Season 04/05 - April

FIFA chief says security can stop hooliganism - 18/04/2005

Source : REÜTERS

FIFA is confident that stringent stadium controls and police checks will ensure the 2006 World Cup in Germany is not spoiled by the sort of fan violence affecting Italy.

"I'm not worried about hooliganism at the World Cup," FIFA president Sepp Blatter told reporters at the Sport Accord conference in Berlin on Monday.

"I have absolute confidence in the people organising the matches. Things have happened in Italy because they do not have any controls when entering the stadiums.

"These things would never be allowed to happen in Germany. It's impossible because when you go into the stadium you are controlled."

Inter Milan's Champions League game against AC Milan was abandoned last week when flares were thrown onto the pitch and was the latest example of a problem that could seriously damage Italy's bid to host the 2012 European Championship.

Fears that the World Cup could be hit by violence increased last month when 200 German hooligans smashed windows in the streets of Celje before a friendly against Slovenia, while other fans damaged seats and clashed with police during the game.

"I don't think what happened in Slovenia can happen here in Germany," Blatter said.

"There is an excellent relationship between the police and security forces in different countries and now they know who these hooligans are, where they are going and when they leave."

European football chiefs to clamp down on trouble-makers - 20/04/2005

Source : AFP

European football's governing body UEFA has vowed to crack down on trouble-makers following a season of violence highlighted by Inter Milan's Champions League fiasco.

"What we have seen is totally unacceptable," said UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson on the eve of a UEFA executive committee meeting.

"We will be strict and unbending. The message will be very clear."

UEFA is looking into new rules to bolster security at grounds and also to clamp down on managers like Chelsea's Jose Mourinho who accused Swedish referee Anders Frisk of talking to Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard at half-time of their Champions League match.

"We need to look at sanctions which are not purely financial. we could, for instance, deduct points," said Olsson.

Inter Milan were fined 300,000 Swiss francs and ordered to play their next four European games behind closed doors after crowd trouble against AC Milan.

Inter fans threw missiles on to the San Siro pitch forcing the Champions League quarter-final second leg tie to be abandoned with AC Milan leading 1-0.

Two games will be added to the ban if Inter reoffend in the next three years.

It had been expected that Inter would face much harsher sanctions and the possibility of a ban from European competition had been mooted in some quarters.

But Olsson defended the punishment. He said Italian law did not bar fans from taking flares to matches, only from throwing them onto the pitch.

But he planned to get all European federations to ban flares from stadiums.

In 2001 Inter were ordered to play two European matches away from the San Siro and fined 35,000 pounds after similar crowd trouble at their UEFA Cup tie with Spanish side Alaves.

New sanctions could be presented to the UEFA executive committee meeting at Manchester on June 16-17.

Olsson warned that further incidents this season could lead to a country ban.

English clubs were banned from Europe for five years following the 1985 Heysel stadium tragedy when 39 fans were killed after Liverpool fans stampeded before the European Cup final against Juventus.

Inter's violence was not the first time Italian fans have forced the abandonment of a match in the Champions League this season.

In September, a first phase match between Roma and Dynamo Kiev was stopped at half-time after Frisk was injured by a missile thrown from the crowd.

The object hit the Swedish referee as he was walking towards the tunnel and after receiving lengthy treatment on a bleeding forehead he decided to end the match for fear of further trouble.

Kiev, who were leading 1-0, were awarded the match, while Roma were given a three-match stadium ban and had to play their remaining group B games behind closed doors.

Olsson again appealed for managers to show restraint when criticising referees.

"People have a reponsibility for the behaviour of their fans," he added.

Frisk has since retired from football after receiving death threats.

Everton FC - Manchester United - Cup - 20/04/05


Source : BBC News

Three men have been charged with violent disorder after clashes following an FA Cup fifth round match.

More than 30 people were arrested in fights before and after the Everton-Man Utd match in February.

Merseyside Police confirmed the charges related to the match day trouble, but it is not known which incident the men are alleged to have taken part in.

