Season 03/04 - August

Police warning to soccer fans - 31/08/2004

Source: Bolton Evening News

POLICE will be stationed at Manchester Airport over the next nine days to prevent football hooligans travelling to England's forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

Officers today launched Operation Warsaw ahead of England's two crucial away games in Austria and Poland.

Plain clothes football intelligence officers, along with uniformed police, will be on guard at the airport to stop known troublemakers leaving the country

The national team play against Austria on Saturday before travelling to Poland on Wednesday

Supt Paul Mciver, of Greater Manchester Police said: "There is a clear message to those people travelling for the wrong reasons. Don't bother."

"We will be vigorously enforcing banning orders and working to stop those travelling to engage in violence or disorder.

"Any breaches of theses conditions will be treated seriously."

There are a number of routes that fans can use to fly to attend matches and officers will be monitoring all options available to travelling fans.

"The operation aims to continue this good work and stop hooligans ruining the reputation of genuine England fans."

During Euro 2004, Greater Manchester Police successfully carried out a similar operation with officers speaking to over 1500 fans.

The vast majority were genuine supporters who were cooperative and understanding.

But officers stopped a number of known hooligans from travelling and several new banning orders were applied for.

Some supporters without banning orders were prevented from travelling during the 18 days that the officers were stationed at the airport.

Three new banning orders applications were made, including one that will run for the next three years.

It means that the offender cannot attend football matches in England or Wales or travel abroad to watch the national team play.

Two other fans were stopped as they had outstanding warrants still against them.

And a further 10 people were arrested for failing to abide with conditions of existing banning orders

Coventry City low down hooligan league - 19/08/2003

Source: Coventry Telegraph

Just 28 Coventry supporters were arrested at or near football matches last season, according to official figures.

There were 14 people arrested at home matches and 14 at away matches for offences varying from public disorder and running on to the pitch, to drugs and possession of an offensive weapon.

The arrest rate for the Sky Blues is relatively low compared to other first division clubs. Nottingham Forest had the highest number of arrests at 141 and Wimbledon had the lowest at 7.

Overall in the country, arrests at football matches have gone up. But Coventry bucked the trend - in the 2001-02 season there were 49 arrests compared to last season's 28.

Last season, 39 Coventry fans were served with banning orders. The most banning orders in the first division, 124, went to Stoke City fans and the least went to Wimbledon where just one fan was given one.

Coventry City Football Club's safety and security manager Bob Rankin, a former detective superintendent, suggested that one reason the arrest rate has fallen is that first division matches are less intensively policed than premier league matches and crowds for first division matches are smaller.

Mr Rankin said: "The numbers of (City) banning orders give a slightly distorted picture. Almost all of them were the result of two games, one against Portsmouth and the other against Manchester City."

The government said the increase in arrests is as a result of police intelligence by police.

Bradford: City yobs for rent - 05/08/2003

Source: Telegraph & Argus

Football hooligans in Bradford are using "rent-a-thug" reinforcements to compete with rival mobs, it was revealed today.

It is thought Bradford City's hooligan "firm" - known as the Ointment - stands at about 30-strong, but police believe they can double or even treble their strength by drawing on a pool of outsiders.

More than 50 thugs from the city are believed to have been involved in violence at a tournament 10 days ago.

Officers suspect the new faces are not regular attenders but are brought in when the potential for large-scale disorder arises.

Football intelligence officer PC Jamie Smith said: "People will be brought in by hooligans for higher category games."

He said they were not paid but were attracted by the potential of getting involved in violence.

"These are associates of prominents (hooligans) who will come in and give them a hand when they think the need is there," he said. "We see them out and about on match days although they have no particular interest in the team."

While officers are aware of the identities of long-standing Ointment members, little is known about those involved on a casual basis.

"We are in the process of gathering intelligence on them and we will be coming down hard on anyone involved in disorder," said PC Smith.

"While the numbers of the Ointment itself are not growing, I am sure that these people will be calling themselves by that name.

"These people have got no connection to football. They do not go to games and probably never have."

Police arrested three Bradford men after violence erupted between City and Aberdeen supporters in Ivegate on July 26.

