Season 06/07 - March

Betis gets home ban for attack on coach - 03/03/2007

Source: northjersey.com

Real Betis will play its next three home games away from its stadium as punishment for Sevilla coach Juande Ramos being knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from fans.

The Spanish federation ruled that Betis will next week have to play Zaragoza, Villarreal on April 1 and Real Sociedad on April 15 at other stadiums. It is not clear whether fans will be allowed to attend.

Ramos was hit in the head during the second half of Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg at Betis' Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium with Sevilla leading 1-0, forcing the match to be abandoned.

"The committee has decided unanimously to close the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium for three matches, as we consider the incidents that occurred as very serious," Antiviolence Committee president Alfredo Florez said Friday.

The remaining 33 minutes will be played in Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium on March 20 and fans won't be allowed to attend.

The federation also said that presidents Pepe Leon of Betis and Jose Maria del Nido of Sevilla are to face further disciplinary action.

Spanish sports minister Jaime Lissavetzky had urged the federation to act against the violent incident with "the greatest rigor."

Ramos was hit by the bottle after Sevilla had taken a 1-0 lead on a 59th-minute goal by Frederic Kanoute. The coach, who stumbled before falling to the ground, was carried off to hospital on a stretcher but regained consciousness later.

Flamengo - Madureira - Taça Guanabara final cup - 07/03/2007

Source : AP

CSKA Moscow - Spartak Moscow - Supercup - 09/03/2007

Source : St Petersburg Times

Police arrested dozens of football fans after fights broke out across the city Saturday between supporters of CSKA and Spartak, RIA-Novosti reported.

Police arrested 64 fans, 49 of whom were drunk, after a fight broke out at Luzhniki Stadium Saturday during the CSKA-Spartak Super Cup game, a police spokesman told Interfax. CSKA won the game 4-2. Dozens of other fans were arrested after clashing at metro and train stations throughout the city, metro police told RIA-Novosti.

*********************************************************************************************

Source: forum

Fight between cska (rbw+yaroslavka+gallant steeds) about 100 on 1 side and spartak (gladiators+gladiators school) about 70 on second side win cska fans.

VIDEO: http://www.sendspace.com/file/q14shl

Police begin training to deal with Euro 2008 soccer hooliganism - 08/03/2007

Source : Metronews

They're pelting each other with tennis balls used as stand-ins for stones, and setting real firebombs alight to learn how to deal with them.

About 2,000 Austrian police officers began special training this week on how to deal with soccer hooligans and violence in the run-up to the Euro 2008 tournament.

Austria and Switzerland are co-hosting next year's tournament, and Austria's chief police training instructor, Ernst Albrecht, said officers are training in groups of 120 in sessions that will run through to the start of next year's tournament.

Albrecht told Austrian public television ORF on Thursday that the training focuses on "extreme situations" such as being bombarded by stones or Molotov cocktails, and teaches officers the limitations of their helmets, shields and other protective gear.

"Obviously we can't simulate the dimension of Euro 2008 here," he said. "But a key goal is putting our colleagues through situations where they'll be stressed."

If last year's World Cup in Germany was any measure, authorities will have their hands full for Euro 2008: German police made thousands of arrests, including 9,000 that involved ticket scalpers alone, Albrecht said.

Police also are being trained in securing buses and other public transportation, he said.

Argentina high court holds AFA responsible for stadium violence - 07/03/2007

Source : Herald Tribune

The Argentine Supreme Court has ordered the country's soccer federation and first-division club Lanus to compensate a man injured during fan rioting in 1996, the first time the AFA or a team has been held responsible for violence around stadiums.

The ruling ordered the AFA and Lanus pay Hugo Mosca 43,000 pesos (US$13,800, €10,500) for his loss of vision in one eye, breaking the long-standing precedent that the government was liable for compensating victims of soccer violence. Lanus said it would appeal the decision.

"The idea that the organizers are solely occupied with the sporting event and its revenues while security is a matter of the state is unsustainable under terms of the constitution," the court said.

Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona expressed concern about the ruling, saying it opened the possibility that AFA and the first-division clubs could be held liable for damages whenever violent incidents are committed in or outside stadiums. In the past he has insisted that the state and its police forces are wholly responsible for security and public safety.

