Season 06/07 - March

Sevilla coach released from hospital - 01/03/2007

Source : AP + Xinhua

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was released from a hospital Thursday, a day after he was knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the crowd during a Spanish King's Cup quarterfinal against Real Betis.

Ramos attended his team's training session Thursday morning.

''These are things which happen when matches get heated,'' he said as he left the hospital. ''Betis fans aren't represented by the lunatic who threw the bottle.''

Ramos was hit by the bottle at Betis' Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Stadium after Sevilla had taken a 1-0 lead on a 59th-minute goal by Frederic Kanoute. The coach stumbled before falling to the ground, was carried off on a stretcher and later regained consciousness.

Sevilla president Del Nido said Ramos had been unconscious for 10 or 11 minutes.

''I don't want to blame Betis. The uncontrolled people who did this are the ones we have to blame,'' Del Nido said.

''The (Spanish soccer) federation and the (state-run) Anti-Violence Commission must act with the greatest rigor, and of course the government will do its utmost to make sure that action of the greatest rigor is taken,'' Sports Minister Jaime Lissavetzky said.

Referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco abandoned the game.

The Spanish federation's competition committee is expected to announce any punishments Friday.

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Fan violence halts Real Betis, Sevilla tie

Spain's sports minister has blamed both Real Betis and Sevilla for the violence and racial abuse exhibited by fans that resulted in Wednesday's King's Cup local derby tie to be abandoned.

Sevilla coach Juane Ramos was knocked unconscious by a bottle as the match was called off with his team leading 1-0 on aggregate.

"It was a shameful incident," Jaime Lissavetzky told radio station Cadena Ser on Thursday. "In the days before the game certain individuals from the clubs generated a climate that meant the game could not take place in a normal atmosphere."

Ramos, who spent the night in hospital, agreed with Lissavetzky. He said the two clubs had contributed to the tension that led to Wednesday's incident.

"We added fuel to the fire," he told a news conference after being discharged from the hospital. "We are guilty of causing this situation and can't expect the people to attend the stadium like lambs when we have provoked them.

"We have to realize that that our words have a big impact and we must take more care," he continued.

The build-up to the latest Seville derby was overshadowed by public disputes between directors of the two clubs over whether or not Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido would be allowed in the VIP box at the Betis stadium.

It took mediation by the Andalucian regional government before Betis finally allowed Del Nido to attend the match although a number of fans threw objects at him, one of which hit him on the nose, as he took his seat.

Former Betis coach Ramos was hit on the back of the head by a large plastic bottle full of liquid thrown from the crowd as he celebrated his side's goal in their quarterfinal, second leg at the Betis ground.

Eye witnesses said objects had been thrown at the Sevilla coach and his assistants throughout the match, while several Sevilla players were subjected to racial abuse.

"Everything was raining down on them, screws, bottles, lighters. It was terrible," one person told sports daily Marca.

The ambulance in which medical staff attended Ramos was hit by bottles thrown by Betis fans, some of whom chanted "Ramos die."

Daily El Pais reported some 200 Sevilla fans set light to more than 60 rubbish bins and telephone booths when they were denied entry to the stadium.

Matches between city rivals Sevilla and Betis are regularly marred by crowd problems. In 1999 a knife was thrown at Betis midfielder Benjamin at the Sevilla stadium.

Two seasons later a Sevilla fan ran on to the pitch in an attempt to attack Betis keeper Toni Prats and a security guard was admitted to hospital after being attacked by a fan who hit him repeatedly with a crutch.

The Betis-Sevilla match was not the only King's Cup tie to be marred by crowd problems on Wednesday.

Barcelona goalkeeper Albert Jorquera was hit by a plastic bottle full of liquid at the end of his side's 2-1 victory at Real Zaragoza, while a window on the Barca team bus was smashed by rival fans.

Lissavetzky compared the incidents to recent events in Italy in which a policeman was killed in rioting at the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo.

"I don't want to scare people, but the example of Italy is very close," said Lissavetzky.

St Etienne - Lyon - 03/03/2007

Source: Teamtalk.com

Trouble mars easy Lyon victory

Crowd trouble marred leaders Lyon's 3-1 victory over Rhone-Alp rivals St Etienne in a fractious Ligue 1 derby at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard.Les Gones had just extended their lead to 3-0, through a 47th-minute free-kick from Fred, when tear gas appeared to be thrown from one of the stands.

