Season 06/07 - March

UEFA to wait on Gers Osasuna riot verdict - 16/03/2007

Source: www.soccernet.com

Rangers will not learn until Monday at the earliest whether UEFA are to investigate the chaotic crowd scenes during their European clash at Osasuna.

An announcement had been expected once the match delegate's report had been received at UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

That is believed to have arrived, however a spokesman this morning stated that UEFA would wait to receive the security officer's separate report, due on Monday, before deciding if action is necessary.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has urged European football's governing body to look into the policing and organisation at Osasuna's El Sadar stadium during Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash.

Rangers supporters claimed riot police charged into their section for no reason, lashing out with sticks, fists and kicks before, during and after the match in Pamplona.

The Glasgow club have since officially complained to UEFA about the lack of segregation and heavy-handed policing at the match.

Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson has described the police treatment of travelling fans at their UEFA Cup clash against Osasuna as 'bang out of order'.

Rangers were given 1,400 tickets for the game but many more fans managed to get into the ground.

Ferguson, who was suspended for the 1-0 defeat, argued the segregation was inadequate.

He told the Scottish Sun: 'The organisation was a disgrace and I just don't see our support as one that carries a reputation for trouble.

'UEFA have to look at that because no-one should go through that just to follow their team.

'I felt the police treatment of our fans was bang out of order.'

UEFA delegate Manos Mavrokoukoulakis criticised Rangers for allowing too many visiting fans to get in the ground.

He told the Scottish Daily Express: 'The critical point is that Osasuna gave Rangers 1,400 official tickets and Rangers could not convince other supporters not to travel.

'A delegate may sometimes believe police have over-reacted but those on the other side could say the visiting fans did the same.'

Reading FC - Portsmouth FC - 17/03/2007

Source: ITK forum - RFC lad view

Fair play to Portsmouth for coming to us whereas a lot of firms would've been happy to stay in The Guineas with the OB outside but they made the effort...

Word got to us you were on your way, we left our pub to meet you and ended with some of the 20 of your older heads taking a slap outside the pub just up the road from our pub and in the end you were chased up the road with us making the effort to get at you and you just being happy to be escorted away by OB it would've seemed to me.

Earlier in the day, a cab of your lads took a slap outside the ground by a cab of ours after yours gobbed off in the traffic screwy.gif

Then after the game up by the station a few of your lads got done before OB intervention

Kilmarnock FC - Hibernian - League Cup - 18/03/2007

Source: ITK board

Some fisticuffs before the game, punches thrown before it was all broken up.

PSV Eindhoven - Ajax Amsterdam - 18/03/2007

Source: mail


MORE NEWS SOON

At the end of the game, angry about the result, locals attacked Ajax train with missiles.

Rangers could face UEFA trial by video - 18/03/2007

Source: soccernet.com

Rangers could face the wrath of UEFA after a video of supporters apparently singing a sectarian song during their match against Osasuna was posted on the internet.

UEFA fined Rangers £13,000 last May and warned the club about the conduct of their supporters following discriminatory chants during their Champions League tie against Villarreal.

In the video posted on YouTube and shot by a supporter, Rangers fans are heard chanting an anti-Catholic song.

UEFA will examine the evidence as part of their inquiry into events at the second leg of the Osasuna tie.

Rangers Supporters Assembly president Jim Templeton condemned the song as 'unacceptable' and told the Sunday Mail: 'Whichever fan posted this has scored a massive own goal for the club and the fans.

'It is almost certain UEFA will be forced to take action and possibly ban the club from Europe. We can only fear the worst.'

Rangers have complained about 'heavy-handed policing' during Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash in Pamplona as riot officers rushed at fans with batons.

UEFA are waiting until receiving their security officer's report tomorrow before making any decision on possible disciplinary procedures.

Rangers fans claim they were attacked for no reason but the club have admitted some banned supporters found their way into the travelling support.

The Glasgow club received 1,400 tickets for the game, which they lost 1-0 to bow out the tournament, but many more fans gained entry.

David Taylor, who will leave his role as chief executive of the Scottish Football Association later this month to become UEFA general secretary, has urged the European governing body to look at the trouble involving supporters and police.

But Taylor also said: 'UEFA will look at any source over sectarianism or racism and investigate.'

UEFA's acting chief executive Gianni Infantino has already warned that Rangers could face severe sanctions.

Infantino said on Friday: 'If sectarian singing would still continue then UEFA would certainly take measures as it has in the past.

'UEFA has even excluded a Dutch club (Feyenoord) from the UEFA Cup earlier this year because of the behaviour of the fans of this club.'

Nazis against hooligans in Rotterdam - 17/03/2007

Source: http://www.kw.nl/~ffp

Nazi followers of the Nationale Alliantie political group showed up in Rotterdam for a meeting.
They were assaulted by locals hooligans.
Ten nazis were arrested.

