Season 03/04 - June

Police in airport alert over soccer thugs - 07/06/2004

Source: Bolton Evening News

SOCCER hooligans from the North-west attempting to fly to Portugal for Euro 2004 will be "wasting their time", police warned on Monday.

Uniformed and plain-clothed officers have begun started to Liverpool and Manchester airports.

And DC Steve Chisnall of Greater Manchester Police said: "I strongly suggest that they don't attempt to get to Portugal as they will be wasting their time."

Members of the football intelligence units from the Greater Manchester and Merseyside forces will be on the lookout for people trying to breach the ban imposed for the duration of the championships.

DC Chisnall said smaller and successful operations had been in force for other England fixtures in the past year.

"This operation is larger in scale, but we envisage the results will be the same," he said.

Extra officers drafted in for Euro parties - 12/06/2004

Source: Bolton Evening News

THERE will be a huge police presence in Bolton town centre over the weekend as the Euro 2004 football championships gets under way.

Extra officers are being drafted in to monitor thousands of pubgoers expected to watch England's first game on Sunday evening on pub TVs.

The majority of pubs in and around Bradshawgate will be showing the match on large television screens.

The operation follows a major police crackdown on drunken yobs which has been launched nationally by Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Police forces across the country will be targeting louts and drunks who attempt to cause trouble and spoil the game for everyone else.

Mr Blunkett has reminded police chiefs that they have a wide range of new powers at their disposal to combat drunkenness, including on-the-spot fines and the ability to shut down rowdy pubs and bars for 24 hours.

Supt Alan Greene said he was not expecting any trouble in Bolton, but his officers would deal severely with any troublemakers. He said: "We have exercised our powers in the past and we will not be afraid to use them again.

"Traditionally, there is a brilliant atmosphere in the town centre. We want everyone to enjoy themselves in a safe environment, and behave in the correct way"

Following England's 1-0 victory against Argentina in 2002, the celebrations escalated out of control. Bottles were thrown at police officers, windows were smashed and a number of fights broke out.

Supt Greene added: "We are determined not to see a repeat performance of those dreadful scenes."

TWO suspected football hooligans who attempted to travel to Portugal for the Euro 2004 championships have been arrested at Manchester Airport.

A 23-year-old man from Preston and a 38-year-old man from Stockport were stopped by Football Intelligence Officers after they had compiled intelligence on known troublemakers.

The arrests are the first successes of Operation Clement for Greater Manchester Police chiefs.

Bolton: Man, 35, on soccer ban breach charge - 17/06/2004

Source: Bolton Evening News

A MAN will appear before Bolton Magistrates Court on Friday after breaching the conditions of a football banning order.

The 35-year-old man was arrested by Greater Manchester Police Football Intelligence Officers after he failed to appear at a police station designated in his banning order before England's game against France on Sunday.

These arrests are part of Operation Clement which has already prevented two known football hooligans from travelling to Portugal.

Football Intelligence Officers are urging anyone who is subject to a football banning order to adhere to the regulations set out to prevent any further punishment.

Officers will remain in place at Manchester Airport during the tournament to continue their operation.

Hooligan soccer operation wound up - 26/06/2004
Source: Bolton Evening News

A POLICE operation to prevent football hooligans from travelling to Portugal has come to an end following England's quarter final defeat in Euro 2004.

Operation Clement, which has been based at Manchester Airport since June 7, has been wound up. During the 18 days it had been running, five people were stopped by plain-clothed Football Intelligence and uniformed officers.

Three banning order applications were made. One man was given a three-year ban which means he cannot attend any football match in England or Wales or travel abroad to see the national team play. The other two are still being processed.

The remaining two people stopped had warrants against them -- one for burglary and the other for failing to appear at court to face minor traffic offences. A further 10 people were arrested for failure to abide by the conditions set out in existing banning orders.

In total, more than 1,400 people were stopped and checked at the airport.

Chief Inspector Martin Gaffney, who is based at the airport, said: "The operation was very successful. We had a number of both plain clothed and uniformed officers based in Terminal 1 throughout England's involvement in Euro 2004.

"Our officers were under pressure to ensure that no troublemakers slipped through, whilst minimising the delay to other innocent travellers.

"The operation also claimed other successes. We managed to pick up two men who had outstanding warrants for non-football related offences. The Football Intelligence Officers (FIO) weren't there for that purpose so it was a bonus that we picked up these two men."

Football Intelligence officers will now be focusing their attentions on the beginning of the new season and the start of England's World Cup qualification campaign that begins September 4 when the national team travels away to Austria.

Yob fan scheme launch - 04/06/2004

Source: Liverpool Echo

MERSEYSIDE football fans heading to Euro 2004 were today urged to shop hooligans during the tournament.

Officers from the force's football intelligence office, based in the shadow of Goodison Park, have been heavily involved with planning ahead of the event in Portugal.

They have also secured banning orders against known thugs to stop them travelling abroad to watch England compete for the championship.

But chief officers leading the national operation fear some thugs may have "clear records" and want genuine fans to report them in Portugal.

At the launch of a "Fans' Embassy" for Euro 2004, Home Office minister Caroline Flint said: "If people are aware that they are wanting to cause trouble, please share that information."