The referee immediately brought a halt to proceedings but by that time, many players had been affected by the fumes.

Several were forced to cover their mouths with their jerseys as they jogged off to the dressing rooms.

The match was delayed for around 20 minutes while officials attempted to deal with the problem.

On the pitch, Lyon effectively had the game wrapped up by half-time.

Kim Kallstrom set the champions on their way in the 28th minute, with Tiago's deft chip nine minutes later doubling the advantage.

Fred stepped up two minutes into the second half and curled a perfect free-kick into the top right-hand corner from 20 yards out.

The game was then halted while order was restored following the crowd trouble, with Bafetimbi Gomis going on to stab home a consolation for the visitors 10 minutes from time.





Old Lyon banner stolen showed by locals




VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaZHCha8chU

FC Sevilla - FC Barcelona - 03/03/2007

Source: ultras.foro.st

Police forces charged Sevilla fans.

Cambuur - FC Dordrecht - 02/03/2007

Source : rtvdordrech

Two coaches full of Dordrecht fans were assaulted by a group of locals.

Sedan - Paris SG - 03/03/2007

Source : Sport.fr + NouvelObs + Reuters

DUTCH HOOLIGANS IN SEDAN

Riots before the game

Prior to the game, riots erupted Saturday afternoon, opposing PSG fans to Dutch from Utrecht who come several times a year in Sedan.
Riots between both sides started during the journey and started back at 7.15pm inside the stadium just prior to the kick-off. Troubles took place for 20 minutes.Police forces restored order.





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Three injured in Sedan clashes

Three people were injured in clashes between Dutch hooligans and Paris St Germain fans before the Ligue 1 team played Sedan on Saturday.
"The three injured were a PSG fan, a Dutch fan and a PSG steward," Marie-Helene Desbazeille, general secretary of the Ardennes prefect's office, told Reuters.
"All three suffered minor injuries and have left hospital."
Hooligans from Dutch first division club Utrecht travelled by bus to clash with their PSG counterparts in the eastern city of Sedan.
A few fights erupted in the city before the match but no major incidents were reported at the game.



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Source: mouvement-ultra.fr



Admin note: no PSG hooligans were at the game as Utrecht/Sedan lads knew it. Utrecht mobbed up with about 120/130 (to confirm)

VIDEO: https://www.dailymotion.com/rififi54/video/x1cw3u_p1010288

Cracovia Krakow - Legia Warszawa - 03/03/2007

Source: kibice.net + jp85.pl

Banat - Red Star Beograd - 03/03/2007

Source: delije.net (mail - thanks to the sender) + ESPN

Fifteen hurt, 40 arrested in fresh Serbian violence

Fifteen people were injured and 40 arrested in fierce clashes between Red Star Belgrade fans and police at a Serbian first division match on Saturday.


Five of the injured were police officers, police said in a statement, with three sustaining serious injuries and the other two suffering minor wounds.


The riot broke out in the northern city of Zrenjanin when a group of Red Star supporters without tickets tried to force their way into the ground for the match with Banat.

Clashes spilled on to the terraces and the game was briefly interrupted midway through the first half as riot police moved in to restore order.

Champions Red Star eventually won 4-1 to stay nine points clear at the top.

It was the second outbreak of Serbian soccer violence in a week after 13 people were injured and 27 arrested following last Saturday's Belgrade derby between Red Star and Partizan.

Rival fans hurled rocks at each other and at riot police in one of the capital's most densely populated residential areas, offering few escape routes to bystanders.

Sheffield United - Everton FC - 03/03/2007

Source: Daily Mail

Furious Neville in bottle-throwing incident with own fan

Phil Neville was involved in an angry confrontation with one of his own fans after an Everton supporter threw a cider bottle on to the pitch at Bramall Lane.

The England full-back threw the bottle back towards the crowd,splashing spectators with the contents, after making a "you’re mad" gesture at the spectator responsible.

Earlier, stewards had to separate fans after some Everton supporters broke through into in a home section of the crowd.