They were named as Terence Sweeney, 39, of Northwich, and Steven Wetherall and Mark Feeney, 33 and 30, of Liverpool.

They were bailed to appear before Liverpool magistrates on Friday.

Security increased

The charges come as Everton prepare to host Man Utd in the Premiership on Wednesday night.

Merseyside Police will step up security for the match and officers will work with Greater Manchester Police to spot hooligans.

The Blue House pub, which is close to Goodison Park and has previously attracted troublemakers, has been ordered to close for the night.

The FA Cup match in February was highly charged because it saw the return of Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney to his first club.

It did not kick off until 1700 BST on Saturday 19 February, allowing extra time for fans to drink.


***********************************************************
Source: BBC


Fifteen people were arrested after Wednesday night's match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park in Liverpool, police say.

Merseyside Police said eight Manchester United fans were arrested at Lime Street Station, to prevent a breach of the peace.

One Everton fan was also arrested in connection with trouble at the previous FA Cup fixture in February.

Another six people were arrested around Goodison Park for minor offences.

Spartak Moscow - Dinamo Moscow - 17/04/2005

Source: rus-hool.narod.ru

Version of Spartak:
The meeting of Crazy Garbages and Co. was found by scaut. Went out on K-ya metro station. Some Dinamo hools ran away to the Shopping Center. And then we went to N.Ch.,where everithing was happened... Spartak hooligans(50-60 lads):Simple Boys, North West Side, Clench Fist + one more Youth... Dinamo hooligans(40-50 lads): Crazy Garbages and MHS... From Dinamo side a lot of bottles,fireworks and books Sourire... Spartak-full Fair Play!... The fight about one minute, a lot of scum from Dinamo hools,when they ended to trew it-we "crashed" their firstline and they run.Absolutelly victory of Spartak lads...

Men jailed over football violence - 22/04/05

Source : BBC News

A gang of 32 football hooligans have been jailed for plotting violence at a football match between Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham in 2003.

Merseyside Police knew of the planned fighting before the game, after reading messages on websites used by football hooligans, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Judge Brian Lewis said it was a planned attempt to cause large scale violence.

The gang, most of whom lived on the Wirral, were sentenced to a total of thirty-one-and-a-half years in prison.

Officers from the Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire forces acted before the match and managed to prevent serious disorder at the Prenton Park ground, the court heard.

But trouble did break out on a train after the match as the opposing Wrexham fans headed home. Violence also broke out in Chester city centre after the 27 September game.

Police said many of the men had planned to meet before the game at a local pub known as the Prince William near Green Lane.

Officers had tracked several text messages sent between the conspirators, including one that read: "Wrexham...they're bringing 200 or more can't wait."

'Criminal activities'

Judge Lewis said many others who were involved in the fighting had not been tracked down.

All the men were banned from attending football matches for six years.

"Tranmere Rovers has always enjoyed the highest respect and reputation not only in the local community but in the wider football world," he said.

"It has become a family club in the truest sense and you have besmirched that with your criminal activities.

'Organised violence'

"The courts must send out a message that organised violence of this nature will not be tolerated."

Four men described as key figures in the plot were David S****, Paul J******, John R***, and Jason M*********.

S****, 30, of Holme Lane, Prenton, and J******, 23, of Prenton Road East, Tranmere were both jailed for two years.

M*********, 33, of Polden Close, L****** was sentenced to 15 months and R***, 39, of Foxcovers Road, Bebington; was jailed for 12 months.

Another man, Stephen R******, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years and banned from football matches for four years.

Red Star Beograd - Partizan Beograd - 23/04/2005

Source : DELIJE + JUZNIFRONT + SPORTSKA CENTRALA websites

REUTERS

Two dozen people were injured and 67 arrested when rival fans clashed during and after the Belgrade derby between Red Star and Partizan.
Belgrade police said on Sunday that 12 of its officers were injured during rioting near Red Star's stadium after Saturday's 1-1 draw and 15 vehicles had been damaged.


A Belgrade clinic admitted six fans and a security steward for treatment of minor injuries while five people were taken to another hospital with cuts and bruises, a senior official said.