Speaking with Radio 10, he warned the decision could incite abuses against AFA and the clubs if it remains intact.

"You break a leg on the avenue ... then wait until the weekend and go to a stadium and the AFA pays," Grondona told Argentina's Radio 10.

Meanwhile, Lanus president Alexandra Maron told Radio 10 the club will appeal the ruling. He warned the decision sets a "very complicated" precedent by extending the responsibility of AFA and the clubs even to the outskirts of the stadium.

Boca Juniors vice president, Pedro Pompilio, speaking for the first-division clubs, challenged the ruling.

"The clubs can collaborate with the police both inside the club and in areas adjoining the stadium, but it doesn't fall to us to exercise police functions," he said.

The case in question involved Mosca, a hired car driver who took a group of journalists to the Lanus stadium on Nov. 30, 1996, for a match against Independiente. Mosca said in court papers that he was stationed in his car in the parking lot when fans angry over a referee decision began throwing rocks outside and one rock struck his left eye.

Mosca claimed a gradual loss of vision in the eye.

Resurgent soccer violence in Latin America, where Argentina has cornered a reputation for having some of the most violent hooligans, is raising concern among clubs and soccer regulators anew this year. As such, the ruling generated front-page headlines in newspapers led by major daily La Nacion.

In Argentina, virtually no weekend goes by without violence.

On Feb. 11, during the opening of Argentina's first-division Clausura tournament, rival hooligan groups backing River Plate battled at the Monumental Stadium complex, sending picnicking families fleeing from a recreation area ahead of a match.

Four people were wounded and Argentina's government suspended play at the stadium, site of Argentina's 1978 World Cup victory, for five home matches by one of South America's most famous clubs. The same day as River's brawl, a 15-year-old boy died and 12 others were injured in the western city of Mendoza during fan fighting at another match, police said.

Javier Castrilli, a top regulator of the sport in Argentina, said recently team executives can no longer cast a blind eye on the "barra brava," saying it was time to crack down on such "scum."

Platter: Hooligans could be put in preventive detention - 09/03/2007

Source : Wiener Zeitung

Austrian interior minister Günther Platter has said soccer hooligans may be put in preventive detention during next year’s European soccer championships. The games are being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland in the summer of 2008. Platter said he had asked legal experts to examine whether it was possible to imprison people who had already been violent. The human rights organisation Amnesty International has described the plan as absurd. Secretary-General Heinz Patzelt said such a move would contravene the Austrian constitution and human rights law. Patzelt said the policy used by Germany last year during the world championships, forbidding hooligans access to stadiums, with imprisonment for anyone who ignored the ban, was "just acceptable.”
Austria and neighbouring Switzerland will host the so-called Euro 2008 games which will take place in June of next year. The Austrian venues are Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt and Vienna where the final is slated for June 29. This is the second time that two countries are co-hosting the European Championships. Belgium and the Netherlands co-hosted in 2000.

Drivers warned of derby chaos - 09/03/2007

Source : Express & Star

Motorists were today warned to expect diversions when Wolves play Albion in the big Black Country derby at Molineux on Sunday.

Roads could be closed on public safety grounds and some fans may be unable to leave the ground on their usual route.

Around 600 police officers are likely to be on duty for the game as police try to avoid a repeat of the violent scenes that marred the teams’ last meeting.

In Januray, 11 officers were injured as they kept Wolves yobs away from the visiting crowd, whose behaviour was later praised by police chiefs.

City centre pubs will not open before 10.30am, while The Feathers and the Wanderer near the stadium will not open until 3pm. No booze will be available inside Molineux at any time for the estimated 3,000 Albion fans, while there will be no alcohol sales for home fans at the Molineux kiosks and Terrace Bar after the noon kick-off. Season ticket holders will be able to buy drink in the bar 15 minutes after the final whistle.

Extra officers will patrol the city centre, the area around Molineux and at key transport locations such as the railway station, bus station and Metro.

Police say they have no firm plans to shut roads but will do if they feel fans are under threat.

Ch Supt Richard Green, in charge of Sunday’s operation, said: “We will be implementing a policing plan to minimise the risk of supporters causing violence in the city and the Black Country. There are a number of policing resources dedicated to both the match and the evening.