An Everton fan was grabbed by a steward and ejected from the ground by police after the bottle-throwing incident, which occurred when David Moyes’ side were awarded a penalty midway through the second half.

Ciudad Murcia - RC Elche - 04/03/2007

Source: forum

80 ultras from Elche made the transfer by train. Scuffles erupted when they went out of the station.

Austria Wien - Rapid Wien - 04/03/2007

Source: photos austria80.net + Press

France: St Etienne sanctions promised - 04/03/2007

Source : Eurosport + Reuters

French league president Frederic Thiriez has promised to punish the troublemakers who disrupted champions Lyon's 3-1 derby win at St Etienne.

The Ligue 1 game was halted for 20 minutes after a flare was thrown from the Lyon section towards the home supporters, one of whom sent it back.

Police moved in and sprayed tear gas which prompted referee Tony Chapron to send the players back to the dressing rooms in the 52nd minute.

"What happened is deeply lamentable," Thiriez told RMC radio on Sunday.

"There will be sanctions. Our disciplinary committee will meet on Thursday to punish those responsible."

Thiriez also called on the clubs to act more responsibly. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said ahead of the match that his team's fans were more intelligent than St Etienne's club officials.

"I am urging the fans, but also the officials of the clubs, to stop stiring up the hatred," said Thiriez.

French football has been marred by crowd trouble this season.

Saturday's game between Sedan and Paris Saint-Germain was also was disruption which was, bizarrely, blamed on Dutch hooligans from Utrecht.

In November, a PSG fan was shot dead by a policeman following a UEFA Cup game with Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel.

In the same month, a UEFA Cup match between Nancy and Feyenoord was suspended for more than 30 minutes after trouble broke out in the stands. The incident caused the Dutch club to be thrown out of the competition.

Last month, several Manchester United supporters appeared to be crushed when too many were allowed into one area of the Stade Felix-Bollaert in Lens for the Champions League first knockout round first leg against Lille.

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Two fans in custody after St Etienne-Lyon trouble

Two fans were in custody following Saturday's crowd trouble during Olympique Lyon's 3-1 victory at St Etienne, judicial sources said on Sunday.
A 26-year-old Lyon fan, who allegedly threw a flare towards the St Etienne stands, will be tried on Monday, the sources said. A St Etienne fan is alleged to have beaten a steward.
The Ligue 1 game was halted for 20 minutes after a flare was thrown from the Lyon section towards the home supporters.
Police moved in and sprayed tear gas which prompted referee Tony Chapron to send the players back to the dressing rooms in the 52nd minute.

Colo Colo - Antofagasta - 03/03/2007

Source : EFE

During 1st half, riots occured between police forces and fans.
Troubles took place for 5 minutes.

Le Havre AC - RC Strasbourg - 04/03/2007

Source : Football.fr

4 supporters arrested

During this game, troubles occured at the end of the 1st half, in the Strasbourg terrace. Four people were arrested and were released at 2.30am.
Everything started when local stewards tried to take a banner. Fans became angry and threw several missiles.

Ferro Carril Oeste - Defensa y Justicia - 03/03/2007

Source : AFP

Hundreds of unruly fans arrested

ABOUT 300 football fans were arrested in the Buenos Aires suburb of Quilmes when they went on a vandalism rampage after their team won a second division game.

Fans of Defensa y Justicia, who beat Ferro Carril Oeste 2-0, were travelling home from the game in 10 buses when they tried to loot stores and a petrol station and threw rocks at cars.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Violence before, during and after football matches has been on the rise in Argentina since last year.

In 2006, six first-division games were suspended due to violence, and the same thing happened in several second division matches.

Football clubs have banned entrance to leaders of "barras bravas" as organised hooligans are called in Argentina.

Six members of "barras bravas" of the popular River Plate team were thrown out of the club two weeks ago after violent clashes inside the social area adjoining the stadium.

River's stadium was closed because of the violence for six matches.

Fans urged to help identify 'football hooligans' - 03/03/2007

Source : 204dash

Police investigating an outbreak of disorder following an FA Cup derby which left 11 officers injured have released a series of CCTV images of people they wish to trace.