Hooligans brought before new '24 hour courts' - 18/03/2007

Source : Poland website

In the first conviction for football hooliganism in the new 24 hour fast track courts in Lodz, central Poland, Tytus P has been sentenced to five months probation, plus 30 hours community service.
The 20 year old Tytus was charged with assaulting policemen.

Four other football hooligans came before the court Saturday following a local derby between two soccer teams from Lodz on Friday evening.

The new 24 hour fast track courts came into force last Monday to deal with offences such as soccer hooliganism, where the charges are not contested.

TOTTENHAM - CHELSEA FC - CUP - 19/03/2007

Source : AFP + The Sun

Lampard reveals attack horror

FRANK Lampard revealed his horror at being attacked by a Tottenham fan as he celebrated Chelsea's 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final replay win at White Hart Lane today (AEDT).
Lampard was savouring the triumph with his teammates in front of the Chelsea supporters when two Spurs fans ran onto the pitch to confront him.

One of them got close enough to throw a punch at Lampard, but he failed to make contact with the England midfielder player.

Stewards eventually dragged the fans away as Blues boss Jose Mourinho and his coaching staff intervened.

Lampard, who had thrown his shirt to Chelsea's fans, insisted he was within his rights to celebrate and said: "I saw the guy coming and just ducked. He should never have been on pitch. There is a lot of emotion in this game, but we should be able to celebrate with our own fans.

"It's not fair. Their fans gave us stick for the whole game and then complain when we celebrate. The feeling had built up from the first game and that showed."

Mourinho warned Tottenham's security staff that they must be more alert in future to avoid a repeat.

He said: "It could have been worse. With the last whistle maybe the security slept a little bit, but they could never imagine a fast guy could jump to the pitch and chase my player.

"They just have to be alert in the future. Frank is OK. He is happy with the victory. Everything else is second."

Spurs boss Martin Jol admitted the supporters should have kept their emotions in check and said: "That is not something you like to see, but what can I do about it? I am not responsible for the safety. I can feel for their frustration, but you have to take your disappointments on the chin."

Police confirmed that both supporters were arrested for encroachment, but the disgraceful scenes overshadowed a Chelsea victory that set up a semi-final with Blackburn Rovers next month.

Mourinho believes Chelsea can make history by winning four tophies - FA Cup, English Premier League, Champions League and League Cup, already won with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal - and he said: "It is possible. We have a 25 percent chance to win the FA Cup. We have a 12.5 percent chance to win the Champions League and to win the Premiership we need to win every game and Manchester United to lose four more points.

"We are behind in the Premiership because of the injuries we had. I almost played centre-back at times.

"We never play with our best team but when we do we show what we can do. The way we have progressed shows what this team is. The season is brilliant and we just need to win more trophies."

"This team is committed to be in the FA Cup final. The way we played we showed that. The kids played like men." Tottenham now has only the UEFA Cup to challenge for after a season that promised so much.

It hasalready lost in the League Cup semi-final to Arsenal, but Jol said: "You can't say the best team has won, but what can you say when Shevchenko scores a goal like that.

"We were there in the League Cup semi-finals, in the FA Cup quarter-finals and now in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. You can say we are a nearly team but what about all the other teams who are not there."








Video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHXHWf0qEQ
http://www.fishki.net/comment.php?id=18991

135 arrests after disturbances in Utrecht - 12/03/2007

Source : AD.nl + Gelderlander

Police said yesterday they arrested 135 people who ignored a curfew Tuesday night in an Utrecht neighborhood, the scene of unrest since police shot and killed a man over the weekend.

The city's mayor had ordered the curfew in the Ondiep neighborhood, allowing only residents to come and go from the area where the shooting occurred Sunday, to prevent a repeat of violence that erupted Monday night.

Mayor Annie Brouwer told Dutch television on Tuesday that notices had been posted on soccer fan Web sites calling for "riot tourists" to gather in Utrecht at the spot where police killed a resident they said threatened officers with a knife.

"These people don't belong in this neighborhood, and they're not welcome," Brouwer said.

Among those arrested Tuesday night were supporters of soccer teams Ajax Amsterdam, Feyenoord Rotterdam, FC The Hague and FC Utrecht. They were charged with vandalism, violence or disturbing public order, police said. Suspects were held overnight, fined and released.

Ondiep is a poor, ethnically mixed neighborhood where residents say there have been tensions between white residents and immigrants.

Dutch media have identified the slain man as a 54-year-old white resident named Rinie Mulder.

During a standoff with police in riot gear 24 hours after the incident, a group of youths rioted, throwing rocks, setting small fires, burning a car and damaging a police station.







Silent march for man shot by police

The silent march in memory of Rinie Mulder, the 54-year-old man shot dead by police in Utrecht on Sunday, passed off peacefully on Thursday evening.

