort to escape them. As the first of their lads approached the ground they were attacked by Pompeys lads and quickly jumped back into the escort.Eventually the OB got them all together and held them back while Pompey wewre forced into the ground. Some phone numbers were exchanged for a meet afterwards. During the game it became apparent that the Forest lads were escorted away from the ground and back to their coaches and by the time the game had finished they were on their way home. Fair play to Forest for bringing a nice looking firm but why turn up on our patch at 2.55 expecting to dance. There was plenty of dancing time earlier in the day but the Forest lads chose to drink in Fareham. I would like to hear a Forest side of this from someone that actually went and can assure you that when we come to yours as always we will be there early and leave late.

Riots in Torquay - 10/08/2002

Source: The North Evil Post

Five men from Bristol and Weston were arrested on Saturday afternoon after fighting broke out between football fans in a prearranged meeting in Torquay. Police suspect that hooligans from Bristol and Plymouth had planned the violence using mobile phones and arranged for the fight to take place away from the ground. Shortly after half time a small group of the 1,700 travelling Bristol Rovers fans left Torquay United's Plainmoor Ground for the rendezvous with Plymouth fans who had gathered in the Ashill area of the town. The two sets of rival fans then started fighting outside the Ashill Inn pub, in Ashill Road, and used CS spray on each other and police officers who tried to intervene. At one point more than 80 young men were involved in the fighting. Weapons including CS gas and knives were recovered by police after an afternoon of violent incidents around the town. Five men from Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, were arrested at the scene and were still being questioned by police in Torquay. No members of the public or police officers were injured. Inspector Jackie Lloyd, spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall police, said: "We had to keep a high police profile throughout the afternoon as groups of up to 200 fans were walking the streets. "The violence in Ashill Road was the worst of the afternoon but officers had to deal with a number of incidents. "Weapons including large knives, forks and CS spray have been recovered from the scene of the fight." Inspector Lloyd said the police were taken by surprise and had to call on extra resources from the two counties to contain the troublemakers. She said: "There is evidence to suggest this was pre-arranged and at its height it involved fans from Bristol, Plymouth, Torquay and Exeter. "These things can happen very quickly because they call each other up on mobile phones and arrange to meet spontaneously."

Blades thugs start season by running riot in two cities - 11/08/2002

Source: Yorkshire Post

More than 150 Sheffield United thugs ran riot in Coventry and Derby attacking police and rival fans as violence marred the start of the new football season. Two officers were injured and police vehicles were damaged as fans hurled missiles and threw punches and kicks at police before the Blades's match at Coventry. And on their way home from the game thugs attacked police and smashed up two pubs in Derby city centre during more than an hour of running battles. The violence came just days after new figures revealed that there had been a resurgence in football violence in the First and Second Division. It followed warnings from senior South Yorkshire police in Saturday's Yorkshire Post that Sheffield had a worsening problem. The trouble began close to Coventry's stadium shortly before 3pm on Saturday when a mob of around 100 fans became violent. West Midlands police said: "Stones were thrown and they attacked a number of officers and some were injured and there was damage to police vans. We will be looking to see if we can identify the ringleaders from video evidence." After the match, instead of travelling back to Sheffield, hooligans headed for Derby for what may have been a pre-arranged confrontation with Derby County's thug element. Police in the city came under fire from glasses and bottles as they tried to prevent the United mob from clashing with a similar number of Derby County supporters. The incidents bore all the hallmarks of organised football violence orchestrated by a notorious mob known as the Blades Business Crew. Sgt Mick Goacher, of Derbyshire Police, said although that could not be ruled out, there had been no intelligence to indicate that the confrontation was being planned.

Hearts of Midlothian - Hibernian - 11/08/2002

Source: ASC forum

Here is an Hibs view:
...The shout goes up the meets at a local park in 10 mins so as hertz r putting jacketts on blah blah,after only 2 mins hibs r charging outside the pub.hearts steam out to confront but only about 15 make it out wen the pub door is hit with everything (bottles,pints,plant pot,tv?) the rest of hearts mob decide to either dodge missiles or retreat thus leavin the 15 lads outside the pub on their own. Once hearts were back in boozer,nobody wood make the charge out or in. As hearts were tryin to smash the windows to create more exits i noticed a couple of hibs had been sparked out thus the 15 hearts lads must hav made an impression. I must emphasise that the number of ICF present numbered 1(hardly constitutes 30 and does one lad warrant a rent a mob tag.........no)...