Trouble erupted midway through the second half of the match when fans ripped up hundreds of plastic seats and pelted each other with them.

The fixture has a history of serious crowd trouble and the derby in October 2000 had to be abandoned after only three minutes following a pitch invasion and fierce fighting which forced the players to flee into the dressing rooms.

Saturday's result leaves league leaders Partizan five points ahead of champions Red Star in a commanding position to win the two-horse title race.

The two sides meet again on May 11 in the Serbia & Montenegro Cup semi-finals and the domestic double could change hands and go to Partizan should they beat their bitter rivals.

The main concern, however, will be to avoid more violence in a densely populated residential area with few escape routes for passers-by who often get caught up in the fighting.

Bristol Rovers - Swansea City - 23/04/05

Source : BBC news

Arrests after football violence

Up to 150 people were involved in throwing missiles at police during violence after a football match.

Five officers were injured in the disturbance on Saturday after the game between Bristol Rovers and Swansea.

Nine arrests were made after the trouble broke out in Gloucester Road in Bristol, following Rovers' 2-0 win over the Welsh side at the Memorial Stadium.

A police spokeswoman said on Sunday that the nine people arrested had been bailed pending further inquiries.

'Controlled quickly'

One officer received hospital treatment after suffering a minor head injury.

Supt Adrian Coombs, of Avon and Somerset Police, said the police operation for the match included the deployment of dogs, horses and the force helicopter.

"There was no serious disorder between rival fans either before, during or after the match," he said.

"When the disorder in the Gloucester Road area started officers were deployed and acted quickly and appropriately.

"Some damage was caused to local businesses but the situation was controlled quickly and officers dealt with it with the utmost professionalism."

Wrexham - Luton Town - 23/04/2005

Source : LUTON fans website


LUTON lads

Napoli SC - Foggia - 24/04/2005

Source : ANSA

After troubles caused by locals, police forces arrested 4 youth, aged between 19 to 23 years old.
During 1st half, police forces made an intervention on A terrace, using teargas.

Celtic Glasgow - Glasgow Rangers - 24/04/05

Source: Soccernet + BBC News

Gers may face missile probe


Rangers are facing a possible Scottish Football Association investigation into the missile thrown at Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov during the Old Firm derby.
The Bulgaria international was struck by a plastic cup after opening the scoring for the Hoops in the 21st minute at Ibrox.


The 25-year-old required some medical attention after being struck by the drinks container, which had been thrown from the Copland Road stand, but was able to return to the action almost immediately.

Celtic went on to win the game 2-1 with Craig Bellamy adding to Petrov's strike in the 34th minute before Rangers substitute Steven Thompson grabbed a goal back two minutes from time.

But the SFA will now wait for the receipt of match official Stuart Dougal's report before deciding what action to take.

An SFA spokesman said: 'We will wait for the referee's report before taking any further action.

'Any incident is a concern which is why they are reported to us.'

Petrov was also cautioned in the wake of his goal celebrations in front of the Rangers supporters housed in the stand behind a goal at Ibrox.

But missile-throwing incidents have become a worrying trend in the SPL this season with Celtic and Hearts both being subject to SFA discussions.

In the last Old Firm derby at Celtic Park in February, Rangers midfielder Fernando Ricksen was hit by a cigarette lighter thrown from among Hoops' fans as he prepared to take a corner.

During the stormy SPL encounter between Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle last month, objects were thrown on to the pitch by Jambos' fans.

The SFA took no action on those occasions but wrote to all SPL clubs warning that sanctions could be taken if incidents continued.
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Police board ferry after violence

Police in riot gear boarded a ferry in Larne after fighting broke out between rival football fans.
Two crew members, one a woman, were slightly injured during disturbances on the boat after it left Troon on Sunday.

There were 350 passengers on board and it is thought up to 100 Celtic and Rangers fans were involved in fighting.

Police boarded the P&O ship at 2145 BST and arrested three men and a woman. P&O marketing manager James Esler said the company was "horrified and disgusted".