The independent Fans' Embassy, which was launched at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will be run by the Football Supporters' Federation and is being sponsored by the Nationwide Building Society.

It will provide information, advice, a point of contact and a voice for English fans during the championships.

It has already produced the first copies of "Free Lions", a fanzine for the opening game against France.

Further issues will be printed in Portugal for England's other games.

SFS international coordinator Kevin Miles said: "They will be bang up to date with any changes, whether it's the security situation or transport."

The Fans' Embassy will operate in cities hosting England games and in the Algarve, where 60% of fans are expected to base themselves.

Mr Miles said: "We are independent and, if we feel it necessary, we will be willing to take issue with the authorities. We are able to speak up for foot-ball fans."

He said fans would be able to deal confidentially with the embassy.

Around 2,700 troublemakers are banned from travelling to the championships in Portugal.

It is feared a repeat of violence which marred England games at Euro 2000 in Holland and Belgium will see the team kicked out of the event.

Police and football fans battle on Croydon’s streets - 21/06/2004

Source: Croydon Guardian

By Kerry McQueeney

Hundreds of football thugs went on the rampage in Croydon, throwing missiles at police and damaging property after England's sudden loss to France on Sunday night.

A crowd of between 300 and 400 drunken louts clashed with police officers and vandalised a tram after England's opening Euro 2004 match.

Fifteen officers were injured.

continued...
Fourteen people were arrested for drunken disorder and violent disorder during the disturbances in North End, which started at 9.45pm.

The ugly scenes, which erupted in the town centre after England's 2-1 defeat, have been condemned by councillors and senior police officers, keen to play down images that Croydon is a centre for football hooliganism.

The police and council are studying CCTV images to identfy how the trouble started.

Walkabout doorman John Behan, who recorded the riot on his mobile phone, said: "The place had been full to capacity since 4pm.

"The mood was very good right up until the last two goals but it turned ugly soon after that. Someone smashed glass at bar staff, another starting tipping tables over and someone else threw a bottle at the DJ.

"By this time about 200 people had gathered outside. There were around 40 or 50 troublemakers. More people came out of Yates and Edwards and joined the crowd.

"A tram rung its bell for them to get out of the way and they smashed windows and pulled windscreen wipers off. As soon as the police turned up they started throwing bottles.

"There was one English guy who just happened to be wearing a blue top, quite similar to the French strip, and was beaten up.

"A girl also got hit in the face with a bottle.

"I've seen a few big fights in clubs but I've never seen anything like that before."

Police say the crowd had swelled to around 400 outside Brannigans when riot police moved in and between 20 and 40 officers dispersed the main mob into smaller crowds where they were able to move them towards South End. The crowds had dispersed by 11pm.

Officers, a lot of whom were young and inexperienced, were showered with broken glass.

One officer suffered a broken wrist, while another received a cut to the face.

Superintendent Nick Jupp, of Croydon police, described the scene as "intimidating".

He said: "The last two goals were the catalyst for the disorder after drinking on a long, hot day.

"They should be ashamed of their behaviour. It is totally unacceptable for police officers to be injured as a result of a small minority of people reacting to a football result."

Croydon was one of many towns and cities across the UK which experienced violence after the match.

Extra police will be drafted in to Croydon for England's game against Switzerland tomorrow (Thursday) and Monday's clash with Croatia.

While Supt Jupp said this was an isolated incident, the disturbance has left a black cloud hanging over the town's beleaguered night-time economy.

Council officials who have worked hard to improve the town's reputation for drunken disorder are disgusted at Sunday's antics.

Councillor Paul Smith, cabinet member for public protection, said: "I suspect that a combination of too much drink, unusually hot weather and an unexpected result provoked this inexcusable display of immaturity."

A spokesman for the Walkabout pub said that most of their pints were served in plastic glasses, adding: "As far as we are aware, aside from an isolated incident involving two punters, there were no problems in the pub."

A spokesman for Tramlink said the damage to their tram was minimal. The driver and passengers were uninjured.

Bradford: Trouble mars fun in the pubs - 14/06/2004

Source: The Telegraph & The Argus

Football fans clashed in Bradford last night in angry street scenes after Eng-land's shock last-minute defeat by France in Euro 2004.

Trouble flared outside the Malt Kiln pub in Idle Road, Eccleshill, where police said a large group of youths were fighting.

One man was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary with minor injuries after he was hit by a car in the violent clash in which glasses were hurled to the floor and a baseball bat was used as a weapon.

Inspector Angus Rushton, of Bradford North police, said: "Officers made six arrests at the scene for public disorder offences after a large group of youths were fighting in Idle Road. As a result of officers' intervention, a number of officers received flesh wounds from broken glass.

"Police speedily brought it under control.

"Inquires are still ongoing. This incident attracted a large public presence and I would appeal for any witnesses to come forward by contacting us on (01274) 376059."

In Baildon, windows were smashed at the Angel Pub in Northgate after trouble flared after the game.

Extra police were drafted on to the streets ahead of last night's game but officers said that fans were well-behaved in the city centre.