Hooligans mar season opener - 11/08/2002

Source: Coventry Evening Telegraph

Police in Coventry are reviewing the way football matches in the city are covered after trouble among visiting fans marred the first two games of the season at Highfield Road. Supt John Larkin said officers at Saturday’s league opener against Sheffield United were “completely overwhelmed” by violence which broke out ahead of the first Division One fixture of the season. The trouble came two weeks after rival fans from Coventry and Dundee fought running battles outside pubs in Far Gosford Street following a pre-season friendly at Highfield Road. During the violence on Saturday one officer suffered a nasty leg injury and others were left with cuts and bruises after Sheffield fans they were escorting to the ground suddenly went on the rampage. Stones and missiles were thrown and officers were attacked as the trouble broke out before the fans went through the turnstiles at Highfield Road. Police vans and a police motorcycle were also damaged during the incident. Officers wore full riot gear with their visors down for protection, and quickly managed to contain the violence.Supt Larkin said: “There seemed to be no rhyme nor reason as to why the trouble started, and if it had carried on into the ground or anywhere near the Coventry fans we would have been faced with quite severe scenes of violence. “As a result of that, and trouble at the friendly game with Dundee United, we are reviewing with the football club arrangements for policing at forthcoming matches.” He added: “There were absolutely no problems with Coventry City fans, who were very well-behaved.” Officers will now be studying CCTV camera footage to identify the ringleaders of Saturday’s trouble, and are likely to work closely with police from Sheffield.

PSV fans at training camp - 11/08/2002

Source: Omroep Brabant Website

A group of 100 PSV fans stayed closed the training camp gates. They mad this action because they were disappointed after the Dutch Super Cup against Ajax. For being at the game they must take the train with the entrance ticket...They refused.

Udinese - Venezia Mestre - Friendly match - 13/08/2002

Source: Tifonet From Tifonet, 25/08/2002

Incidents of Fontanafredda (Udinese area): judge confirm sentences about ultras, after blood was find in the weapons.
Policemen thing that riots started when ultras of both teams arrived in the main street , with the aim to cause trouble. After they watched CCTV, police forces have arrested 12 people. All of these are Udinese ultras. Two of them had weapons.
During this journey, a fan was also transfered at hospital after he was wounded.
Riots started some minutes before kick-off, in the carpark of the stadium. Ultras used baseball bats, batons etc...Carabinieri had to restore order.

Argentine derby postponed - 15/08/2002

Source: Reuters

Racing Club and Independiente, who share one of Argentine soccer's fiercest rivalries, will play their derby at a neutral venue due to security worries, officials said Thursday.
The match, the first between the two clubs since last February's fixture when a fan was killed in fighting before the kick off, has also been put back from Sunday to Monday. Racing's ground, the scheduled venue for the game, does not meet safety regulations and the match will be played at River Plate's Monumental de Nunez stadium, officials said. 'We are already studying ways of preventing trouble and we will deploy no less than 1,000 officers,' said Carlos Cheroni, the police officer in charge of the security operation. The government of Buenos Aires province on Tuesday banned Racing from hosting the game because it said they had not complied with rules which stipulate that all 25,000-plus capacity stadia must have a video security systems. Monday's game will pit former team mates from the Argentine team which won the 1978 World Cup -- Osvaldo Ardiles, coach of Racing and America Gallego, his counter-part at Independiente. The match also throws up a family rivalry, with Gabriel Milito captaining Independiente and his brother Diego playing in attack for Racing. Ardiles, who upset some of his players by publicly condemning them for lack of effort in last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Talleres, said that Independiente's better form did not make them favourites. 'I know America very well. He doesn't give much away. Independiente have been doing well and we have been doing badly but maybe this could be a boomerang,' said the former Tottenham midfielder. Ardiles was appointed only two days before the start of the tournament after Reinaldo Merle, who last year led Racing to their first title for 35 years, resigned in protest at a lack of reinforcements.

Marseille - Lyon - 16/08/2002

Source: TV

Many firecrackers were exchanged by both sides of supporters.