“We will be very proactive in tackling any potential disorder and appreciate the risk that could be posed by hardcore hooligan elements.

“The last time the two teams met West Bromwich Albion fans were particularly well-behaved and the majority of the disorder involved Wolves fans. We are still pursuing those responsible and will be looking out for them on Sunday. If we identify them at the match, they will be arrested.”

Eight men aged between 18 and 50 were arrested for violent disorder, public order offences, assault and criminal damage after last month’s match. Seven were bailed pending further inquiries and one was released without charge.

Speaking at the time, Ch Supt Green said: “Towards the end of the match some Wolves fans left early and a significant element of between 400 and 500 were intent on causing a disturbance on the ring road.”

Last week, father-of-three Daniel McGowan pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court following disturbances on Stafford Street after the derby.

McGowan, aged 40, of March End Road, Wednesfield, was given a two-month sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.

City yobs glorying in online thuggery - 10/03/2007

Source : South Wales Echo

Brandishing a knuckle-duster, the face of this Cardiff City yob stays hidden behind his scarf.

His message is the same as it has always been - but he has a new way of preaching it to the masses.

He is part of a new wave of young hooligans who are turning to the internet to glamorise violence in football.

Forced underground by police successes against football yobs in recent years, they instead use video-sharing website YouTube to brag and threaten with the message 'Stay away from Ninian Park.'

This shocking three-minute clip, named 'Cardiff City Soul Crew: the UK's Most hated fans' and posted just a week ago by marshyccfc, is just one of many trying to glamorise thuggery in the sport.

Others show violent fights between City hooligans and opposition supporters, including a brawl with West Ham yobs in Caroline Street - a clip watched by 14,873 since it was posted.

And typing the words 'Cardiff City Football Club' into the site brings up as many clips of brawls as it does matches and fans.

True City fans criticised the postings saying: 'We don't want anything to do with these yobs.'

Gary Lee, 50, from Caerphilly, who takes his young nephews to City matches, said: 'It's not an image that we would want to portray. It's not a fair image and it's something we're trying to get away from.

'Websites can be a wonderful thing for information but also a very destructive thing because they're open to abuse - anyone can have access to them. Hopefully any semi-intelligent adult looking at this will know that.'

City season-ticket holder Steve Meredith, from Penarth, who takes his 12-year-old daughter Rachel to every match, said: 'It glorifies hooliganism.

'It doesn't help Cardiff City at the moment. Everyone had to go to Birmingham on a bus because of the perception of City fans. We were stopped from going to Wolves because of the perception of our fans. All this footage is doing is feeding that perception.

'There's always going to be idiots sounding off on the internet, you can't legislate for that. We just need to flag up that these are not real City fans.'

Cardiff City Supporters' Club spokesman Vince Alm agreed.

'Half of these people have probably never been to Ninian Park,' he said.

'I'm annoyed that people like that are linking themselves with our club.'

But Cardiff City fan Gwyn Davies said there was much worse to be found on the internet.

'This is just the tip of the iceberg,' he said.

'There are some hooligan sites out there with footage of fighting that is much worse but YouTube enables this footage to reach the mainstream.'

Police said they had made 'great progress' in the fight against hooliganism in recent years and part of that included monitoring internet sites for signs of football violence. A spokeswoman said: 'South Wales Police, Cardiff City FC and genuine supporters work closely together and will not tolerate hooligan behaviour. Anyone engaged in hooliganism will be dealt with and banning orders sought.'

Cardiff City FC declined to comment.

FC Antwerp - KV Mechelen - 10/03/2007

Source: voetbalkrant.be

At the end of this high-risks game of 2nd belgian division, troubles occured, opposing local fans and police forces.
Locals provoked these policemen and threw glasses.
Police used a water-canon to restore order.
75 fans were arrested.

VIDEO: http://video.vrtnieuws.net/sport_master/vo...1-002903-HB.wmv

Greece: Schoolboy soccer ‘hooligans’ let off - 06/03/2007

Source: eKhatemirini

Two boys, aged 10 and 11, who were among seven soccer fans arrested at the Olympiakos versus Panathinaikos match on Sunday night for attacking riot police, were released from custody yesterday.