"The primary concern is the safety of our passengers and crew - we are working with the PSNI, Celtic and Rangers football clubs and local supporters clubs in a review of what happened," he said.

Inspector Harry Miller said police had received reports of "considerable fighting and assaults" on the vessel.

"But both sets of supporters were calm and offered no resistance to police at all," he said.

Missiles

The violence followed clashes between Celtic and Rangers fans in Belfast city centre on Sunday afternoon.

Celtic beat their Old Firm rivals 2-1 at Ibrox in a result which could secure the SPL title for the Parkhead club.

Police were attacked with stones and bottles after responding to reports of disturbances at the junction of Cromac Street and Ormeau Avenue at about 1530 BST.

Rival groups totalling about 60 youths were throwing missiles at each other.

One police officer received a minor leg injury and three police vehicles were damaged. A man and a woman were arrested.

Community representatives worked with police to end the disturbances.

Police believe youths from the Markets and Donegall Pass areas were involved in the disturbances, which lasted several hours.


Celtic's Chris Sutton gestures as Stilian Petrov goes down injured after he appeared to be hit on the head with an object thrown by a Rangers fan

Portsmouth FC - Southampton - 24/04/05

Source: forums

Saints fans didn't arrive till 15 minutes before kick off. Police forces were very heavy handed sending horses down Goldsmith Ave pushing people down side streets.
So, no riots for this high-risks derby.

Red Star Waasland - Patro Maasmechelen - 17/04/05

Source: Belgian casuals

At the end of the game, visitor fans caused few troubles.

Zulte Waregem - FC Antwerp - 17/04/05

Source: Belgian casuals

It seems about 50 Gent lads made the trip to Waregem with the aim to confront their Antwerp rivals.
About 90 (lads/scarfers) made the trip by train.
A toe-to-toe erupted in front of a pub. Antwerp lads charged the pub after they were provoked and received missiles.
Police forces charged, using pepper sprays, them before they took their train back.

It also seems about 10 Kortrijk lads had a confront with locals.

Russian 1/25 - Cup: Torpedo Vladimir - Tekstilshik Ivanovo - 22/04/05

Before the game 60-70 Vladimir hools (Strudy fighters, Young SF, Gusi e.t.c.) attacked 60 guests from Ivanovo, then police cordon appeared, and aproaches of Vladimir attacks reduced to the clashes with police.













More photos: http://kaluga.bwd.ru/foto_vladimir_vs_ivanovo.htm

Fresh crowd violence mars Australian soccer image ahead of new league launch - 19/04/2005


Source : AFP

Australian football chief John O'Neill has vowed to stamp out hooliganism after rioting fans tarnished the game's image just months before the launch of a new national league.

In the second case of ethnic crowd violence at an Australian football ground in as many months, fans from the Greek community's South Melbourne team clashed Sunday with Preston Lions' supporters, who are mainly of Macedonian origin.

About 400 supporters were involved in the melee, where mounted police charged onto the field to repel a pitch invasion and rival fans hurled flares, bottles, darts and coins.

Three police received minor injuries, two men were arrested and 11 were escorted from South Melbourne's ground.

The violence followed similar scenes last month when dozens of fans of the Croatian-backed soccer team Sydney United battled Serb supporters of the rival White Eagles in suburban Sydney.

O'Neill, who was recruited from rugby union with the brief of launching the new "A League" and lifting football's profile in Australia, said the behaviour would not be tolerated.

"This is not part of what we term 'new football'," he said Tuesday. "We recognise the tribal nature of sport but that should be restricted to the contest on the field."

The eight-team A League's kick off in August will come 16 months after the demise of its 27-year-old predecessor, the National Soccer League, which collapsed under a weight of debt, in-fighting, ethnically-divisive administrations and spectator apathy.

O'Neill said the latest problems vindicated administrators' decision to adopt a "one city-one team" model to minimise the ethnic rivalries that have dominated the Australian game in recent decades and prevented it challenging the popularity of rugby league, rugby union and Australian rules football.