West Midlands Police said officers were keen to identify those shown in the images in connection with violence which erupted in the Stafford Street and Lichfield Street area of Wolverhampton on January 28.

Several vehicles were also damaged when up up to 500 Wolverhampton Wanderers fans attacked police following their team's 3-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion.

At least 11 officers suffered minor injuries near the stadium and eight men were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, public order offences, assault and criminal damage.

In the aftermath of the violence, police praised the behaviour of West Bromwich Albion supporters.

Football Regularly Shamed by Fan Violence - 05/03/2007

Source : AP

A fan is shot to death by police in Paris. A police officer dies during riots at a game in Sicily. Players are threatened with fake pistols in Germany and soccer violence plagues the sport in South America. So why do they call it the beautiful game?

After the comparative peace of a 2006 World Cup in Germany that some feared would be a scene of slaughter, there were hopes that soccer fans had finally realized it wasn't cool to cause trouble.

Sadly, Germany 2006 was a false dawn, and now the game is shamed by fan violence from Buenos Aires to Belgrade almost on a regular basis.

On Saturday, 13 people were injured during clashes between fans and riot police after a game between Belgrade rivals Red Star and Partizan. Red Star fans, angered by their team's 4-2 loss, built barricades with trash bins as police on horseback charged them.

Dynamo Dresden players said they were accosted on the way to Sunday's training by dozens of hooligans, some wielding fake guns.

"I have never experienced anything like this," Dresden forward Marco Vorbeck said. "You have to be scared for your life and family here. You have to consider whether to quit playing here."

German soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger acknowledges recent fan violence in Germany has reached a new level, the worst cases centered in the east German state of Saxony _ in Dresden and nearby Leipzig.

"It's scary," Zwanziger said. "That is a dangerous environment. ... You just have to put a match to the fuse and everything will explode."

In Sicily on Feb. 2, police officer Filippo Raciti died after being hit by a blunt object as fans fought with police inside and outside Catania's Angelo Massimino stadium during an Italian league game against local rival Palermo. About 100 people were injured and Italian soccer authorities postponed an entire round of games and closed down stadiums that didn't satisfy safety regulations.

Dutch club Feyenoord was kicked out of the UEFA Cup last month after its fans smashed windows in the French city of Nancy. The game was halted for 20 minutes when police fired tear gas into the fighting Feyenoord fans.

Before Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Cup game against Israel club Hapoel Tel Aviv in November, local fans were attacking a visiting supporter and PSG supporter Julien Quemener was shot dead by a plain clothes police officer.

While Brazilians insist on calling soccer "the beautiful game", in Argentina barely a week goes by without soccer violence somewhere.

Two weeks ago at the opening of Argentina's first-division Clausura tournament, rival hooligan groups backing River Plate fought with each other at the Monumental Stadium complex.

Four people were wounded and Argentina's government said the team could not use the famed stadium, site of Argentina's '78 World Cup victory, for five of River Plate's home games.

On the same day as the River Plate fighting, a 15-year-old boy died and 12 others were injured in the western Argentina city of Mendoza during fan fighting at another game.

Games in Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Colombia also are tarnished by repeated violence

"We are worried about these incidents in Latin America," said Nicolas Leoz, president of the South American soccer federation (CONMEBOL). "This violence has nothing whatsoever to do with genuine soccer."

UEFA's new president, Michel Platini, said the action taken against Feyenoord shows that the governing bodies are taking a strong line against soccer violence.

Not strong enough, it seems.

The deaths in Paris and Sicily suggest that officials at FIFA, UEFA and CONMEBOL and other soccer's authorities may have to take stronger steps to convince the fans that violence and racism should have no part in soccer.

Until then, let's hope that Argentina's River Plate never organizes a European tour of Paris, Sicily, Leipzig and Belgrade.

Dundee fan charged over racist abuse - 05/03/2007

Source : Teamtalk

A Dundee season ticket-holder has been arrested and charged for allegedly aiming racial abuse at St Johnstone player Jason Scotland.

The matter concerns an incident at last month's Scottish First Division match between the two clubs at Dens Park.

The 59-year-old man was arrested following an investigation by Tayside Police and pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated breach of the peace on Friday.

He has been ordered to appear at a later date for sentencing and a condition of bail is that he does not attempt to enter any football ground in the UK.