Inspector Gerald Benson of Bradford South police said: "Extra public order units were on the streets co-ordinated by the special-operations room. We have had no trouble at all. It has been very good-natured in the city centre."

But elsewhere in West Yorkshire, hundreds of people clashed in Wakefield city centre after the match as bottles and other missiles were hurled at police and door staff in Westgate.

A total of 14 people were arrested for serious public disorder offences and police were today scouring CCTV footage.

Inspector Roger Effell said: "Our commitment is to preventing disorder and ensuring that a small minority of disorderly fans do not spoil the enjoyment of the overwhelming majority of fans."

In Pudsey two people were arrested after a disturbance outside a pub in Littlemoor Road at about 10.30pm.

There were also serious disturbances in Boston in Lincolnshire, Birmingham and Croydon.

Fans had packed pubs across the district, turning them into a sea of red and white shirts and St George's flags to watch England's opening match.

But jubilation at what looked to be an England victory turned to despair as France captain Zinedine Zidane scored twice in the dying minutes of the game.

Rob Fern, of Little Horton, Bradford, was close to tears.

The 31-year-old baker said: "Any team in the world would have thought they had it, but it's another game we have been denied. I feel sick."

Lee Calloway, 23, of Eccleshill, said: "I am gutted. England were sound all the way and then terrible in extra time.

"It was terrible."

Soccer fan in arrest shame - 17/06/2004

Source: The Argus

Disgraced football fan Andrew Williams was facing deportation from Portugal today after being convicted of rioting.

Williams, of Ravenswood Road, Burgess Hill, was one of 12 supporters who appeared in court after trouble broke out in the Algarve town of Albufeira.

The 22-year-old was given a seven-month jail term, suspended for three years, at a 14-hour court hearing.

He was arrested in Albufeira on Monday night when 200 English supporters ran riot through the main strip of bars.

Riot police and supporters clashed again in the resort the following night and a further 34 people were arrested. They were due in court today.

Eleven Britons, including Williams, were told they would be deported and would not be allowed to return to Portugal for up to five years as England geared up for its crunch match against Switzerland.

Williams was one of seven who received suspended jail sentences. Three were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

He was banned from Portugal for a year along with seven of the fans. Two others were banned for five years.

Garry Mann, 47, from Faversham, Kent - identified by Judge Filipe Marques as a ringleader - was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for taking part in a street battle with police.

Mann, a firefighter, claimed: "I wasn't even there. It's a stitch-up".

He will be sent back to England to serve his sentence.

A twelfth England fan in the dock was freed.

Earlier the fans, who had all denied any wrongdoing, arrived at the courthouse in Albufeira in three military police vans.

One of them blew kisses to the waiting media and another said "I'm innocent" as they were bundled into the building.

They were taken into the dock in a wood-panelled courtroom where they sat looking dishevelled.

Williams, the son of a jewellery shop worker, is in Portugal for Euro 2004 on a 25-night soccer-watching holiday with eight friends.

He lives with his disabled mother Margaret, 52, and father Chad, 55, in their bungalow in Burgess Hill.

Mrs Williams, a former hairdresser, said she was shocked to hear her son had been arrested.

She said: "He's a lovely lad and has never been in trouble before. He must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time."

She said her son, who works as an apprentice for mobile phone giant Ericsson, went to Euro 2004 on Saturday, planning to stay until the final.

Other convicted fans are: Peter Barwick, 37, from Middlesbrough, who was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for three years; and John Parkes, 19, from Dudley, Daniel Marsh, 20, from Barnsley, Ricky Tsigarides 22, from Cheshunt, John Jackson, 22 from Newcastle, and David Jackson, 28, from Peterborough, who were all given seven-month jail sentences, suspended for three years.

They were told they would be deported and could not return for a year.

Paul Donahue, 32, and Jason Boyle, 22, both from Manchester, were cleared of criminal wrongdoing but told they could not return to Portugal for five years.

Jack Hobbs, 19, from Oxford, was cleared of criminal wrongdoing but told he could not return to Portugal for a year.

Joe Nicholls, 24, from Aldershot, Hants, was freed.

Police and football fans battle on Croydon’s streets - 21/06/2004

Source: Croydon Guardian

By Kerry McQueeney

Hundreds of football thugs went on the rampage in Croydon, throwing missiles at police and damaging property after England's sudden loss to France on Sunday night.

A crowd of between 300 and 400 drunken louts clashed with police officers and vandalised a tram after England's opening Euro 2004 match.

Fifteen officers were injured.

continued...
Fourteen people were arrested for drunken disorder and violent disorder during the disturbances in North End, which started at 9.45pm.

The ugly scenes, which erupted in the town centre after England's 2-1 defeat, have been condemned by councillors and senior police officers, keen to play down images that Croydon is a centre for football hooliganism.

The police and council are studying CCTV images to identfy how the trouble started.

Walkabout doorman John Behan, who recorded the riot on his mobile phone, said: "The place had been full to capacity since 4pm.

"The mood was very good right up until the last two goals but it turned ugly soon after that. Someone smashed glass at bar staff, another starting tipping tables over and someone else threw a bottle at the DJ.