Victoria state football chiefs launched an inquiry into the riot, saying the two teams could be expelled from the Victorian league, face fines, or be forced to play behind closed doors.
*************************************************************

Australian chief executive condemns ethnic violence

Source : REÜTERS

Australia Football Federation (FFA) chief executive John O'Neill condemned on Tuesday a riot between ethnically opposed fans at the end of a second-tier Victoria state soccer league match on Sunday.

Several hundred fans from a crowd estimated at 9,000 fought on the field after the match between the Preston Lions, supported by ethnic Macedonians, and the Greek-backed home team South Melbourne.

"If people can't behave in an acceptable manner and support their team in the right way they should not go to matches," O'Neill told reporters in Melbourne. "The sort of behaviour that occurred won't be tolerated.

"The message that the national governing body wants to send out to these people is that there is no place for them in football."

Local media reported that flares, bottles, darts and coins were thrown during the riot.

Four police, including two on horses, suffered minor injuries when they moved in to break it up. Two men were charged, one with assault and the other with unlawfully firing a flare.

The incident is an embarrassment for soccer authorities a month after police launched investigations into a separate feud between two ethnic soccer clubs in Sydney that resulted in gunshots and a firebombing.

Croatian-backed Sydney United and Serbian-supported Bonnyrigg White Eagles have been threatened with expulsion from the second-tier New South Wales state league after about 50 fans rioted during a match on March 13.

The trouble deepened a day later when a Sydney United employee's car was set on fire and up to 12 shots were fired into the Bonnyrigg supporters club building.

Soccer has long been a marginal sport compared with other Australian codes and is trying to present its best face after winning approval to swap from Oceania to Asia in a bid to develop the game and make it easier to qualify for the World Cup.

The FFA has also revamped its domestic competition, relegating traditional clubs to state leagues after setting up an elite competition known as the A-league which is due to kick off in four months.

Go Ahead Eagles - ??/04/2005

Hooligans disturbing training of Old Bill's Riot Squad at Go Ahead Eagles (Dutch First Division) ground and the Old Bill has to come into real action.


Lads try to catch a flag (training part 2, stewards had to catch them))
(Part 1 was ticket control at the entrance, but the hooligans rushed at the entrance and get inside without any control)


Lads arrive at the stand, training part 2-->failed


Pitch invasion, stewards losing control


Part 3, some lads had to attack the stand, stewards had to catch the attackers, the stand tried to break out, the fence was pulled down--->
end of the training


Another pitch invasion




Attack of the players entrance

After that a large group gathered together outside the ground to attack te riot squad.

Dynamo Vologda - Sheksna Cherepovets - Cup - 20/04/2005

Source: shizomaniacs.narod.ru

Fair fight 17x17 (youngsters from the both sides) http://shizomaniacs.narod.ru/download/vol_vs_che20-04-05.wmv

North Korea ordered to face Japan on neutral venue - 29/04/2005


Source : AFP

World football governing body FIFA punished North Korea for crowd unrest at their recent World Cup qualifiers and ordered the team to play its next home game against Japan on neutral territory and behind closed doors.
FIFA said it will announce the venue in due course for the June 8 match.
The Asian region qualifier for the 2006 World Cup had been scheduled to take place in the North Korean capital Pyongyang.
FIFA also finded the North Korean football association 20,000 Swiss francs (13,000 euros, 16,800 dollars)
North Korean players jostled the referee and fans threw chairs, bottles and other objects onto the pitch when the team lost to Iran 2-0 at home on March 30.
A bus carrying the Iranian team was also attacked by North Koreans outside the Kim Il-Sung Stadium.
FIFA also cited trouble at North Korea's match against Bahrain on March 26.
The Japanese government had already asked for assurances for the safety of its team and fans.
Japan have high hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals after a 1-0 win over Bahrain.
They also beat North Korea 2-1 at home in their opening match of Asia's last-eight qualifying round while North Korea's dreams were all but crushed by their defeat to Iran.