A prosecutor ordered the minors’ release but charged the other five fans who allegedly threw rocks and other objects at riot police who tried to prevent some Olympiakos fans from entering the Karaiskaki Stadium without tickets. Three policemen were slightly injured.

Several fans used a rope, dangled from a staircase by other supporters, to haul themselves into the stadium.

Meanwhile, a fan of Thessaloniki club Iraklis, who was arrested for running onto the pitch on Sunday, told a judge that he was trying to prevent another supporter from disrupting the game and had not meant to cause any trouble. His case was adjourned until March 14.

Lokomotiv Plovdiv - CSKA Sofia - 10/03/2007

Source : Lauta Hools

Cheltenham Town FC - Yeovil Town FC - 10/03/2007

Source : BBC news

Fans arrested following violence

A number of football fans have been arrested following a disturbance prior to a match between Cheltenham Town and Yeovil Town.

Police were called to the Portland Street area of Cheltenham after fighting broke out.

Officers had to use their batons to help quell the violence and some arrests were made, police said.

After viewing CCTV tapes 12 Yeovil fans and eight Cheltenham fans were later arrested for violent disorder.

Police asked for anyone who witnessed the incident at about 1430 GMT on Saturday to contact them or call Crimestoppers.

Argentine court throws out appeal by convicted soccer thugs – 09/03/2007

Source : Xinhua

Six convicted Argentine soccer thugs, who support Boca Juniors, are one step away from jail on Friday after Buenos Aires judges threw out an appeal against their convictions for March 1999 violence involving fans of rival team Chacarita.

The National Appeal Cassation Chamber threw out appeal against a Sept. 2005 ruling for armed coercion for Rafael Di Zeo, the leader of a barra brava (fight club) called La Doce (The 12), his brother Fernando and four others: Gustavo Pereyra, Juan Antonio Castro, Diego Marcelo Rodriguez and Fabian Kruger.

Federal Oral Tribunal number six had jailed the gang or clashes in Boca's La Bonbonera (Chocolate Box) stadium, when Boca was playing Chacarita in a friendly game.

The original sentences are as follows: Rafael di Zeo, 51 months; Fernando Di Zeo and Pereyra, 46 months; Castro and Rodriguez, 54 months; Kruger 42 months.




DI ZEO

Chelsea FC - Tottenham Hotspurs - 11/03/2007

Source: Evening Standard (12/03/2007) thanks to the sender

10 fans knifed in Chelsea battle

At least 10 people were stabbed as hardcore soccer violence erupted on the
streets of west London.

Drinkers fled as running battles broke out between about 40 thugs carrying
knives, baseball bats, wooden clubs embedded with nails and hockey sticks.

The riot began last night outside the White Horse pub in Parsons Green,
known as the "Sloaney Pony", following a dramatic FA Cup clash between
Chelsea and Spurs.
Police believe it was either a prearranged fight organised over mobile
phones and the internet or Tottenham hooligans had ambushed Chelsea fans "in
their own backyard".

One witness said: "It was pandemonium, I've never seen scenes like it. It
was a battlefield in the middle of Fulham's smartest area on a Sunday
evening. I was on Parsons Green itself having a quiet drink with friends -
nothing to do with the football.

"Suddenly there was a lot of loud shouting and screaming and we saw a huge
mob fighting outside the Sloaney Pony, smashing each other with baseball
bats and anything they could get their hands on. People were fleeing in all
directions, it was chaos.

"I ran off down a street but could hear the rioting going on from half a
mile away. About five minutes later the police sirens started and carried on
all night."

Dozens of officers, including vans of riot police on standby and a police
helicopter, were scrambled to the scene. Police arrested 34 men, including
seven who were taken to hospital suffering from stab wounds and head
injuries.

The injured men were taken to various west London hospitals. They included a
40-year-old from Plumstead who suffered head and chest injuries, a
52-yearold from Kentish Town, a 41-year-old from Chigwell and a 31-year-old
from Bedfordshire.

Three of them were kept in overnight and are said to be in a stable
condition. The others were discharged after being treated and are being held
in custody.

Huge crowds had gathered outside the White Horse, a traditional drinking
venue on Chelsea match days, in the afternoon after the match.

The violence erupted at just after 8pm and took up to an hour to bring under
control. Police recovered knives, baseball bats, wood laced with nails and
hockey sticks.

