Season 03/04 - March

Died and injured fans in Syria - 12/03/2004

Source: Nu.nl

Five people died and many were injured during fans' troubles during the game opposing Kameshli to Deir-al-Zour.

AZ Aalkmar - FC Utrecht - 13/03/2004

Source: forums

A fight erutped, opposing approx 40 local youths to 15 FCU youths, joined by 3 olders.

Novi Pazar - Rad Beograd - 06/03/2004

Source: rus-hool.narod.ru + tribina.co.yu

About 200 FC Rad fans (United Force) had gone from Belgrade to the Novi Pazar. Novi Pazar is the city in South Serbia where live Turkish people. When United Force had come to the stadium, first, they had a trouble with security at the gates and just a part of them came in to the stadium. Others started to throws bricks and torches to the tribune with a local people. Torcida Sandzak (Novi Pazar fans), that were at the opposite tribune made to reach to the United Force, over the pitch, and UF made to break the fence, so the fight started at the ground. It was a fight between 500 Torcida Sandzak (or just Muslims) and 50 United Force hools. United Force was made to withdraw back to their tribune and then, by the police, was expelled out from the stadium. But the fights between UF, police and Muslims were continued around the city. The final score of fights that happened that day is 20 injured people (2 cops, 5 United Force hools and 13 Muslims). 63 UF hools are arrested and 19 fans of Novi Pazar (Torcida Sandzak)...

Spartak Moscow - Dynamo Moscow - 13/03/2004

Source: video.hool.ru

Nothing interesting before or after the match (before match Dynamo hools attacked Spartak youth, but it is nothing for Moscow derby).

On video the view from the Dynamo sector, fans prefer to throw plastic seats and flares each other not to watch the game.

http://www.video.hool.ru/video/spa-din.wmv (~10mb)

Lazio Roma - Juventus Turin - Cup - 17/03/2004

Source: Corriere della Sera

Two Juventus fans were stabbed at the end of this cup game. One of this two men is so seriously injured.

Fan killed as high winds sweep UK - 20/03/2004

Source: BBC


An Everton FC fan was killed by flying debris on his way to a game in Leicester, as high winds swept the country.
The man, who is from Liverpool, suffered fatal injuries in Upperton Road at about 1418 GMT on Saturday.

Leicestershire Police said his death seemed to have been an accident.

A Leicester City FC spokesman said: "The club expresses its deepest sympathy to the family of the man at this tragic time."

Police said they were currently trying to track down the dead man's relatives.

A file was also being prepared to submit to the coroner.

The game finished 1-1 after Leicester City striker Marcus Bent scored a late equaliser to cancel out an earlier goal from Everton's Wayne Rooney.

Lazio Roma - AS Roma - 21/03/2004

Source: Reuters

Soccer fans fought police after the Rome 'derby' match between Lazio and AS Roma was abandoned on Sunday following a false rumour that a young boy had been killed by a police car outside the Olympic Stadium.

When supporters left the stadium there were violent clashes with the police in the surrounding area.

Fans threw flares and bottles at police who responded with tear gas during fierce clashes. The Italian news agency ANSA said fans had set up barricades in the streets.

The match was four minutes into the second half, with the score at 0-0, when a fan walked on to the pitch behind the Roma goal to interrupt the match with the rumour of the boy's death.

Both sets of players gathered in the centre circle to discuss the situation with referee Roberto Rosetti as flares rained down on riot police positioned underneath the south stand, where the majority of Roma's supporters were sitting.

The police department of Rome quickly denied the rumour via the stadium announcer, saying it was without foundation.

However, after a 15-minute delay - during which tear gas and then smoke billowed into the stadium through the exits in the south stand - the match was abandoned.

Italian Football League president Adriano Galliani told ANSA he had ordered the referee to call off the game.

'I took the decision because I was convinced that it was impossible to play,' said Galliani.

'I spoke to many people who were on the pitch and I chose the least worst solution,' he said.

PITCH INVASION

Galliani said he feared a pitch invasion and had been informed the players did not want to continue the game. The match will be replayed, he said.

The prefect of Rome, Nicola Cavaliere, said he was launching an investigation into the events.

'We are investigating how this happened. False information such as this can cause real damage,' he said.

Lazio defender Massimo Oddo said he and his team mates were initially confused by the situation.

'We didn't know what was happening until Francesco Totti came up to us and said 'we are not playing because a child is dead',' said the defender.