In other rulings released Friday, FIFA's disciplinary committee sanctioned Iran for crowd trouble during a match against Japan on March 26.
Iran will have to play their next home game -- against North Korea on June 3 -- in front of a maximum 50,000 fans. FIFA fined the Iranian FA 30,000 Swiss francs.

The football body also ordered Georgia to play their next two home matches behind closed doors, a sanction applying to games against Ukraine on September 3 and Kazakhstan on October 8.
Georgia, who were also fined 5,000 Swiss francs, were punished for trouble during their World Cup qualifier against Greece on March 26.

All the sanctions can be appealed within three days, FIFA said.
However, the Iranian FA has already announced it will not appeal, FIFA added.

Transport police target hooligans - 30 april

Source : BBC News

Away fans travelling by train to Coventry for the last ever match at Highfield Road are to be targeted in a police crackdown on hooliganism.

More than 500 British Transport Police (BTP) will mount special operations at 11 matches - including Coventry City's clash with Derby County.
Saturday's game at Highfield Road will be the team's last before moving to the new Ricoh Stadium.
BTP are hoping there will be a party mood in and around the ground.
Officers will arrest troublemakers and refuse to allow drunk fans to board trains.
Offenders could be landed with football banning orders.
*************************************************************

More than 500 officers are taking part in a "day of action" across the rail network to stop troublemakers on trains causing a nuisance to other passengers.
Troublemakers face arrest, drunk fans will barred from trains and offenders could receive football banning orders.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Nicholas, of the BTP, said low-level violence at matches is on the increase.
Eleven key fixtures on Saturday - including four Premiership matches - will see extra policing in a bid to stop trouble before it starts.
Mr Nichols said: "Low-level disorder is increasing and we find that anti-social behaviour is causing responsible fans and others to be fearful.
"We're talking about throwing things out of train windows, urinating on seats, hammering on the windows at passing trains, shouting abuse and chucking cans around the corridors."
Evidence suggests police have been largely successful in tackling hardcore hooligans, Mr Nicholas said, but a new generation of troublemakers is springing up, with no previous convictions for football violence.
The number of incidents of serious football-related disorder recorded by BTP has dropped from 81 in 2000-01 to 44 in 2004-05.
However, the annual number of arrests has risen from 110 to 208 during the same period.

Changing culture

And 285 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded in 2002-03, followed by 328 and 224 in subsequent years.
Mr Nichols suggested the rise in low-level disorder reflected changes in kick-off times and the way fixtures were organised.
"We are getting more drunken behaviour spread across the day, on a greater number of days, rather than it being confined to just one time on a particular day," he said.
BBC sports correspondent Kevin Gearey said officers have been instructed to arrest anyone suspected of hooliganism or anti-social behaviour, on trains and at railway stations.
Four Premiership games including Chelsea's possible title decider against Bolton are being targeted. Plus six games in the Championship and Hull City's game against Sheffield Wednesday in League One.


Hundreds of police officers will be targeting 11 football fixtures

AS Monaco - Toulouse FC - 23 april

Fights errupted between INDIANS TOULOUSE and french CRS

Chesterfield - Oldham Athletic - 30/04/2005

Source: mail

Nuneaton Borough - Kettering Town - 30/04/2005

Source : BBC News

Fan's skull 'broken' in clashes

A football fan received a suspected broken skull during violent clashes involving up to 100 rival supporters at a Warwickshire pub on Saturday.


Trouble flared at the Naggs Head in Nuneaton before a match between Nuneaton Borough and Kettering Town.
A 38-year-old Kettering man suffered a suspected fractured skull and is in a serious condition in hospital.
More than 80 riot police, armed with shields and batons, were called to confront about 100 football supporters.
Supporters from both teams were throwing bricks, bottles, glasses and flares.
Pub landlord Julian Harkin said terrified customers and staff were forced to flee to private apartments upstairs.
He told BBC WM in Coventry: "It's ridiculous really that a simple game of football can turn into something so tragic.
"It just exploded and we had to take customers upstairs to keep out of the way of it. They were literally pulling the place apart to get weapons to fight and we were stuck in the pub with the police outside."
Nuneaton Borough Football Club praised the 2,000 supporters inside Manor Park but distanced itself from the incident in the town centre.