A statement from Dundee's board of directors read: "Dundee Football Club operate an anti-discriminatory policy which states that it will not tolerate racist, sectarian, sexual or bigoted harassment or other discriminatory behaviour whether physical or verbal, and will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs."

The club have announced they will ban the man for "life from attending games or any other events at Dundee FC".

Olympiakos - Panathinaikos - 04/03/2007

Source : Herald Tribune

7 fans arrested, 3 policemen injured in Greece football violence

Seven football fans were arrested for allegedly throwing stones at police before a match between rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos.

Four of the arrested men were charged Monday under hooliganism laws, and three underaged suspects were released, authorities said.

Three policemen were lightly injured outside Olympiakos' Karaiskakis Stadium while trying to prevent people from entering Sunday's game without tickets. Some fans used ropes to scale the walls of the stadium.

After the game, fans smashed windows and damaged computers at cafes in central Athens.

WEST HAM UTD - TOTTENHAM - 04/03/2007

Source : SportingLife

Racism Still Alive, Warns Powar

Campaigners have urged the Football Association to continue their "zero-tolerance" policy towards racism following allegations of anti-Semitic chants at Upton Park.

Police are investigating a complaint after footage appeared on the internet of the chanting, which took place on the day of West Ham's defeat to Tottenham.

Hammers officials are helping with the investigation and the FA are also looking into the matter.

The footage taken on Sunday, which has now been taken off the internet, reportedly showed fans singing at a bar on the stadium concourse at Upton Park, which Kick It Out director Piara Powar believes is just as significant as terrace chants.

"I think it is as bad," he said. "I think the response from the FA will underline the zero-tolerance approach that we have here, and that can wake people up from their complacency.

"We seem to be drifting into this idea that we've cracked it, that racism isn't a problem in England like it is in other European countries. That's not quite right, even though it's not as bad as other countries."

Powar has highlighted the role of stewards in the fight against racism.

In this case the songs allegedly referred to Spurs' large Jewish fanbase, and he added: "There seems to be an issue in terms of the action, or lack of action, by stewards.

"That is something for the club to address and it may be that the FA can give advice."

A police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that officers from the Public Order Branch Football Unit are investigating a complaint of an anti-Semitic video being shown on an internet site."

The allegations have added to a season of turmoil at West Ham, with the club bottom of the Barclays Premiership and facing relegation after picking up just 20 points so far in the campaign.

Manager Alan Curbishley has been given a vote of confidence by chairman Eggert Magnusson and has been tipped to stage a clear-out of players in the summer regardless of which division the Hammers end up in.

The club are also facing charges of breaching rules when they signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano earlier in the season, with the Premier League forbidding the ownership of players by third parties who might influence a club.

The Argentina pair arrived before the new owners took over and the League are waiting for West Ham's response.

The club have vowed to "vigorously defend" itself and the matter is likely to go before an independent commission in the same way Ashley Cole and Chelsea's famous case did.

Ironically, Tevez has become a cult figure at Upton Park for his attempts to drag West Ham out of relegation trouble.

The 23-year-old has previously hinted at eventually returning to Brazilian side Corinthians but admits his family are safer in London.

"It is certain that I will go back there; but here my family is safer," he said on Record TV in Brazil.

Meanwhile Richard Murray, who was Curbishley's chairman at Charlton, has tipped the Hammers boss to eventually succeed at Upton Park.

He said on Sky Sports News: "If you're going to get the best out of Alan Curbishley he needs time.

"If they get relegated I can't think of anyone better to bring them up. He's proved it, he can build a good team without spending much money."

Puel slams 'violent' United fans - 06/03/2007

Source : TEAMtalk

Lille coach Claude Puel has accused Manchester United fans of triggering trouble between the two clubs and labelled travelling Reds 'violent'.In an astonishing attack ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League return at Old Trafford, Puel deflected criticism of his own side's conduct in the immediate aftermath and subsequent days following Ryan Giggs' controversial winner, by blaming United's supporters.

Riot police have been condemned by Red Devils fans for firing tear gas into the visiting section of the crowd in order to quell a disturbance that erupted during United's 1-0 win.