About 50 thugs from each faction clashed during the friendly tournament arranged as a celebration of the Bantams' centenary season.

A police dog was injured and a force van had its windscreen smashed. Police, who had already made arrests when fans clashed earlier in Manningham Lane, quickly restored order.

In January, there were violent scenes at Leeds train station when Bradford thugs came head-to-head with rival hooligans from the city.

It is thought Bradford's "rent-a-thug" tactics will be used for fixtures categorised with a high potential for violence next season such as games against Burnley, Millwall and Sheffield United.

On these occasions the police will beef up their match-day operations to try to stop the potential for violence.

But PC Smith stressed that the huge majority of City fans were well behaved at both home and away ties.

"Ninety-nine per cent of those who follow Bradford City love football and simply follow the game," he said.

And he said that, unlike many other clubs, there were no signs of a new youth "firm" emerging.

"It seems that it is the same people who have been involved for years," said PC Smith. "There are those who are still intent on disorder while in their 40s."

KV Turnhout - KV Mechelen - 31/08/2003

Source: http://www.nieuwsblad.be

After this 3rd belgian division game, scuffles erupted between hardcores from both teams.
A large amount of policemen were present for this high-risks game.
Three Mechelen fans were arrested.

Luton Town: Extra cash to keep soccer yobs pinned down - 22/08/2003

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

Hatters fans may be regarded as a soft touch, but police are a different prospect
Extra cash to tackle football hooliganism has come at just the right time for police, who fear a new wave of violence at Luton Town matches.

A large slice of the £5 million promised by the Government this week to help stamp out trouble at games across the country will go to Bedfordshire Police.

Some will be used on operations to prevent aggro from away fans who police suspect have pinpointed Luton as an "easy" target this season.

About £200,000 had already been earmarked for the probe into fighting between rival supporters at the cup tie between the Hatters and Watford at the start of last season.

The cash will also allow police to monitor suspected football thugs using Luton airport to travel to international games, including Euro 2004 in Portugal.

Home Office figures released on Monday show that 42 Luton supporters were arrested during the 2002-03 season. Only nine of those were at Kenilworth Road games.

Total football-related arrests in the town last season – home and away fans – was the lowest since Luton lifted its ban on visiting fans in 1990-91.

But Luton police's football liaison officer, Pc Peter Palmer, fears that hooligans will travel here this season intent on causing trouble because they believe Hatters followers are now "an easy touch".

Many of Luton's notorious MIGs (Men In Gear) gang have not attended matches since violence at the Watford game nearly a year ago, which led to the arrest of 24 Hatters supporters, who are now awaiting trial.

Fifty Crystal Palace troublemakers travelled to Luton by train for July's pre-season friendly. There were three arrests.

"The Crystal Palace hooligans were bent on causing disorder and Luton people did not respond," said Pc Palmer.

"In the past, the MIGs have been seen as a pretty hard group and other teams felt they did not have the ability to take them on.

"They might now see it as a chance to come to the town. I am concerned they might do this.

"We had problems from Tranmere at the end of last season and I have never known that from their fans before."

Pc Palmer said that following serious incidents at the Watford and Northampton matches early last season, Hatters games had been virtually trouble-free since November because of the police investigations.

He added: "We were able to make major inroads into the hooliganism problem and it was much quieter at the end of the season.

"But there are indications that younger groups are now attending matches determined to cause trouble and we will be vigilant in tackling that problem. Government money will help us to do that."

The 42 arrests of Luton supporters last season included 15 for alcohol offences, 13 for violent disorder, nine for public disorder, two for running on to the pitch and one for throwing a missile.

Dunfermline - Celtic - 10/08/2003

Source : Sunday Mail

CELTIC and Dunfermline face an SFA probe after their simmering feud spilled over into a WAR at East End Park.

Soccer beaks are set to hammer both clubs following disgraceful scenes on the SPL's opening day.

Violence flared as thugs threw BOTTLES and ROCKS at each other - injuring innocent fans and forcing others caught in the crossfire to flee on to the pitch in terror.

Cops had appealed for calm before the game. They feared a reaction to Chris Sutton's claims that Pars lay down to Rangers to hand them the Premier crown on the final day of last season.