Between 1,500 and 2,500 people took part in the march through the neighbourhood of Ondiep, laying flowers at the spot where he died and lighting candles.

The police presence was muted, some 40 locals acted as stewards. Police once again sealed off the area after the event – for the third consecutive night – fearing a repeat of the trouble earlier in the week. On Tuesday night 135 people were arrested, on Wednesday a further 19.

March organiser Gradus Kwarten told tv programme Pauw & Witteman that local residents planned to organise their own neighbourhood patrols to keep order in the neighbourhood because the police were not active enough.

Details of how Mulder died have been sketchy. Police say he was waving a knife and was shot dead by a police officer who felt threatened. But some residents say he was helping a pregnant women who was being hassled by youths and had himself called the police.

Germany: Hooligans prearranging brawls - 14/03/2007

Source : TSN

Police raided the homes of 24 soccer fans from two Munich clubs who allegedly crossed the border to fight with Austrian supporters.

Police in Munich said Wednesday that 170 officers searched the homes of fans of the two Munich clubs, Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich and second-division 1860 Munich.

German authorities are investigating the fight that took place near Kufstein on Sunday and may raise charges of breach of peace and causing grievous bodily harm.

Austrian police said they would not start an investigation until the Germans complete theirs.

According to German police reports, the Munich fans met with an Austrian group for a prearranged fight. Police presence at soccer games has led hooligan groups to fight at isolated locations, police said.

Tottenham fan is banned for life - 20/03/2007

Source : Daily Telegraph

TOTTENHAM will impose a lifetime ban on the fan who invaded the pitch and threw a punch at Frank Lampard after Monday's highly-charged FA Cup quarter-final replay.

Timothy Smith, 18, from Berkshire, will appear in court on Tuesday accused of encroaching on to the pitch, but he will not face assault charges.

Chelsea have also promised to ban any of their fans who ran on to the pitch after their team's 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.

The Football Association has demanded an explanation from Spurs about security arrangements and how supporters made it on to the pitch, but neither club is expected to be charged.

The fact only three supporters were on the pitch – at least one from Chelsea – should ensure Spurs escape an FA charge of failing to control their fans.

A club statement yesterday said: "The Tottenham fan is to receive an immediate lifetime ban from matches at White Hart Lane.

"Details of the Chelsea supporter have been forwarded to Chelsea and we believe they will be taking similar action."

Lampard was celebrating victory when the Spurs fan ran towards him and threw a punch, but the England midfielder ducked out of the way.

The offender was then wrestled to the ground by Chelsea fitness coach Rui Faria.

Television pictures showed Lampard, Didier Drogba and other Chelsea players trying to get to the teenager before he was led away by stewards, but the players' behaviour is likely to be overlooked because they were under attack.

A Burnley fan who confronted Blackburn's Robbie Savage during an FA Cup tie was jailed for five months in 2005 and a Birmingham supporter who ran from the crowd to taunt Peter Enckelman, then of Aston Villa in 2002, was jailed for four months.

Although the overall number of football-related arrests is declining, there is an upward trend relating to pitch invasions – there were 224 last season compared to 209 in 2004/05.

Lampard, who reported for England duty yesterday, said: "You don't expect it but I'm pleased I got out of the way and that nothing serious came out of what could have been a bad situation. We have to set a precedent to not let it happen again. They're treating it seriously.

"It was strange. It was awkward, someone running at you like that. "Fans have come on the pitch before but not with that kind of aggressive nature. Emotions run high and I don't want to stand here and criticise too much.

"People talk about celebrating in front of the fans and getting stick, which is part of the game, but that was over-stepping the mark.

"I hope it doesn't happen again. Of course, measures need to be taken."

Tottenham were not impressed with what they considered to be excessive celebrations by Chelsea and are certain to mention this to the FA.

John Terry, Lampard and Drogba led the screaming and fistpumping after the game.

Lampard, taunted during the first game for his poor World Cup performances, hurled his shirt into the crowd. Chelsea players were still whooping and beating their chests after the pitch invasion and manager Jose Mourinho thumped the badge on his tracksuit.

Spurs fan Smith was one of eight arrests on the night – two others were for invading the pitch, two for using insulting words and behaviour, one for being drunk and disorderly and two Chelsea fans were arrested for throwing celery.

Chelsea made a plea to fans last week to stop the tradition of throwing celery because they fear sanctions from the FA.

Police made 34 arrests when fighting broke out between Chelsea and Spurs fans after the first match at Stamford Bridge on March 11.

Ten people were stabbed in what was thought to have been a planned fight outside a pub but the number of football arrests is falling, according to Home Office figures.

There were 3462 arrests relating to football last season, a reduction of almost 1000 over three years.

The drop is attributed to the tough legislation, including banning orders, passed in the wake of fan problems at Euro 2000.