Some United fans appeared to get crushed against safety barriers following the decision by local police to let those with tickets for other areas of the ground, and without tickets altogether, enter that part of the stadium.

United have sent a huge dossier to UEFA, who will hold their own investigation into the incident on March 22.

However, in a move which will only inflame tensions between the two sides, Puel first claimed United "created the situation", then, when asked to clarify, turned his fire on the supporters.

"It is a paradox to criticise Lille," said Puel.

"Manchester United's own fans were violent and in possession of counterfeit tickets. The facts are there for everyone to see, so it is difficult to see why it is Lille's fault.

"Since the first match, we have heard a lot of things from the Manchester United side. But the situation has been created by them (United)."

Lille have already had two appeals against the legality of Giggs' goal rejected by UEFA, who are yet to reach a verdict on the French club's apparent 'walk-off' following the late goal.

Yet Puel insists he is not embarrassed by his side's conduct, which has drawn such fierce criticism from Ferguson.

"I am not embarrassed at all," he said.

"I have explained this many times before. Of course we wanted to continue to play the second game. We would not want to give Manchester United the pleasure of not coming to play here.

"You could say we weren't au fait with the rules that give us 24 hours to make a complaint. In France those rules are different."

Ferguson does not believe Lille's intention was merely to register an immediate protest rather than seek to have the game abandoned completely.

Yet Puel feels the United manager has shown a total lack of respect for both himself and Lille, and is probably still nursing a grievance at the French club's part in the Red Devils humiliating exit from the group phase of last season's competition.

"It can't have been pleasant to be eliminated by a small club like ours in the Champions League last year," he said, in a virtual echo of Jose Mourinho's comments in 2004 after Porto had knocked United out.

"Since the first leg we have heard Sir Alex Ferguson say a lot of things and put a lot of pressure on.

"We know that this is one of his ways of doing things but in France we are more interested in respect between teams and between managers."

Dutch thugs jailed for attack on Blades fans - 07/03/2007

Source : Sheffield Today News

THE ringleaders of a gang of Dutch football thugs who stabbed two Sheffield United fans during the Blades' pre-season tour in Rotterdam have been jailed.
The two United fans, aged in their 30s, were injured when a mass brawl broke out before a friendly game between United and Sparta Rotterdam last August.
One was stabbed in the head and the other in the hand. Other fans had to flee from the attack.
Hooligan supporters of Rotterdam-based club Feyenoord were involved in the unprovoked attack, which erupted in a pub shortly before the game. It followed a confrontation between English and Dutch hooligans earlier.
Today Supt Martin Hemingway of South Yorkshire Police's football, events and licensing unit, said eight men had been found guilty of attacking the United fans in a Dutch court.
The two ringleaders were jailed for four months and 130 days respectively. Six others were given community work punishments of 22 hours. All eight have been banned from attending football matches for three years.
The thugs were caught thanks to surveillance footage shot by Sheffield officers Pc Gary Littler and Pc Chris Mitchell, who had travelled as part of a policing operation.
Brigadier Harrie Wilemstijn, of the Dutch Rijnmond police, said: "We were able to investigate this case so effectively because of film that was taken of the incident by the South Yorkshire Police officers who accompanied the English fans."
Supt Hemingway, who was also in Rotterdam on the night that the violence flared, said:
"I am proud of the way Pc
Littler and Pc Mitchell dealt with this.
"They were instrumental in forging good relations between United fans and their hosts but, when trouble struck, they reacted professionally and captured the best evidence possible. The Dutch police have been superb throughout."

Celtic Fan Killed In Milan - 06/03/2007

Source : Javno

A Celtic fan who travelled to Milan for the Champions League match was run over by a taxi in the city centre. The unfortunate event took place after 11 P.M. yesterday, when the 37-year-old Scotsman stood in the middle of the road, visibly under the influence of alcohol. At that moment, he was hit by a taxi.

He was taken to hospital, but could not be helped. He died around 1 A.M.

The second match starts At San Siro this evening at 8:45. The first match ended with a 0-0 score.

UEFA revoked the limitation on the number of spectators, so San Siro will be full tonight. The Scots will be supported by about 5,000 fans on the stadium. Since many fans travel to Celtic games, a significant number of them came to Milan without the ticket and they tend to kill time by ridding whatever town they visit of its alcohol supply.