'Game shame'

In a statement it said: "Outside the ground and in the town centre there were disgraceful scenes which we as a football club distance ourselves from.
"The offenders clearly came to the area intent on causing violence and were not here to watch a game between two sides who are still in with a chance of promotion to the National Conference.
"As a result, an individual has been seriously hurt and other matters occurred which bring shame on the game of football and the matter is now in the hands of Warwickshire Police."
Two men from Warwickshire were arrested in connection with a minor incident after the match, which Nuneaton won 2-0.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles - Sydney United - 30 april

Source : AAP

Violent clashes have erupted between fans of the Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United for the second time in two months.

Fans of the NSW Premier League soccer sides clashed in the car park at Parramatta Stadium, despite extra security measures.

The last time the two clubs met on March 13 at Sydney's Edensor Park, six people were arrested and two police officers injured after about 50 rival fans threw flares and other projectiles at each other.

As part of beefed-up security measures, stadium officials released fans of the Croatian-backed Sydney United team from the stadium before fans of the Serbian-backed Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

But violence erupted in the carpark when rocks and sticks were thrown at buses carrying fans away from the match.
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Fans clash despite beefed up security

Increased police presence and beefed up security measures have failed to prevent a violent clash between Sydney soccer clubs the Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United for the second time in two months.

Four people were arrested after up to 100 fans of the rival Croatian-backed United and Serbian-supported Bonnyrigg clubs clashed in the carpark of Parramatta Stadium following the NSW Premier League match which Bonnyrigg won 4-1.

Police said the charges of the four include assault, assaulting police and malicious damage.

Investigations were also underway into the alleged assault of a player by a juvenile supporter.

The last time the two clubs met on March 13 at Sydney's Edensor Park, six people were arrested and two police officers injured after about 50 rival fans threw flares and other projectiles at each other.

Hoping to avoid a repeat of the violence, Soccer NSW moved the game to the neutral venue of Parramatta Stadium.

They also worked with police to put in a range of precautionary measures, including crowd segregation and buffer zones between the two supporter groups.

Police and ground security had planned for Sydney United fans to be allowed out and disbursed from the ground while Bonnyrigg fans remained locked in the stands.

But a delay in a Sydney United supporter bus leaving the ground led to the bus being rushed upon by close to 100 Bonnyrigg fans, who lit flares and threw rocks at the vehicle.

Parramatta Local Area Command chief Superintendent Geoff Beresford defended releasing the Bonnyrigg fans from the ground when a large group of Sydney United fans remained in the stadium carpark.

"We can't hold people forever," Supt Beresford said.

"We did have a stage release, but with the delay of the opposition supporters bus from Sydney United this did allow time for some of the people from Bonnyrigg to get around to the northern Sydney of the ground."

"It was something that we had planned for and we did our best to prevent but the delay of the bus leaving the ground was beyond our control."

FC Sion - AC Lugano - 30 april

Source : SIONSUPPORTERS

Hull City AFC - Sheffield Wednesday - 30/04/2005

Source : BBC News

Fans who do not have tickets for the sell-out Yorkshire derby between Hull City AFC and Sheffield Wednesday are being told to stay away from Hull.

A capacity crowd of 24,000 is expected at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

It will be Hull's final home fixture of the season and Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to secure points to confirm a place in the play-offs.

Police say fans without tickets face arrest. Away fans are also being warned to stay in the North Stand.

Ch Supt Sean White, of Humberside Police, said: "We have in place a very well resourced policing operation and I am confident that the fixture will pass off without incident.

"The majority of football fans both from Hull and Sheffield, are law abiding, good and honest people who have a genuine passion and support for their club."

He added that the match was "the biggest game of the season" for Hull City.

"We will be taking a very robust approach to the small number of fans who may seek to cause problems on the day," he said.

"If any Sheffield Wednesday fans have tickets for parts of the ground outside of the North Stand then they will face very early ejection or even arrest."