As supporters filed out, seats were torn up and burned. Outside the stadiume a guardhouse was set on fire during skirmishes between police and fans.

Later the incidents became more violent as fans turned on the police.

Roma, second in Serie A on 57 points, were trying to close the 10-point gap with leaders AC Milan.

Millwalll FC - West Ham United - 21/03/2004

Source: Reuters + Guardian + post: independent view - Ricardo


Crowd trouble marred the English first division match between Millwall and West Ham United on Sunday.

Mounted police were needed to restore order at Millwall's New Den stadium as trouble flared in the second half of the crucial promotion battle between the London rivals.

According to BBC radio, West Ham fans tried to invade the pitch when Millwall, leading 3-1, were awarded a penalty and West Ham goalkeeper Stephen Bywater was sent off.

The match had attracted a massive security operation, with a reported 1,000 police officers on duty in and around the stadium close by the River Thames.

FA Cup semi-finalists Millwall, who missed two penalties, won the game 4-1 to boost their chances of reaching the promotion playoffs.

The south London club are now seventh in the table with 59 points, level with Sunderland and Ipswich and just one behind fifth-placed West Ham with two games in hand.
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A section of West Ham's fans brought disgrace on their club yesterday as 40 riot police and eight mounted officers were called into the stadium to quell disturbances at the away end.
Around 250 visiting fans left their seats in an effort to confront home supporters in the West Stand. As the mob formed, cordons separating the away seating from the pitch were torn up, as was a "Lions Against Racism" banner.

It is the fourth time this season that West Ham's hooligan problem has reared its head. Before and after the Carling Cup matches against Tottenham and Cardiff, as well as at the league fixture with Cardiff at Upton Park, West Ham fans have been involved in violence.

A seat was thrown from one of the Millwall stands towards the away fans but had it not been for the strides made in fan management at the Den over recent seasons, there might have been more violence inside the stadium.

A vetting scheme allowed yesterday's to be a membership-only match, guaranteeing the home fans would lose their season tickets if drawn into the confrontation. The construction this season of a tunnel from the ground to the local train station further ensured that away supporters could be segregated and escorted all the way back to east London.

In the event, there were four ejections of Millwall fans, with one arrested for racial abuse. "We will deal with that with zero tolerance," said Millwall's chairman Theo Paphitis. "If you noticed, our fans were booing the incidents and did not get involved."

Two West Ham fans were arrested for criminal damage and another three ejected after visiting supporters vandalised the toilets. Yet Alan Pardew, dismayed at his team's insipid display, sympathised with fans' fury. "You can't condone that behaviour but by the same token the frustration from the pitch made the fans edgy and we have to take responsibility for that," he said.

There is an issue of primacy between the two clubs which required an 1,100-strong police presence, but that could not prevent matters getting out of hand. The Football Association will now consider the evidence before bringing charges against either club.

"They were West Ham season-ticket holders - that's a big disappointment," said Paphitis. "We will be passing the CCTV footage to the club."

West Ham's captain Christian Dailly had opened the scoring for Millwall, prompting ironic shouts of "Shoot!" every time he was in possession in his own half.

It was later, with Millwall 3-1 up, that Stephen Bywater's sending-off for a professional foul and the consequent award of a penalty stirred the visiting fans into violent action. Tim Cahill, who had doubled Millwall's lead, sent the spot-kick high and wide - Millwall's second missed penalty after Bywater's legs had thwarted Neil Harris in the first half.

The visitors made no such mistake with their penalty, again correctly awarded by Jeff Winter after Matt Lawrence handled in the area. Yet Marlon Harewood's conversion to make it 2-1 did not act as a platform from which a feeble West Ham side would mount a response. Instead, eight minutes later, Cahill volleyed in Paul Ifill's corner. When Tomas Repka failed twice to clear from Nick Chadwick, a fourth Millwall goal was rammed home.