A police source said: "Clearly there was a degree of organisation. These
guys had not turned up with sticks and bats to play a game of hockey or
baseball.

"We are trying to establish whether it was a pre-arranged setpiece fight or
if it was one group of organised hooligans setting upon another.

"We have a lot of people in custody and will be talking to them all to try
to see what was behind this.

"We will also be checking whether any of them were known hooligans."

Earier the match ended in a 3-3 draw as Chelsea came back from being 3-1 down.

**********************************************************
Source: http://www.24dash.com

34 arrested after 'hardcore' football violence in west London

More than 30 people were arrested last night after hardcore football violence erupted in one of the wealthiest areas of west London.

Rival soccer gangs clashed with knives, hockey sticks and wooden clubs embedded with nails outside the White Horse pub in Parsons Green.

The violence followed yesterday's 3-3 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham in the FA Cup quarter-final at nearby Stamford Bridge.

It is now being investigated by Scotland Yard's Football Intelligence Unit.

Police believe the riot was a pre-arranged fight between the gangs - many of whom apparently came prepared for a confrontation.

Drinkers at the pub - nicknamed the "Sloaney Pony" by locals because of its wealthy clientele - fled as running battles broke out between about 40 hooligans at around 8.20pm last night.

Riot police were quickly dispatched to the scene. It was said to have taken officers around an hour to calm the violence.

A total of 34 men were arrested - all of whom are now in police custody.

Of those, seven were taken to hospital with stab wounds, head or chest injuries.

All were later released except one, who remained in hospital today with stab wounds to the buttocks. His condition is not life-threatening.

Officers recovered hockey sticks, baseball bats, knives and wooden clubs at the scene of the fight, which detectives believe is likely to have been pre-arranged on the internet, or via mobile phone.

There was no violence at the match, which was policed by 600 officers.

Scotland Yard said today: "We are appealing for witnesses and information following a disturbance between rival football supporters in Parsons Green.

"The disorder occurred at 8.20pm outside the White Horse pub involving a small group of Chelsea and Tottenham supporters.

"During the incident several people were injured and seven men were subsequently treated at various west London hospitals.

"A total of 34 people were arrested.

"An investigation will be carried out by Hammersmith and Fulham Crime Operations to establish the full circumstances of the incident."

Superintendent Dave Page, of Fulham and Hammersmith Police, added: "Incidents of this nature following a football match are rare, but it would appear that a very small number of supporters were intent on meeting after the match for a confrontation.

"We are committed to providing a safe and trouble-free environment for the majority of supporters who attend the match to support their teams."

Any witnesses should call Hammersmith Police on 020 8246 2505.

Police charge Betis fan over bottle throwing - 13/03/2007

Source: Reuters

A 30-year-old Real Betis season ticket holder was charged by police on Tuesday with throwing the bottle that knocked Sevilla coach Juande Ramos unconscious during a King's Cup match at the Betis stadium on Feb. 28.

The quarter-final second leg between the city rivals was abandoned just after Sevilla had scored to go 1-0 up on aggregate, when Ramos was hit on the back of the head by a large plastic bottle full of liquid thrown from the stands.

'The club confirm the person detained by police for throwing the bottle is a Betis season ticket holder, and with immediate effect his ticket has been declared invalid,' Betis said in a statement on their website.

'We will also take action against the person for damaging the image of the club.'

The remaining 33 minutes of the Cup match are to be played at Getafe's stadium on the outskirts of Madrid behind closed doors on March 20.

VFL Bochum - Borussia Dortmund - 10/03/2007

Source : Nuz.de

Troubles opposed both sides of fans. Police forces restored order.

Vidéo :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDz9QfPVugs

1. FC Dynamo Dresden - FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt - 10/03/2007

Source : Dpa + Bultras + Ultras Dynamo

Police forces arrested 20 fans after troubles occured between fans who threw bottles.
For this game, about 800 policemen were present.

RC Genk - RSC Anderlecht - 11/03/2007

Source: mails

At the end of the game, provocations were made between Genk fans who turned back to their cars and Anderlecht fans.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the end of the game, a van full of 22 Anderlecht lads (BCS boys and old O-siders) was attacked by a group of 40/50 locals.
About 15 lads went out of the van and fronted locals (some with batons) for 2-3 minutes. Locals finally retreated.

