Season 03/04 - February

KV Mechelen - RC Mechelen - 01/02/2004

Source: Gazet van Antwerpen + TV

The game was suspended for 10 minutes after a Racing fan invaded the pitch. He was stopped by stewards and policemen.
After the game, a total of 55 fans were arrested for several things. Only four were Belgians; others were Dutch.
And, again at the end of the game, police forces stopped a group of 50 KV fans who tried to reach the Racing stadium with the aim to cause troubles.
For this high-risks derby, a large group of Roda fans was with locals (some sources also said Utercht fans were also there) and 35 Dordrecht lads and some F'noorders were with RC fans.

Ajax Amsterdam - ADO Den Haag - 01/02/2004

Source: Casuals Nederland + ajaxfotoside.nl

Some troubles erutped inside the stadium,opposing visitors to police forces.

Cardiff City - Nottingham Forest - 01/02/2004

Source: ITK - Forest view

We had aboutt 200+ lads there yesterday. 100 lads went on 7.01 traind and more followed on later trains. We had lads arrivng by car aswell. We were all section 60'd and put in Old monk. After the game managed to get out of the ground by forcing through OB lines but but OB outside aswell surrounding us. Its your 'manor' and none of you lot tried to get at as all day. Fairplay the OB well on top but to say we only had 70 is a blatant lie.

Leicester City - Aston Villa - 01/02/2004

Source: BBC



Walker shoved a fan to the ground after he came onto the pitch to protest during the Foxes' 5-0 home defeat by Aston Villa.
On Monday, the Football Association refused to speculate what action they might take against Walker.
But FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "Once we receive the referee's report we will make a full statement. Until then, there's nothing further to say."
The FA are expected to urge the police to take action against the supporter.
Bevington added: "We condemn any action by any individual running on the pitch or entering the pitch.
"We look forward to action being taken against the individual involved."
The fan was arrested by police, who said they would conduct "a full review of the incident" with Leicester.
Walker defended his actions and said the fan was out of order.
The Foxes keeper said: "He came up to me and was abusive and aggressive.
"I tried to push him away and attempted to restrain him while stewards came onto the pitch.
"It goes without saying that everyone connected with the club is bitterly disappointed by this afternoon's result.
"Our supporters have every right to make their feelings known about our performance and I can understand their frustration, but I don't think acting in this way is going to help the team."
Leicester boss Micky Adams leapt to Walker's defence.

Adams said: "I hope no action is taken against Ian. First of all the fan shouldn't have been on the pitch.
"I know he was unhappy but there were 30,000 out there just as unhappy and they stayed in their seats.
"I was worried about the safety of my player because anything could have happened to Ian and certainly he felt threatened by the supporter."
Leicester are also likely to escape any action over the supporter managing to enter the pitch.
The worst they can probably expect to receive is a warning.
Leicester are conducting their own internal inquiry into the incident, and one option they have is of issuing a life ban to the fan.

Fiorentina - Pescara - 01/02/2004

Source: Il Centro

A Pescara fan was injured at an eye after a police intervention as locals and visitors were in front of eachother.

Como - SC Napoli -01/02/2004

Source: Kataweb + Ansa

Prior to the game, 2 local fans were seriously injured during riots opposing rival fans.
After the game, police forces made an intervention as Napoli fans caused damages in the city-centre.

Paniliakos - Olympiakos - 02/02/2004

Source : reuters

Olympiakos call for action after nails spread on pitch

Hooligans who spread thousands of nails onto the
pitch before Olympiakos's match at Paniliakos at the weekend are to be
sought by police after the Greek champions demanded an investigation on
Monday.

Officials discovered early on Sunday the Paniliakos pitch was littered with
thousands of two-inch nails and the seats reserved for travelling
Olympiakos fans covered in corn cobs.

The hooligans had also sprayed slogans calling the away fans "chickens".

"We demand authorities to expose those behind this criminal action," the
club said in a statement on Monday. "This action was aimed at endangering
the players' health and safety."

Home fans and officials dragged dozens of strong magnets across the pitch
to collect the nails and prevent injuries before the start of the game.