It was a day to forget for West Ham's fans - but the recriminations may prevent that.
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On Saturday I flight from Barcelona to London to watch the best derby in Englad rigth now. I think that the ICF and the Bushwhackers are the top firms in England right now and they didn't met since november 1992. There were 1100 police man in the streets for this match, the biggest football operation ever for the London police.
On Saturday night I went clubbing and they told us that there were some riots on the East side between fans from sides and as I know the hammers were out of numbers and they had to run.
On Sunday the game was at 12 am, so I went to drink some beers at the Golden Lion Pub (the most famous millwall pub). The Hammers arrived to the stadium with a big scort of police man and the underground was stop to prevent any clashes. So when everybody ken that there were not going to be any riots with the Hammers, a group on 60 ICF fans arrive to the Ilderton Cafe screaming "ICF ICF ICF". They told me that there were the old faces between the members of the ICF. So people star running there. The ICF were inside the Cafe trowing everything and a group of 300 Bushwhackers attacked them. The police came and the ICF fans went into the Stadium.
During the game the police arrest 4 Lions fans inside the stadium. When the goalkeeper from West Ham was send to the bench the ICF triend to jump into the pitch and tired to arrive to the Millwall section. They started trowing the chairs and the horse police came into the stadium.
After the game there were lots of riots between Bushwhackers and the police.
It was a great day of football for me as I saw one of the best derbies ever.

FC Metz - RC Strasbourg - 21/03/2004

Source: Mouvement Ultra

Visitor's view:
Prior to the game, visitors (UB90 and Furets) charged. Main lads and Germans friends stayed some meters far away from this action. In front of the charging firm, approx 30 locals. Both first lines stayed in a physical contact, without weapons. Some minutes after, the visitors are more than locals as other ultras/lads arrived and locals, outnumbered, have to retreat. Some of them lied on the floor. Police forces arrived and restored order, using flash-balls and batons.
It must be also noticed than the 2nd Metz line had many weapons (bricks and belts). Finally: a short 1-minute fight and a RCS fan injured.

AC Torino - SC Napoli - 21/03/2004

Source: Ansa

Seven people were injured for this game. One of them was stabbed at one of his legs. Four fans are from the local team and the 3 other follow Napoli.
Police forces made interventions to calm down fans from both teams who tried to have a toe-to-toe.

Portsmouth - Southampton - 21/03/2004

Source: local newspaper

HOOLIGANS brought shame to the streets around Fratton Park by going on a violent rampage after Pompey's victory over Southampton.



Yobs hurled bricks, rocks, bottles and coins at police and smashed windows after a tense post-match stand-off between fans and police erupted into violence.

Southampton fans, already soaked by pouring rain, were kept in the ground for two hours to avoid clashes with home fans.

Around 100 Pompey fans gathered outside Fratton Park after the 1-0 victory and refused to leave the scene.

The thugs moved towards the Shell Garage in Goldsmith Avenue where they taunted police.

Officers with shields and batons and police on horseback then decided to charge the fans in a bid to disperse them.

Many continued to rampage along Fratton Road, where they smashed police car windscreens and windows at shops.

Officers made eight arrests. Several people were injured during the clashes but no-one was seriously hurt.


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

Derby victory marred by hooligans


Police on horseback charge the fans

Hooligans brought shame to the streets around Fratton Park by going on a violent rampage after Pompey's victory over Southampton.
Yobs hurled bricks, rocks, bottles and coins at police and smashed windows after a tense post-match stand-off between fans and police erupted into violence.

Southampton fans, already soaked by pouring rain, were kept in the ground for two hours to avoid clashes with home fans.

Around 100 Pompey fans gathered outside Fratton Park after the 1-0 victory and refused to leave the scene.

The thugs moved towards the Shell Garage in Goldsmith Avenue where they taunted police.

Officers with shields and batons and police on horseback then decided to charge the fans in a bid to disperse them.

Many continued to rampage along Fratton Road, where they smashed police car windscreens and windows at shops.

Officers made eight arrests. Several people were injured during the clashes but no-one was seriously hurt.

Arrests as Rome derby turns into riot - 22/03/2004

Source: Reuters

A hardcore of Lazio and AS Roma soccer fans worked together to spark the riot that caused the Rome derby to be abandoned on Sunday, politicians said on Monday.
Police on Monday said they had arrested 13 supporters from both sides, some of them known hooligans, following a six-hour pitched battle between police and fans that left more than 170 people injured.


Some politicians connected the violence to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's comment a day earlier that 'revolution would explode' on the terraces if the government did not help out Italian soccer that is 510 million euros ($629.5 million) in debt.

'It seems to me like an operation aimed at blackmailing the government. It was planned to place strong pressure at a moment when the executive must make an important decision,' Welfare Minister Roberto Maroni said.

Violent scenes erupted when the game was abandoned in the second half after a false rumour circulated that a young boy had been killed by a police car outside the Olympic Stadium.

In an unprecedented move, AS Roma Captain Francesco Totti came off the pitch to speak to a fan who told him about the false story and he then asked for the match to be stopped.