"By this time about 200 people had gathered outside. There were around 40 or 50 troublemakers. More people came out of Yates and Edwards and joined the crowd.

"A tram rung its bell for them to get out of the way and they smashed windows and pulled windscreen wipers off. As soon as the police turned up they started throwing bottles.

"There was one English guy who just happened to be wearing a blue top, quite similar to the French strip, and was beaten up.

"A girl also got hit in the face with a bottle.

"I've seen a few big fights in clubs but I've never seen anything like that before."

Police say the crowd had swelled to around 400 outside Brannigans when riot police moved in and between 20 and 40 officers dispersed the main mob into smaller crowds where they were able to move them towards South End. The crowds had dispersed by 11pm.

Officers, a lot of whom were young and inexperienced, were showered with broken glass.

One officer suffered a broken wrist, while another received a cut to the face.

Superintendent Nick Jupp, of Croydon police, described the scene as "intimidating".

He said: "The last two goals were the catalyst for the disorder after drinking on a long, hot day.

"They should be ashamed of their behaviour. It is totally unacceptable for police officers to be injured as a result of a small minority of people reacting to a football result."

Croydon was one of many towns and cities across the UK which experienced violence after the match.

Extra police will be drafted in to Croydon for England's game against Switzerland tomorrow (Thursday) and Monday's clash with Croatia.

While Supt Jupp said this was an isolated incident, the disturbance has left a black cloud hanging over the town's beleaguered night-time economy.

Council officials who have worked hard to improve the town's reputation for drunken disorder are disgusted at Sunday's antics.

Councillor Paul Smith, cabinet member for public protection, said: "I suspect that a combination of too much drink, unusually hot weather and an unexpected result provoked this inexcusable display of immaturity."

A spokesman for the Walkabout pub said that most of their pints were served in plastic glasses, adding: "As far as we are aware, aside from an isolated incident involving two punters, there were no problems in the pub."

A spokesman for Tramlink said the damage to their tram was minimal. The driver and passengers were uninjured.

England fans held after street rioting - 15/06/2004

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

TIM MOYNIHAN

PORTUGUESE mounted police charged rioting English fans early today after trouble erupted on the Algarve.

About 200 football fans clashed with police in Albufeira.

Twelve England supporters were arrested for public order offences after the fans, who had been drinking heavily, began throwing bottles outside a bar.

Fans pelted police with bottles, chairs and glasses in running battles lasting two hours.

Initial attempts to calm the situation failed and police in riot gear were deployed to break up the crowd. Several fans were handcuffed and marched away from the scene. The street outside the La Bamba bar was strewn with bottles and broken glass. It was the first serious incident involving English fans in Portugal since the Euro 2004 tournament began at the weekend.

Those arrested were due to appear in court in the Algarve later today.

Meanwhile, police in England today charged three men following violent clashes after England’s defeat on Sunday night.

Doorstaff and police officers were pelted with bottles during rioting in the Westgate area of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, shortly

after the dramatic last-minute defeat by France in Euro 2004.

This morning’s trouble in Portugal was in the south of the country where thousands of English fans are staying in tourist accommodation during the tournament.

Police spokesman Captain Manuel Jorge said a crowd of English fans had been drinking in the street near the La Bamba bar at around 1.30am.

He said: "They began throwing bottles at the police and we had to send in the horses to bring the situation under control. We arrested 12 people."

In London, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said the fans had been detained for public disturbance-related matters.

"We are in touch with the authorities and consular assistance will be offered in the normal way," she added.

The trouble erupted just hours after England fans were praised by local police as an example to other nations.

Portuguese national police spokesman Alexandre Coimbra said not a single England supporter was arrested in Lisbon after Sven Goran Eriksson’s team lost its opening game to tournament favourites France on Sunday night.

In contrast, hooligans went on the rampage across England following the 2-1 defeat.

Dozens of people were arrested, police came under attack with bricks and bottles, and patrol cars were set alight as serious disturbances broke out in town centres such as Croydon, south London, and Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Irate supporters also left a trail of destruction in Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Essex, Birmingham and Boston in Lincolnshire.

It is thought that up to 400 people were involved in clashes in Croydon, where two police officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Missiles, including bottles, were thrown at officers and several police vehicles.

Officers made a total of 13 arrests - 11 of those detained remain in custody and two were taken to hospital with head injuries. All those arrested are between 17 and 23 years old.

Twelve people were arrested in Birmingham after more than 200 people ran amok along the city’s Broad Street for 45 minutes. One man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The violence involved fans who had been watching the match on a big screen in the city’s Centenary Square.

Following the final whistle, London Ambulance Service experienced a surge in emergency call-outs - up 26 per cent on the same period last Sunday - as violent incidents broke out around the capital.

Back in Portugal one England fan received a suspended jail sentence and has been expelled from the country after being involved in minor violence in Lisbon on Saturday night.

Alan John Walker, 29, of Leek, Staffordshire, appeared in court accused of attacking two French fans.

The Stoke City supporter was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for three years, fined 1200 euros and banned from Portugal for a year.

Walker was previously subject to a football banning order in Britain but police said that expired before Euro 2004.

More than 2300 England fans are subject to banning orders which stopped them from going to Euro 2004.