But the growing grudge was cranked up another notch even BEFORE a ball was kicked with an astonishing slur on Celtic fans published in the match programme.

Then there was a flashpoint in the second half of the goalless draw as Hoops striker Henrik Larsson was whacked in the face by a ball thrown from the home support.

And all hell broke loose afer the game as the rained down. Celtic pledged last night to launch their own investigation but that won't save them or Pars from the SFA's wrath.

Spokesman Andy Mitchell said: "If a matter is raised in the referee's report the SFA will look into it. Any instances of misconduct will be looked into and clubs can be held accountable."

Larsson was praised by gaffer Martin O'Neill for turning his back on a potential flashpoint. But last night police revealed they may report the fan who threw the ball to the Procurator Fiscal.

Match commander Chief Superintendent Jim Rodden of Fife Police said: "This was one of two regrettable incidents.
"Inquiries are now underway to trace the person involved in the Henrik Larsson incident and a report may be sent to the procurator fiscal."

More trouble flared after the game as Dunfermline fans were pelted with rocks and glass bottles by a small group of Celtic supporters - and responded.

Some leaving the North West stand had to be treated for face injuries when missiles rained down as hundreds of scared Pars spilled on to the pitch to be escorted out of another exit by stewards.

Chief Superintendent Rodden said: "Rocks and stones were being thrown by both sets of fans. There was a fair barrage of stones thrown by the Celtic support but I am not yet sure who started it.
"A number of Dunfermline supporters had to be escorted back into the ground for their own safety."

Injured Pars fan Malcolm Jack from Edinburgh raged: "They call themselves the greatest support in the world but they were hurling rocks at women and children.
"Some Dunfermline boys got involved in a bit of banter with the Celtic fans.
"Before we knew it they were pelting us with stones and glass bottles. A rock ricocheted off a wall and hit me on the forehead and I had to be patched up by a paramedic inside the stadium. I also saw a young boy with a bit of glass stuck in his arm. Someone could easily have been killed."

Outspoken Pars chairman John Yorkston was forced to apologise for an insult to Celtic fans in the programme.

An article claimed it was a pity visiting Hoops fans could not be "ripped up" like the turf at East End Park will be this week to make way for an artificial surface.

Yorkston said: "I will be speaking to people to find out how this ended up in our programme. It is highly regrettable."

Hoops boss O'Neill heaped praise on striker Larsson for his professionalism.
The Irishman said: "I didn't see the incident but Henrik did well to walk away from it."

Partick Thistle - Celtic - 23/08/2003

Source : Sunday Mirror

Celtic fan stabbed at match

A CELTIC fan was stabbed at yesterday's Glasgow derby match with Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The 22-year-old, who was wearing a Celtic top, was attacked by other fans wearing Celtic colours as he queued for a pie and Bovril at half-time.

The victim was treated at the Maryhill ground by paramedics before being transferred to the city's Western Infirmary.

One fan said: "A fight seemed to break out among Celtic fans just as the half-time break came to an end.
"There were loads of kids standing close to where it happened and some of them were terrified at seeing so much blood.
"It was shocking. The guy who got stabbed was right in front of me and there was blood dripping out of his back.
"The police were searching a lot of people on the way out at the end of the game and I reckon they knew which crowd of people the guy who did the stabbing belonged to."

Strathclyde Police last night appealed for any witnesses to the attack to contact them on 0141 532 3700.

A spokeswoman confirmed: "The man was standing near a pie stall when he was attacked.

Staff at the Western Infirmary described the supporter's condition as "stable".

Hammarby IF - AIK Solna - 05/08/2003

Source : Aftonbladet.se

20 AIK hooligansa, angry because it was forbidden for them to go out of the pub they were in, because a police decision, thy damaged the pub.
Police said they received a previous phone-call saying there was a planned off between both mobs so that's why they intervened.
In the same time, 40 Hammarby hooligans mobbed up in the Charles Dickens pub.
Finally, 15 AIK supporters were arrested for vandalism and violent disorder and 12 Hammarby others to keep the peace.

Translation Underground Fans (c)