Olympiakos eventually beat Paniliakos 3-1 to stay top of the Greek first
division, one point clear of Athens rivals Panathinaikos. Paniliakos are
13th in the 16-team table.

"We are going to make a statement, not only to the sports authorities but
also to the interior (law enforcement) authorities of this country, because
it's time to put in order that which deserves to be put in order," Loureiro
told TSF.

Vitoria Guimaraes - Boavista- 02/02/2004

Crowd trouble hits stadium where player died

Source : Reuters

Portuguese riot police dispersed chair-throwing fans after a premier league game at the stadium where a player died a week before, news reports said on Monday.

Local TSF radio said violence erupted after Porto club Boavista's 1-1 draw
at Vitoria Guimaraes following an injury-time shouting match between
Boavista's Brazilian defender Eder and Guimaraes midfielder Afonso Martins
and the sending off of Guimaraes goalkeeper Jerome Palatsi.

Both benches emptied, and some of the 8,000 fans began hurling debris and
chairs before riot police moved in.

Boavista president Joao Loureiro said five Boavista fans were taken to
hospital and team officials hurt, although Guimaraes police reported no
injuries or arrests.

Portuguese stadium closed after crowd trouble

Source : REUTERS

A seat-throwing melee at a Portuguese stadium
where a player died a week earlier prompted the premier league on Monday to
bar soccer matches there for 30 days.

Security at Guimaraes stadium, one of 10 venues for the European
Championship which starts in June, had to be improved quickly before the
tournament, the Portuguese Professional Soccer League said in a statement.

"If this route is not turned around quickly, all will be lost," it said.

The league said that the stadium was turned into a "battlefield" during the
match between Vitoria Guimaraes and Boavista late on Sunday.

"It was only through simple good fortune that worse aggression didn't take
place given the patent passivity and regrettable lack of coordination by
the police," the statement said.

A decision to reopen the stadium will depend on a league inquiry.

Guimaraes supporters threw seats and debris at Boavista players and
referees at the end of the televised 1-1 match. Referee Paulo Batista,
Boavista assistant Andre Cunha and goalkeeper William Andem were injured in
the barrage.

Police in riot gear had to be called in to protect the players and clear
the stands. The turmoil was sparked by an injury-time shouting match
between two players and the sending-off of Guimaraes goalkeeper Jerome
Palatsi.

The Portuguese state secretary for sport, Herminio Loureiro, called the
violence "unacceptable", Lusa news agency said. After meeting league
officials, he said the centre-right government would soon enact a law
barring violent fans from matches.

Russian Basketball Superleague: Unics Kazan - CSKA Moscow - 01/02/2004

Source: rus-hool.narod.ru

The first fight in 2004 year between Spartak and CSKA hooligans was in the 1 of February.CSKA fans came to Moscow from Kazan where CSKA Moscow basketball club played with local Unics.There moscovites had big problems with Kazan's police(i want to ramind you that last year Torpedo Moscow fans had the same problems).So,they arrived to Moscow and they knew,that Spartak hooligans waited for them.They clashed in the "Komsomolskya" metro station.~ 60 Spartak hooligans(Gladiators,Independent Crowd,Tuks,Devils &others) vs ~45 CSKA hools(Gallents,Yugends,Young GS&others).Spartak hooligans won this battle...

HC Vytaz Podolsk - HC Krylya Sovetov Moscow - Hockey - 03/02/2004

Source: post

After the hockey match bus with the fans of HC Krylya Sovetov and FC Torpedo Moscow (as usual Torpedo fans and hools support Krylya at winter) was attacked by Podolsk hooligans. They used bottles and flares, that’s why bus windshield and bamper were broken. After the clashes bus with fans was forwarded to Moscow by road patrol.

HC Kristall Saratov - HC Spartak Moscow - Hockey - 03/02/2004

Source: post

After the hockey match it was a fight beetwen Spartak and Saratov hools (FC Sokol). Two crowds have rushed to each other across the street and cars. Moscovites had a lot of bottles, so Saratov lads got a perfect shower of beer and glass, Saratov hools trew ice blocks and bottles.
Then came police and separated two groups.