Another 500 are prevented from travelling while their cases go through the legal system. A total of 42 fans known to police have been stopped at British ports and airports over the last week.

The number of England fans turned away at Portuguese ports of entry stands at two, and the authorities have said many key figures responsible for violence at previous England games were not in Portugal.

Speaking before today’s disturbances, Mr Coimbra said not a single England fan was arrested in Lisbon after the game.

He said: "The British fans were fantastic, they showed how to lose a game with great fair play and dignity.

"They facilitated our police mission. I hope they can give an example for other fans here in Portugal."

ENGLAND - FRANCE - EURO'2004

Source : Mail

All grounds ban for football hooligan aged 10 - 04/06/2004

Source: Hampshire & Isle of Wight

A 10-year-old boy, thought to be the youngest person convicted of football hooliganism, has been banned from every ground in England and Wales.

Prosecuted by Hampshire and Isle of Wight CCP Nick Hawkins, the boy was among more than 30 rioting fans brought to justice following close co-operation between the CPS and police.

They were arrested after clashes with officers - some on horseback - at Portsmouth's derby match against Southampton in March.

The hooligans, frustrated at their inability to get at the visiting fans, turned on police, pelting them with rocks and attacking their horses.

The boy, just 4ft tall, who was caught on CCTV footage throwing missiles at police, admitted violent disorder when he appeared at Portsmouth Youth Court.

Nick Hawkins told the court: "Listening to the interview, it's clear he has a lack of respect for the police.

"He said he was not sorry for his actions because the police deserved it and he was not frightened because he was with his mates.

"I put it to the court that he is a 10-year-old who is fully aware of what he was doing."

As well as imposing the three-year ban the court ordered the boy, from Gosport, Hampshire, to report to a Youth Offending Team for nine months.

Afterwards, Nick praised the lawyers and caseworkers at Portsmouth CJU and Trials Unit for their work in handling cases from Operation Market, the police investigation into the riot.

"The disorder was on such a scale that 10 per cent of Hampshire's police force were deployed to deal with it.

"I decided that it was so serious it was only right that I should roll up my sleeves and help," said Nick, who provided pre-charge guidance to police and later, in his role as a Higher Court Advocate, dealt with a number of Crown Court hearings.

Of the Portsmouth fans arrested under Operation Market, 30 pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Ten adults who appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing yesterday (2 nd June) received prison sentences ranging between nine and 18 months and six or seven-year-long football banning orders.

Soccer yob, 10, in court again - 22/06/2004

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

ONE of Britain's youngest convicted soccer yobs is in trouble again – because he couldn't be bothered to go to a police station.
The 10-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a three-year banning order at Portsmouth Youth Court last month after he was convicted of throwing stones at police.

One of the conditions imposed on the the tiny tearaway fan was to turn up at Gosport police station before England's first two matches of the Euro 2004 tournament in case he had any plans to go to Portugal.

But he broke the conditions after only a fortnight when he failed to report within three hours of the England v France kick-off on June 13 and the start of last Thursday's vital win over Switzerland.

The boy admitted the breaches at court, where he was accompanied by his foster carer.

Prosecutor Karen Schmidt told magistrates the boy admitted to police he 'couldn't be bothered' to turn up on the 13th.

He was arrested at 8.45pm on Thursday, having been reported missing and found by Portsmouth police who handed him over to Gosport colleagues at the ferry terminal.

I was beaten up, claims convicted hooligan - 22/06/2004

Source: Birmingham Post

Convicted soccer hooligan Garry Mann protested his innocence yesterday and claimed he was the victim of police brutality as he spoke for the first time since he was handed a two-year jail sentence by a Portuguese court.

Mann, a 46-year-old Birmingham City fan, confirmed he was to appeal against the conviction last week for his role in football-related violence in the Algarve resort of Albufeira.

The firefighter, who now lives in Faversham, Kent, was allowed to walk free following an administrative mix-up as the judge also ordered him deported from Portugal under temporary laws.

Supporters from the Fair Trials Abroad organisation labelled his trial "grossly unfair" and said Mann had no significant previous convictions and denied he was a hooligan.

He said he only learned later that trouble had erupted in the resort at about 1am on Tuesday.

"At this time I was at a bar called the Blues Bar, with a friend and my brother, nowhere near where the alleged riot started," he said.

He claimed he had remained at the bar from 4pm last Monday until between 3am and 3.30am the following morning. "I was attacked when I went outside this Blues Bar on the way back to the hotel, this was approximately 3.45 to 4am," said Mann.

"I was on my way back to the hotel when I was attacked by plain-clothes police officers and beaten up by the police at the time and arrested." He said he had been held at local police headquarters with about 13 other and added: "We were subjected to 15 hours of sleep deprivation and beatings if we tried to shut our eyes.

"In court I did not know what I was really charged with until 30 minutes towards the end of the trial."

Mann said that his brother and friend had both provided evidence during the court hearing to confirm his alibi and claimed that CCTV footage which could have cleared his name had been destroyed. It emerged that Mann was still seeking clarification of his exact sentence and had failed in an initial bid to lodge an appeal following the hearing in Portugal.