UEFA chief Platini calls on police to help combat violence - 12/03/2007

Source: AFP

European football boss Michel Platini on Monday said he would be meeting with the continent's police chiefs later this month to help combat violence in the sport.

Platini, the president of European football's governing body UEFA, said he would be receiving police representatives on March 24 at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Platini told a Brussels press conference that "UEFA cannot legislate on the problems of internal security in each country."

"Football has been grappling with problems it can't solve for 40 years," the former France midfield star said. "We haven't had any legal source to deal with this."

Platini was putting forward the idea of an international police force for sport, as exists for financial crime or internet crime.

Platini was sharing a platform with European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, whom he said supported the idea. However, Barroso's response to reporters suggested otherwise.

"We understand perfectly well the good intentions of president Platini, trying to see which way we can have better coordination of national police but it is not at all in the European Commission's competence to act in that direction," he said.

Platini said that the meeting with national police chiefs could discuss a number of possibilities to tackle football hooliganism, including banning away fans. "We could have a ban on travelling fans, but UEFA can't decide that," he said.

However he said that the European governing body could not get involved in the weekly club matches in national leagues, adding that much of the violence took place outside football grounds before or after a match.

He appealed to governments to play their role in tackling the problem of violence.

"We would seek the help of all governments and we'd like them to assume their responsibilities for dealing with this violence," he said, adding that action was also required to deal with other problems facing the sport including drug-taking, corruption and racism.

Platini and Barroso, along with former Italy coach Marcello Lippi and Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton, held a joint press conference to promote a special match between Manchester United and a Europe XI at Old Trafford on Tuesday to celebrate 50 years since the European Union's founding Treaty of Rome and also 50 years of Mancheter United's participation in European football.

Standard Liège - FC Antwerp - Cup - 14/03/2007

Source: forums

Prior to the game, several infos announced their venue at the train station.
A local mob was waited there but no Antwerp fans showed up.
At the end of the game it seems locals fronted police forces but also between locals who assaulted a coach full of Antwerp fans, stopped for problems.

Osasuna Pamplona - Glasgow Rangers - 14/03/2007

Source: Reuters

Rangers to complain about Spanish police

Rangers will complain to UEFA over what the Scottish club called 'heavy-handed policing' in their UEFA Cup defeat by Osasuna at Pamplona.

Spanish riot police were deployed in the stands at Wednesday's game, which ended with a 1-0 defeat on the night and a 2-1 second knockout round exit on aggregate for the visitors.

Rangers will "officially consult UEFA to complain" about the lack of segregation and the police tactics, the club said.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain told their Web site: "We are really disappointed that despite all the preparatory work that was done by ourselves and the British Ambassador and, the fact there was a special security delegate appointed to this game, there was still a lack of segregation in this ground.

"We witnessed a letter from UEFA to Osasuna demanding that they put segregation in the ground."

He added: "There is no doubt about it that there is a small element that attached itself to our support, but the vast majority of Rangers fans were intimidated by heavy-handed police.

"We have spoken with the UEFA delegate at the game and he agrees with us that things were not right in the ground and the British Ambassador has also made representations to UEFA as well."




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source: BBC

Rangers protest after fan fracas

Riot police confronted Rangers fans in Pamplona
Rangers will submit a complaint to Uefa after segregation problems during their Uefa Cup tie with Osasuna.
The Ibrox club will also condemn the police tactics at the Reyno de Navarra Stadium in Pamplona after riot police clashed with visiting supporters.

Rangers will consult with fans who travelled to Spain and compile a list of grievances and eye-witness accounts.

"We anticipate Uefa will launch a full investigation," read a statement from the Glasgow side.

The statement said: "Club officials discussed the matter this morning and will make written representation to Uefa on behalf of fans later today.

"We have also arranged a special meeting with the Rangers Supporters' Assembly to share the different experiences of fans that have already and will continue to come to our attention over the next few days.

"It is important the fans' representatives see documentary proof of the strenuous efforts the club made to ensure that everyone could safely attend this match.

"In the meantime everyone associated with Rangers Football Club and with its interests at heart are bitterly disappointed with events in Spain.