Guingamp - Rennes - 03/02/2004

Source : local newspaper

Riots occured during this derby, opposing rival fans.
A fight erutped before the game and after the game, another fight took place on a disco carpark, where some fans used knives.
Finally, four people were injured and 3 others arrested.

Piacenza - Palermo - 02/022004

Source: La Sicilia

Police forces made an intervention as scuffles erutped, opposing some local fans to Palermo ones.

Vibonese - Vigor Lamezia - 02/02/2004

Source: Tifonet

Two Lamezia fans went into the pitch in front of the local stand making provocations but locals stayed into their stand, throwing plastic bottles.
Some locals made the same after the police intervention but they were smashed up by Lamezia fans.

Juventus Turin - Inter Milan - Cup - 05/02/2004

Source: La Gazzetta

Riots occured prior to the game, opposing rival fans, in front of the visitors stand, when locals tried to attacked coaches from Milan.

Treviso - Hellas Verona - 06/02/2004

Source: Tifonet

The Treviso goalkeeper, Gillet, was injured by a firercracker, throwing from its own supporters.

FC Twente - Feyenoord Rotterdam - Cup - 04/02/2004

Source: nl.nu

Approx 80 Feyenoord fans took the road of Utrecht with the aim to have a toe-to-toe with locals. Finally nothing happened but 2 fans were arrested.

RSC Charleroi - La Louvière - 07/02/2004

Source: forums

As each year, for this derby, La Louviere hardcore made the 25 kilometers trip by coach, don't having the bollocks to come by cars and accept an off.
As no off was possible (because the coaches), no riots occured opposing hardcores, but at the end of the game, some Charleroi ultras (not lads) went on the pitch and have stolen a Wolf-Side banner. Visitors were angry but nothing else happened.

OGC Nice - RC Lens - 07/02/2004

Source: forums

Riots occured in Cannes, opposing approx 20/30 Nice youths to 15/20 Lens ultras. Both sides used belts.

Luton Town - Brighton & Hove Albion - 10/02/2004

Source: Yahoo


Police intervene as trouble breaks out between fans during the Luton Town v Brighton & Hove Albion match - Soccer - Nationwide League Division Two

Pictures released in hooligan probe - 05/02/2004

Source : BBC NEWS

Police trying to find a group of hooligans who caused a major disturbance at a football game have released pictures of men they want to talk to.

Officers had bottles and other objects thrown at them, and were spat at, before the Oxford United versus Reading match at Oxford's Kassam Stadium in September.

The violence continued during the game, particularly at half-time, and six arrests were made.

Police say they have exhausted all other lines of inquiry and are therefore releasing the CCTV images.

They say it is likely the men are from Oxford, as they were in the home stand, but could be from Reading.

Of the six men arrested at the game, two have been convicted of threatening behaviour, and have been banned from all domestic and international football games for three years.

The other four are awaiting trial.

Bottle thrown

Pc Simon Feist, Oxford's football liaison officer and head of the investigation, said the hooligans were spoiling the game for families and genuine fans.

"They were intent on causing disorder at the fixture and need to be identified," he said.

"The offences they are involved in are serious. In one incident a bottle was thrown at an officer, striking him on the head.

"In another an offender repeatedly spat at the officers who were trying to calm down a situation in the bar area of the North stand and were not in a position to deal with him for the offence."

Police guidelines say they must exhaust all other lines of inquiry before releasing pictures.

'Hooligans' banned from Euro 2004 - 05/02/2004

Source : BBC NEWS

Police have promised to do all they can to stop football hooligans getting to the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal.

Over 2,000 people are banned from travelling, and the number is expected to rise further before the June event.

At a meeting on Wednesday, police announced that some officers would travel to the tournament to help the Portuguese authorities.

Officers will also be stationed at UK ports and airports during the tournament to spot known hooligans.

Police are keen to avoid a repeat of Euro 2000, which saw hundreds of England fans rioting in Belgium.

Before Euro 2000 there were only 100 banning orders in force, now there are more than 2,000, and police say they want to secure a further 600 before June.

On Wednesday morning, raids in Liverpool saw 16 people arrested in connection with a violent clash at a game in September.

The officer in charge said the arrests followed a five-month investigation into a fight between fans after a Tranmere Rovers versus Wrexham match.