He also refuted reports he had been banned from the England Supporters Club.

"That's incorrect. I was a member of the England Supporters Club and did not renew my membership because I was not travelling abroad any more."

However, he declined to answer why he had ceased to travel abroad. Stephen Jakobi, of Fair Trials Abroad, said a new appeal is to be lodged with a higher court in Portugal and that, if necessary, the organisation will take their action to the European Court of Human Rights.

A Home Office spokesman said if the appeal fails Mann could be made to serve the jail term in Portugal.

Such an application would be made to National Criminal Intelligence Service and subject to a ruling by a magistrate.

Ringleader of England fans in court - 19/06/2004

Source: Evening Mail

A Blues fan branded a hooligan ringleader by a Portuguese judge was appearing in a UK court today to face a football banning order.

Garry Mann was among 11 England fans accused of rioting who flew into Heathrow airport late last night after being deported.

Mann, 46, a firefighter from Faversham, Kent, was served with a two-year jail sentence in Albufeira on Wednesday.

Home Office officials said Mann would not serve his prison sentence in the UK as there was no legislative framework to support this.

The former Birmingham man was appearing before Uxbridge magistrates to face a football banning order.

A Birmingham University student deported after being convicted of violence in Portugal today protested his innocence.

John Parkes said he intended fighting an order to ban him from football matches, although he would not appeal against his conviction in Portugal.

"The police have told me there is no point in fighting the case because the Portuguese authorities are a law unto them-selves," he said.

Parkes, 19, of Edmund Road, Upper Gornal, Dudley, who is studying archeology and ancient history, was holidaying in Portugal when trouble broke out in Albufeira on Monday.

He was given a seven-month suspended prison sentence, prior to deportation, and was bailed by Uxbridge magistrates yesterday.

The part-time barman was alleged to have thrown glasses, but he said today he had been sitting outside a bar and played no part in the incident.

"When trouble started I went in the opposite direction. I asked police for directions to my hotel and was arrested."

Trouble flared up again in Albufeira last night, leading to at least six arrests. Drunken fans threw bottles and riot police with mounted colleagues moved in.

There were ugly scenes as around 400 fans chanted defiantly.

Deported England fans bailed - 18/06/2004

Source: The Birmingham Post

Dudley student John Parkes was today bailed after turning up at court to face football banning orders.

Parkes, 19, was one of eight England fans kicked out of Portugal for rioting.

The men, aged between 19 and 37, did not appear in court, but were served their bail papers in the waiting room at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in West London.

All eight were remanded on conditional bail. They were ordered to surrender their passports and not to leave the UK until they return to the same court for a hearing on July 28.

None of them were represented by solicitors at court.

They will all now be seeking legal advice and will be contesting the banning orders, police officers dealing with the case said.

The eight defendants were: Peter Barwick, 37, from Middlesbrough, Andrew Williams, 22, from Burgess Hill, Sussex, John Parkes, 19, from Dudley, Daniel Marsh, 20, from Barnsley, Ricky Tsigarides, 22, from Cheshunt, John Jackson, 22, from Newcastle, David Jackson, 28, from Peterborough, and Jack Hobbs, 19, from Oxford.

They were among 10 supporters who arrived back in Britain last night after being arrested when fans clashed with local police late on Monday night in the resort of Albufeira.

Riot fans plead innocence - 17/06/2004

Source: The Birmingham Post

Two West Midlands football fans used bottles and glasses as missiles as English supporters ran riot through a Portuguese holiday resort, a court was told last night.

Fireman Gary Mann and 19 year-old Birmingham University student John Parkes were among 12 England fans arrested in the Algarve resort of Albufeira on Monday night.

Portuguese police have asked for their deportation and during a hearing last night at the courthouse in Albufeira, it was claimed Mann, from Birmingham, had thrown a bottle at military police and incited violence while Parkes had been seen throwing glasses of beer.

Monday's clashes were followed by further trouble on Tuesday night when 34 English fans were held after street battles with police in Albufeira.

They are due to appear in court today amid mounting concern that England - who face Switzerland today - could be expelled from the Euro 2004 championships if the violence spreads to matches.

Condemning the hooligans, Tony Blair said they "bring shame on our country and on the vast majority of England football fans who just want to enjoy the game".

Mr Blair hit out in the Commons after tournament organiser Uefa said while the trouble on the Algarve was regarded as unrelated to the tournament, that position would change if it spread.

A spokesman said: "It is not being viewed as football hooliganism by Uefa. However, if it changes - and we hope it doesn't - and there is trouble around a stadium or around an England match, that position could change and we would have to review it."

On Monday, Stoke City fan Alan John Walker, from Leek, Staffordshire, was given a suspended prison sentence and became the first England fan to be deported from Euro 2004 for violent behaviour. He was handed a three-year football banning order on his return to Britain.

Yesterday he denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had been used as a scapegoat by Portuguese police. The families of the 12 arrested on Monday night also repeated the men's protestations of innocence.

John Parkes' mother, Josephine, from Dudley, said he had tried to run away from violent clashes between fans and police after trouble erupted at a bar where he was drinking.