Platini struggles with solution - 06/03/2007

Source : AP

UEFA President Michel Platini is reportedly struggling to find a solution to fan violence in and around Europe's stadiums.

Crowd trouble in France, Greece and Serbia this past weekend followed violent incidents in Germany, Spain and Italy.

"If you have solutions, give them to me," Platini was quoted Tuesday in an interview with sports daily L'Equipe. "But who deals with the problem of violence? It's not FIFA or UEFA, except for their competitions, who are responsible for security."

Platini said last month he wanted referees to have the authority to stop matches when violence broke out in the stands, calling it a "very good" idea.

Ten fans and five policemen were injured during a firstdivision soccer match in Serbia between Banat Zrenjanin and Red Star Belgrade on Saturday after clashes between baton-wielding police and stone-hurling fans.

And hooligans from Dutch side Utrecht even travelled to France to fight at Sedan with fans from Paris Saint-Germain -- itself hit by fan violence for two decades.

Platini suggested police forces across Europe needed to work together more effectively.

"If there's no cooperation between the police forces, how do you stop the Utrecht supporters coming to Sedan?" Platini told L'Equipe.

While PSG played in Sedan, its reserves took on suburb rivals Red Star in a match at PSG's Camp des Loges training ground.

French reports said there was no security presence to stop around 50 PSG fans from clashing with Red Star supporters.

Meanwhile, Saint-Etienne's home game with Lyon was interrupted Saturday after 51 minutes when tear gas wafted across the field. Rival fans had been shooting firecrackers at one another, forcing police to intervene. The match resumed after 20 minutes.

Also, fans from Greek rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos clashed in Athens on Sunday.

More serious incidents have already occurred this season at or around soccer matches.

These included the death of a police officer in Catania, Italy, on Feb. 2; riots in Leipzig, Germany, that injured dozens of police on Feb. 10; and a shooting death by a police officer while protecting a fan from rioters outside a PSG game at Parc des Princes on Nov. 23.

"What happens in the street, like in Paris or Catania, I don't see how a football club can control this type of event," Platini said. "I'd be in favour of a sort of Interpol. If we can organize it."

Platini said he hoped talks involving European police chiefs could provide a clearer idea how to stamp out hooliganism. Those talks will take place in Nyon, Switzerland, on March 19.

Platini said he was unlikely to attend the meeting because of FIFA commitments.

Lyon Fan Jailed - 06/03/07

Source : Soccer365

A Lyon fan who threw a flare into a stand housing St Etienne supporters in Saturday's fractious Rhone-Alps derby was on Monday handed a two-month jail sentence.

The 25-year-old plumber, who was summoned to stand before a correctional tribunal in St Etienne, has also been banned from going to a sporting stadium for six months.

It is the latest fall-out from Saturday's match, which has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The game was halted for 20 minutes at the start of the second half because of crowd violence.

Both sets of fans were seen to throw flares into each other's enclosure, and police were forced to use tear gas to quell the disturbances.

Fumes spread onto the pitch, causing a number of players to splutter and use their jerseys to cover their mouths.

Referee Tony Chapron immediately ordered the players off the pitch, and there was a lengthy delay while officials attempted to restore order.

The French league have already insisted action will be taken, and on Monday announced that a disciplinary commission will on Thursday study official reports into the incident.

The presidents of the respective clubs, Lyon's Jean-Michel Aulas and St Etienne's Bernard Caiazzo, are also expected to be summoned to stand in front of the commission.

The pair have been accused of creating a poisonous atmosphere ahead of the game owing to their incendiary comments about their rival's club.

Scotland: pub brawl film probe - 02/03/2007

Source: The Daily Record

PUB bosses have launched a probe after CCTV footage of an Old Firm riot in their bar was posted on the internet.

Police were called to Shenanigans bar in East Kilbride when rival Rangers and Celtic fans clashed after a 1-1 draw last December.

But the brawl, involving about 20 people, had broken up when they got there.

Now staff at the bar are trying to find out who copied the CCTV video and put it on the internet site YouTube.

A spokesman said: "We are trying to find out how it got there."