Merseyside Police confirmed they will seek to prevent the arrested men attending any international matches, including the Euro 2004 tournament.

Drinking culture

Following the meeting in London, David Swift, the Association of Chief Police Officers' football spokesman, said: "The British police will stop as many people as possible who represent the greatest risk from travelling.

"The tough banning order legislation is working well."

England is expected to have around 50,000 supporters, more than any nation other than the hosts.

"We are working closely with the authorities here and in Portugal and with true supporters to make it a trouble-free tournament," Superintendent Smith added.

He said the policing strategy would recognise that, whilst a "substantial culture of drinking and boisterous behaviour" existed, it was distinct from the small group of hooligans intent on causing trouble.

He confirmed that a small number of undercover police officers would work as "spotters" in Portugal during the tournament.

Holiday destination

Stephen Jakobi, of pressure group Fair Trials Abroad, said that in crowded situations he feared some police officers may arrest individuals randomly.

Kevin Miles from the Football Supporters Federation said most fans would welcome the attitudes of both the UK and Portuguese police.

"Most football supporters are quite supportive of the idea that measures taken in the name of stopping trouble are actually targeted at the minority who commit offences," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"Most people are going to go there because there's a fantastic offering of football on display, it's a great holiday venue... the combination is certainly going to be attractive.

"There's going to be a lot of people going there just to enjoy themselves and I think it's vital that the policing reflects that."

Arrests over football clashes - 04/02/2004

Source : BBC NEWS

Police have arrested 19 people in connection with violence after a football match.

More than 20 homes were raided by Merseyside Police in Wirral and Cheshire on Wednesday.

Operation Advance followed a five-month investigation into clashes after a match between Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers in September 2002.

Officers arrested 19 people for conspiracy to cause violent disorder and are looking for four others.

After the match, on 27 September, there were clashes between supporters on a train in Rock Ferry, and later that evening in Chester city centre.

Detective Chief Inspector Bill McWilliam, senior investigating officer for the Wirral, said: "We will take firm and positive action against anyone who is suspected of organising and being involved in violent disorder and anti-social behaviour.

"In addition to the prosecution, we will be actively seeking banning orders on those individuals arrested to ensure that they are banned from attending football matches at grounds across the country."

Those arrested are being questioned at police stations across Merseyside.

Football lout is sent to jail - 12/02/2004

Source : BBC NEWS

A football fan who took part in street violence in the centre of Bradford during the summer of 2003 has been jailed by magistrates.

Punches and kicks were thrown while tables and chairs were hurled in the rumpus on Ivegate during city's centenary football tournament in July.

John C******, 29, from Aberdeen, should have been sentenced with a group of thugs were jailed last month.

C****** had failed to turn up at court but on Thursday was finally locked up.

Violent disorder

He had been filmed running towards opposing fans in the West Yorkshire city and shouting threats.

Bradford Magistrates' court heard C****** plead guilty to a charge of violent disorder and failing to surrender to bail.

He was sentenced to four months in jail and banned from English football grounds for six years.

On 26 January men from Leeds, Bradford, Grimsby and Aberdeen had been jailed for between three and five months after pleading guilty to charges of violent disorder.

Anderlecht - hooligans arrested - 11/02/2004

Source: La DH Les Sports

5 Anderlecht fans are arrested because of gang formation, theft with violence and destruction of personal property.

The five are part of the Brussels Casuals Service (BCS), that destroyed a café in Diegem on 5 October 2003. The interior of the café was almost completely destroyed and three customers had to go to the hospital.

The five are part of a total of 33 hooligans that were arrested past Monday and Wednesday (as written in the article below). Most of them risk a long stadium ban.

The police arrested thirty Anderlecht-hooligans Wednesday morning. They are suspected of having damaged a café in Diegem.
Those facts happened last year on 5 October. After the match Anderlecht - Club Bruges, that ended on a draw, some fans of the home team worked out their frustration on a café in Diegem, next to Zaventem.
In the building were 15 Club Bruges fans on that particular moment. They were attacked by chairs and tables.
The hooligans were there for some minutes. Witnesses and camera images showed 30 suspects, who are now arrested. They will meat the attorney after the noon.