Police denied the rumour over the public address system but some Roma fans set fire to the stands, sending terrified supporters streaming out over the terraces.

Outside the stadium hundreds of fans wearing Roma and Lazio colours hurled flares, bottles and knives from behind makeshift barricades. Police responded with volleys of tear gas.

'It was true guerrilla warfare,' one police source said.

A total of 155 police officers were wounded and 21 fans were hurt, police said on Monday.

Police searching the grounds outside the stadium on Monday said they had found paper bombs stuffed with nails, screws and metal shards as well as knives, bars and sticks.

They added that the number of arrests could rise as officers looked at close-circuit television footage.

Italian Football League president, Adriano Galliani ordered the match to stop via telephone from Milan for reasons of public order.

But stadium security staff had said there was no risk in continuing the game.

'I suspect that all that happened was pre-arranged: in politics you call it a strategy of tension,' Culture Ministry Undersecretary Mario Pescante said.

Some critics blame Berlusconi for the financial problems in Italian soccer by setting the example of huge salaries at AC Milan that has led to some clubs being unable to pay taxes.

The European Union had already moved to limit previous government efforts to help out Italian soccer which also faces a series of fraud investigations.

Racist chants in NEC Nijmegen - 22/03/2004

Source: Nu.nl

NEC Nijmegen managers and coaches would like to give sanctions against their own fans who sang racist chants against the local, De Freitas.

Telford - Shrewsbury Town - 16/03/2004

Source: ShropshireStar

Fans clash at Bucks FA Trophy victory

Police in riot gear were called in to break up rival football fans as a series of flare-ups marred a stormy Shropshire derby clash. A total of six people were arrested before, during and after last night's FA Trophy quarter-final replay between Telford United and Shrewsbury Town.

In the worst of the trouble a Wellington pub had its windows smashed and its curtains set on fire before the game.
Police insisted their "robust, but fair" approach had kept problems to a minimum and said the majority of fans had been well-behaved.

Extra officers were called in for the clash at the Bucks Head and the game was made all-ticket in a bid to avoid trouble.

Bosses at Telford United, who celebrated their first competitive victory over their county rivals in more than 60 years, winning 2-1, praised the police for keeping a lid on potential problems around the ground.

Trouble flared in Wellington before the game as around 50 Shrewsbury fans crammed into The Oddfellows Arms in High Street.

Landlady Sandra Price said bottles were thrown through the pub windows, curtains were set on fire, seats slashed and staff were faced with vandals urinating in the corridors.

The group of fans were ejected and led to the ground at around 6.30pm by more than 50 officers.

She said the pub had been packed with a chanting throng who were being taunted from outside by more than 50 Telford supporters.

Mrs Price said: "The first lot of fans were brilliant. But then a second lot came in. That's when it kicked off. The bottles were going through the window, and they set fire to the pub.

"They were animals. They stole the pool balls and completely trashed the toilets."

Superintendent Peter Robinson, who led the policing operation, confirmed that three people had been arrested for public order offences in Wellington before the game.

He said another three arrests were made after kick-off, one inside the ground, and four people were ejected by match stewards at half-time.

"It is only ever a small number of individuals who are intent on causing trouble among some 4,400 who enjoyed the game but troublemakers were monitored and problems dealt with speedily and effectively."

Robin Eaves, of Telford United, said the atmosphere inside the ground was brilliant and added that the club was hoping for a cup final appearance at Villa Park.

Shrews chiefs say thugs not from club - 18/03/2004

Source:ShropshireStar


Shrewsbury Town bosses today distanced themselves from trouble which broke out at a Telford pub before the club's crunch FA Trophy clash against their Shropshire rivals.

Football bosses said thugs who smashed the windows of a Wellington pub and set curtains on fire before the game on Tuesday, had been there since the early afternoon and had no connections to the Shrewsbury club, nor any intention of attending the derby game.

Police in riot gear were called to the incident at the the Oddfellows Arms in High Street, Wellington before the game, which Telford won 2-1.

Landlady Sandra Price said bottles were thrown through the pub windows, curtains were set on fire, seats slashed and staff were faced with men urinating in the corridors.

But Keith Sayfritz, a director at Shrewsbury Town Football Club, today said he understood the trouble makers were not Shrewsbury Town fans.

He said: "Obviously we are as appalled and disgusted as anybody would be about what happened at the pub.

"It was extremely distressing and a terrible incident.

"However it is our understanding that the people concerned had been drinking since early afternoon and it is also our understanding is that they did not have any intention of going to the match and that they are not connected with Shrewsbury Town Football Club," he added.