She said her son, an archae-ology and ancient history student who had gone to Portugal with friends, had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. "I can't believe what has happened. They are respectable people who went out there just for a holiday - they didn't even have tickets for any games," she said.

Mann, a 46-year-old Birmingham City supporter, now lives in Beaumont Davy Close in Faversham, Kent. There was no answer yesterday at his home, which is attached to the town's fire station compound. A cartoon sticker in the window depicted a Birmingham City football supporter urinating on an Aston Villa football shirt.

A spokesman for Kent Fire Brigade confirmed it had an employee named Garry Mann who worked at Faversham.

David Lloyd-Baker said his daughter-in-law, Suzanne Lloyd-Baker, was living with Mr Mann, and said he worked as a fireman in Faversham.

Outlining the case against the arrested fans at the courthouse in Albufeira last night, Judge Filipe Marques said: "Gary Mann was detained and arrested for throwing a bottle at military police. When he ran away he incited others to do the same and to fight against the police."

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that an alcohol ban will be in force in Birmingham's Centenary Square for England's remaining Euro 2004 group matches.

It followed violence on Sunday night when about 200 fans smashed hoardings and confronted police in Broad Street after watching the France game on a huge screen in the square.

The measures, as revealed in The Birmingham Post yesterday, will also include Broad Street being temporarily closed to traffic from 6.30pm-7.30pm to relieve congestion.

Rioting fan jailed for two years - 17/06/2004

Source: The Birmingham Post

The Birmingam man described by Portuguese police as a ringleader of the English hooligans involved in rioting on the Algarve works as a fireman in a quiet Kent town.

Garry Mann was facing deportation and a two-year jail sentence after a fast-track court hearing yesterday.

Mann, 47, a tattooed Birmingham City fan, lives in a house attached to the fire station in Faversham with his girlfriend Suzanne Lloyd-Baker.

She refused to comment yesterday when asked about his arrest.

But neighbours confirmed he was the muscular, shaven-headed man photographed being led into court by a Portuguese police officer yesterday.

There was no answer at his house, where a cartoon sticker in the window depicted a Birmingham City football supporter urinating on an Aston Villa football shirt.

A spokesman for Kent Fire Brigade would only confirm that they had an employee named Garry Mann who worked at Faversham.

Mann, who is thought to have four children from a previous relationship, is several years older than the other fans who appeared in court yesterday.

He proclaimed his innocence and appeared to point angrily at someone in the public gallery before being handcuffed and led away by military police armed with pistols and 2ft truncheons.

Mann, who has the St George's cross tattooed on his forearm, claimed: "I wasn't even there. It's a stitch-up."

Garry Mann's entry on the Friends Reunited website tells former schoolmates at Duddeston Manor School in Birmingham that he has moved down South.

It says he has been a fireman for 24 years.

The entry continues: "Still following the Blues, unfortunately not grown up yet."

Stephen Jakobi of the campaign group Fair Trials Abroad said today that Mann's sentence could be overturned.

He said Portuguese police did not appear to have produced any video evidence to prove he was the ringleader and had given him no time to prepare a defence, which he would be entitled to do under international law.

"One's got to accept deportations in such circumstances, but if you are going to give people sentences they have got to have a chance to prepare their defence," he said.

Mr Jakobi was involved in the case of Mark Forrester, who was the only England fan to stand trial for violence during Euro 2000 in Belgium.

Forrester, 34, from Birmingham, was given a one-year jail sentence, half of it suspended for three years.

He lost his job as a plant hire manager after his conviction under fast-track procedures introduced to deal with fans in Belgium and is still fighting to clear his name.

City man on riot charge - 16/06/2004

Source: Evening Mail


A Birmingham man was among 12 England football fans facing Portugese justice today following violent clashes with police.

He was named as Gary Norman Mann, aged 46.

The fans arrived handcuffed at a courthouse in Albufeira. Police said they were arrested for public order offences after violence broke out in the resort involving up to 800 drink-fuelled fans on Monday night.

Today there were more shameful scenes at the resort as brawling England fans brought fresh terror to its streets.

Thirty-two more fans were arrested as mounted Portuguese officers and riot police with dogs clashed with around 400 bottlethrowing supporters.

Meanwhile in Birmingham a booze ban was today slapped on Centenary Square for all England’s remaining Euro 2004 group matches after fans went on the rampage in the city on Sunday night.

About 200 fans smashed hoardings and confronted police in Broad Street after watching the France game on a huge screen in the square.

Chief Superintendent Peter Goodman said: “Although the majority of event goers were good humoured and there were no arrests or major incidents in Centenary Square we did have disorder on Broad Street.

Council officials and senior police officers agreed that:


* Alcohol will not be served in Centenary Square during the Switzerland game tomorrow and Monday's clash with Croatia.


* Extra police will also be on duty in the area.


* The number of stewards working in Centenary Square will also be more than doubled for future games. Their role will include preventing people with alcohol from entering the Square.


* Broad Street will be temporarily closed to traffic from 6.30pm-7.30pm to relieve congestion.


City Council chief executive Lin Homer said: “Public safety is our top priority and we pride ourselves on running events that are welcoming and safe.