"There were clearly people in the relevant section of the ground too that the club would not have expected to have been there and we will follow this through."

Riot police moved into the stands to separate rival fans as Rangers crashed out of the competition.

The police had stood in a line in front of the visiting fans for around 10 minutes before an incident then saw them wade in among the Rangers support, scattering the fans.

The Ibrox club's chief of security Laurence MacIntyre told BBC Scotland he was unhappy with how police reacted.

Macintyre said: "I never saw anything, with an experienced eye, that merited the very severe treatment and indiscrinminate batoning of fans.

"It was completely out of order, in my opinion."

And Rangers chief executive Martin Bain told his club website that, despite repeated requests from Uefa, Rangers and the British ambassador to Spain, arrangements in stadium were not right.

"We are really disappointed that, despite all the preparatory work that was done by ourselves and the British ambassador, and the fact that there was a special security delegate appointed to this game, there was still a lack of segregation in this ground," he said.

"We witnessed a letter from Uefa to Osasuna demanding that they put segregation in the ground.

My Sport: What is your view on the events in Spain?

"There is no doubt about it that there is a small element that attached itself to our support tonight, but the vast majority of Rangers fans were intimidated by heavy-handed police."

Bain also said that the British ambassador would make representations to Uefa as well.

Rangers' Spanish striker Nacho Novo added: "The police in Spain do have a reputation for being too aggressive with foreign supporters and that seems to have happened again.

"I feel so sorry for our fans that they have been involved in something like this."

The Spanish authorities reported three arrests after street disorders, while two fans spent the night in hospital.

Those detained were later released.

One of those taken to hospital had drunk himself into a coma and was treated for alcohol poisoning, said police. The other fan was treated for a cut mouth.

German police swoop on hooligans - 14/03/2007

Source: Reuters

Munich police said on Wednesday they had searched 24 homes and seized weapons and other evidence as part of an operation against soccer hooligans.

Some 170 officers took part in the raid and secured items including gas pistols, butterfly knives and baseball bats, police said. Computer data and photographs were also seized.

The residents of the homes were part of a group of hooligans who were increasingly organising mass brawls away from football stadiums where police presence is heavy, police said.

They had already been questioned last month by police in nearby Austria after a mass brawl there and an investigation was launched in the Bavarian capital.

Police took the 24 people, aged between 18 and 40, into custody on Tuesday for questioning and later released them without charge, a spokesman said.

'This operation against the hooligan scene in Munich shows that German thugs who commit crimes abroad can expect to be investigated and punished at home as well,' police said.

Instances of soccer violence have increased in Germany in recent months, mirroring a pattern seen in other European countries such as Italy and Spain.

European Union sports ministers said on Tuesday they wanted bloc-wide security standards for sports stadiums and increased co-operation between EU police forces.

UEFA president Michel Platini had earlier called on governments to help the soccer authorities tackle the resurgent problem of hooliganism and racism.

Fortuna Düsseldorf - Wuppertaler SV - 17/03/2007

Source: mail

Short fight at the tube station for this derby game.

Coventry City - Barnsley FC - 17/03/2007

Source: ITk forum

12 Coventry youth ran 25-30 Barnsley youth in Coventry town center. Barnsley ran onto a bus and fucked off.

Chelsea set to ban 'criminal' celery throwers - 16/03/2007

Source: Reuters

Chelsea warned their fans on Friday against throwing celery during matches, saying it was a criminal offence and that anyone caught lobbing the popular salad vegetable could be banned.

The unlikely warning follows referee reports which mention celery-throwing at two recent Chelsea matches and which are being investigated by the Football Association, the club said on its website.

The FA's investigation could result in sanctions being taken against the club, who said 'the throwing of anything at a football match, including celery, is a criminal offence for which you can be arrested and end up with a criminal record.

'In future, if anyone is found attempting to bring celery into Stamford Bridge they could be refused entry and anyone caught throwing celery will face a ban.'

The club also urged fans who spot anyone throwing celery in the stadium to call a telephone number, adding that 'all calls will be treated in confidence.'

Though apparently a growing problem with it landing on the pitch, Chelsea fans have been throwing celery among themselves, and singing an unprintable song about the vegetable, for more than two decades.