Juventus Turin - AC Milan - ??/03/2004

Source: fdl.it + post

At 19.55 the coaches with AC Milan ultras arrive at Delle Alpi stadium. They're suddenly attacked by a mob of 50/60 Juventus ultras.
AC Milan supporters manage to stop the coaches and go towards the opposite firm. Riot police interposes, using a lot of teargas and starting a big clash between policemen and Milan ultras.
2 police cars and 1 police van are set on fire...
After half an hour, Milan supporters enter in the stadium, where they break in a sector occupied by Juventus supporters (not ultras), beating a lot of fans and stealing some banners... after another little clash with riot squad, the match starts, calming the situation.
The balance is 20 policemen and 4 ultras wounded, 2 supporters arrested.

Panionios - Panathinaikos - 26/03/2004

Source: post + http://www.geocities.com/g3koukaki

Hooligans of panionios attacked to police after the goal of panathinaikos.the reason was that the cops didn't left panthers(fans of panionios) to go at the place where was the fans of panathinaikos..

Eleven suspected hooligans held - 27/03/2004

Source : BBC NEWS

Eleven suspected football hooligans have been arrested in dawn raids across the Black Country.

The arrests follow violent disorder between West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City fans in Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, on 14 February.

The men being held are aged between 17 and 35 and come from Sandwell, West Bromwich, Walsall and Kidderminster.

Sergeant Lee Winter said West Midlands Police had been gathering intelligence on the operation for some time.

He said: "It's called Operation Pothole and it's part of a nationwide operation called Citadel.

"The objective is to target football hooligans and get them convicted and get banning orders on them.

"Then we can prevent them carrying out further disorder at matches both in the UK and overseas."

Boca Juniors - Racing - 21/03/2004

Source: argentinian websites

Boca Juniors - Chacarita Juniors - 18/03/2004

Source: Yahoo

This very high-risks game was not played as, after violent troubles precedent seasons, authorities were affraid of new riots.
Both supporters' clans announced they will be there, with guns, to create new troubles.

Terek Grozny - Kuban Krasnodar - ??/03/2004

Source: fanats.ru

150 guest fans came from Krasnodar.
After the fire show special police (OMON) began to hound fans with dogs.

SKA Rostov on Don - Vityaz Krymsk - 17/03/2004

Source: post

60 Rostselmash lads attaked SKA hools near the stadium. Police with kalashnikov guns came in 2 minutes and began to arrest people. After the game Rostselmash hools were ready for agreement meeting with SKA 25x25, but SKA lads had another plans for evening.

Germany - Belgium - Friendly game - 31/03/2004

Source: phonecalls

::.::First news::.::

Please, these are the first news we received so wait before an 'official' version....who must be close to this one...

After 6pm, a small belgian mob (25), composed by KV Mechelen, RFC Liège and UR Namur lads was assaulted by a local mob (70-100). Chairs and others missiles were threw. Belgian mob have to retreat. Police intervention.

FC Sochaux - FC Metz - 27/03/2004

Source : L'EST REPUBLICAIN + mail

A violent fight took place one hour before kick-off, at the Bonal stadium's entrance. Some Metz fans who made the trip by cars tried to enter the stadium without tickets. Some damages were caused and a Metz fans is injured.

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A fight took place before the game, opposing 20/25 locals to approx 30 visitors. These last ones won without any problems. Police forces made an intervention, using flash-balls.

Bournemouth - Blackpool - 24/03/2004

Source: local newspaper

Police attacked by football fans

Three police officers were injured during a confrontation with football fans after a match between AFC Bournemouth and Blackpool.
The trouble flared when a lone officer was struck on the back of the head as spectators were leaving the Kings Park stadium in Bournemouth on Wednesday.

A crowd then gathered preventing the arrest of the attacker and leaving two other officers injured.

Police chiefs have vowed to ban the culprits from future games.

Banning orders

They are now studying CCTV footage of the incident, which happened at about 2140 GMT and involved home supporters leaving the east stand.

Chief Superintendent Bob Boulton said: "This behaviour is most unusual at AFC Bournemouth matches and we have a long tradition of working very closely with the club.

"The chairman, Peter Phillips, has pledged his full support to the police investigation.

"Those responsible will be brought to justice, banned from the club and banning orders will be applied for, which will prevent their access to any football ground in the country."

One officer was left with a bruised head, another officer suffered a knee injury and a third has a hand injury.

Police have appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.