“Following the incidents on Broad Street, we are working closely with the police in order to reduce the risk of similar disturbances taking place during this tournament.


“We hope that the measures that we have introduced will mean that people can watch England matches in Centenary Square in a safe and friendly environment.”


Birmingham is the only city in the UK showing all the Euro 2004 matches, with the big screen in Centenary Square.


Bar owners in Broad Street have blamed Sunday’s trouble on the availability of alcohol in the square.


Last night’s violence in Portugal is believed to have started after fans threw beer at a group of Portuguese outside the La Bamba bar. As the locals ran off the rioters tried to break windows at Matt’s bar opposite and police moved in.


Police spokesman Captain Manuel Jorge said: “Around 2am they began throwing bottles and glasses into the road. They also threw tables into the road.


“At 2.15am the situation got hot, and the situation also involved 15 or 20 Portuguese people who were just passing by in the road.


“The police needed to go in with horses and dogs to defuse the situation.”

Fans arrested after trouble - 14/06/2004

Source: The Birmingham Post

Twelve people were arrested in Birmingham after more than 200 people ran amok through the streets of the city centre after last night's match.

Police were forced to close parts of Broad Street for 45 minutes as the disturbances broke out.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said 40 police officers attended the scene at the height of the trouble which began at 9.50pm last night.

One male was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The violence involved fans who had been watching the match on a big screen in the city's Centenary Square.


Damage was caused to several pubs, a bus and various hoardings, while several people played football in the main carriageway of Broad Street which led to the road closure.

All 12 arrested remain in police custody.

Fans riot after England defeat - 14/06/2004

Source: The Birmingham Post

Police in riot gear fought running battles with hooligans in the centre of Birmingham last night after England's last-minute defeat to the French in the European Championships.

Thousands of fans had flocked to Centenary Square to watch the crucial first round match which England had looked like winning after a first half goal from Frank Lampard.

However, violence erupted on the final whistle following two late goals from Zinedine Zidane when a hardcore 200 fans began throwing missiles at the screen that had been erected in the square for t h e championships.

More than 40 riot officers and police dog handlers were then called in after two officers patrolling the square were attacked and knocked to the ground by a group of around 20 hooligans.

One eyewitness, Shaun Fellows, said: "They just went wild when we lost.

"They turned on the TV screen as soon as the final whistle went, and started throwing bottles at the screen, which smashed up the screen.

"Soon people were throwing anything around. Food, beer bottles, shoes anything they could get their hands on.

"There were loads of kids in the front watching the match, they were terrified, as their parents tried to get them away.

"It was mayhem. They turned on the policemen, one had his helmet knocked off and they used it as a football in the middle of Broad Street.

"The other policeman, was hit on the back of the head and knocked to the ground, the last I saw was about twenty youths running over and he disappeared underneath them all."

Martin O'Brien, who was selling England merchandise from a stall in Centenary Square, said: "There was a lot of bottle throwing and they were even throwing bottles at my stall." As the enraged fans stormed down Broad Street, they threw bottles at the windows of the pubs and clubs, jumping on the top of cars as they drove out of the city's prestigious ICC district.

Another eye witness in the Walkabout Bar opposite Centenary Square said: "The motorists driving down Broad

Street were trying to get away, but there were hundreds of fans chasing after them, and jumping on top of the cars. "One car, a red VW Golf with a family in it including kids, was surrounded by twenty or so supporters.

"They were trying to rock the car and turn it over, the kids were screaming in terror. Two police went over to try to help, one a policewoman, in her early twenties and the other a policemen a bit older.

"When they arrived they managed to turn the car round, but later on I saw the crowd attack them. When the riot police eventually arrived, they stormed down Broad Street in their riot gear and surrounded them just outside. There was about 150 hardcore out there spoiling for a fight."

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Trouble started when two police were set upon by the crowd. We quickly drafted in support to contain the trouble makers."

Twelve people have been arrested and one man was taken to hospital, he added.

Luton: You're going nowhere, yobs told - 08/06/2004

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

28 potential trouble-makers ruled out of Euro 2004 tournament
Nearly 30 football hooligans from Luton have been ordered to surrender their passports to stop them travelling to Euro 2004.

A total of 28 so-called fans of Luton Town Football Club were required to have handed in their passports to police by the start of this week.

And to ensure they have not found alternative methods of travelling to Portugal the troublemakers will be required to report to Luton police station on the day of every England match.

The 28 are among 35 people throughout Bedfordshire who will be barred from going to the tournament.

And they in turn are among more than 2,700 convicted soccer hooligans nationwide who have been made the subject of Football Banning Orders (FBOs).

A national ports operation has been set up at airports, ferry ports and rail terminals to monitor passengers and make sure nobody slips through the net.

The 28 Hatters fans who have been ordered to stay at home during the tournament have all been convicted of hooliganism or other football-related offences during the last three years.

It is more than three times the number of hooligans who were prevented from travelling to Japan and Korea for the 2002 World Cup.

If any banned fans want to go on holiday during the tournament they must provide the police with documentary evidence and will be issued with an exemption.

But if they are caught anywhere in Portugal or mainland Spain they will be sent home and arrested.