There are about 3700 orders in place and bans can last between two and 10 years.

More police at airport to stop football yobs - 23/03/2007

Source : Manchester.com

Extra police are patrolling Manchester Airport today and tomorrow to prevent football hooligans travelling to Israel.

The England football team are due to play the Middle East nation on Saturday in a Euro 2008 qualifying match.

Known hooligans will be targeted in the two-day operation and both plain clothes and uniformed officers are monitoring routes that may be taken by people with football banning orders.

Superintendent Peter Turner, of Manchester Airport Police, told the BBC: "As with previous operations of this kind, we are sending out a clear message to people intending to travel to commit violence: don't waste your time.

"In past operations, the vast majority of people approached by officers were genuine supporters who were co-operative and understanding."

He made it clear that police have been successful in the past when it came to stopping hooligans travelling abroad.

The extra patrols follow a similar operation mounted at the airport in October 2006 when there was a Euro 2008 qualifier match between England and Croatia.

Insulting banners prohibited in stadiums - 23/07/2007

Source : Sapa-DPA

Italy's Ministry of Interior Affairs has banned offensive banners from football stadiums in its effort to crack down on violence, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Friday.
Fans will have to state content and size of the banner they want to show in order to obtain permission from the police. The new measure will be effective from March 30, when the league resumes after the break for the Euro 2008 qualifier Italy play next week against Scotland.

Most Serie A clubs have posted the new norms on their websites and some are cooperating with the police, who can issue season permits to fan clubs.

Heavily offensive banners have been shown in the past, sometimes with whole racist and political sentences, along with symbols relating to Nazism and fascism. Clubs often received fines for the most offensive banners.

The crackdown on banners is the latest in a series of measures the ministry took after the death of a policeman in clashes outside the Catania stadium on February 2.

A week earlier, the manager of an amateur team was killed in the southern region of Calabria as he tried to pacify an after-game clash.

New rules adopted in the following weeks improved safety in stadiums and included preventive bans from games for violence-prone fans, while clubs were invited to sever their ties with the violent fringes of their fans.

Lille to consider an appeal to UEFA - 23/03/2007

Source : RTE Sport

Lille are weighing up whether to appeal against UEFA's decision to fine the club £41,900 as a result of crowd disturbances and player misbehaviour which marred last month's Champions League clash with Manchester United.

The French club were hit with the sanction yesterday 'for breaches of security provisions and lack of proper organisation, as well as for the improper conduct of the team after United's goal in the English side's 1-0 victory' in the last-16 first leg on February 20.

There was crowd trouble during the match, with United fans close to being crushed owing to apparent overcrowding in the stand behind the goal.

And on the pitch, Ryan Giggs' winner, a quickly taken free-kick while goalkeeper Tony Sylva was lining up his wall, almost led to Lille's players walking off the pitch in protest.

United have been fined around £6300 as a result of their fans' misbehaviour in the same game.

Lille are aggrieved at the discrepancy in the size of the fines, and could launch an appeal.

A statement on the club's website read: 'In the expectation of the motivating decisions of UEFA and taking into account the gap in the sanctions pronounced between the two clubs, LOSC [Lille] judge this ruling extremely severe and disproportionate and will consider the option of lodging an appeal.'

The teams can appeal against the fines within three days of receiving a written explanation.

UEFA have already thrown out two appeals by Lille against the controversial late goal scored by Giggs in the first leg.

Norway - Bosnia - 24/03/2007

Source: Reuters + local newspapers (pics)

Norway and Bosnia are likely to face punishment from European soccer's governing body UEFA after their Group C qualifier was marred by crowd trouble on Saturday.

Bosnia's 2-1 victory came after the match was halted for about 30 minutes shortly after kick-off as flares were thrown onto the pitch from the stands.

Television pictures showed flares hitting players and setting fire to an advertising board and fans smashing seats, forcing English referee Mike Riley to order the players off the pitch.

Security officers, whose number had been doubled by the Norwegian FA fearing trouble, stormed the Bosnian fans sections from where many of the flares were apparently thrown. They escorted away some fans, while others left on their own.

The Norwegian Football Association apologised for the situation.

"We felt we were in control but these flares are very small and they got through our security checks," Norges Fotballforbund President Sondre Kaafjord said.

The FA's general secretary, Karen Espelund, pushed the blame on the Bosnian federation, which she said refused to take customary tickets for away fans for the Oslo tie.

Instead, Bosnian immigrants to Norway and neighbouring Sweden, some apparently angry at their federation, were among the nearly 17,000 in attendance.

Some fans held up signs likening Bosnia's embattled football authorities to the mafia. Bosnia's FA is run on ethnic lines reflecting the delicate balance between the country's two parts, the Serb Republic and the Muslim-Croat Federation, created after the 1992-95 war.

Kjell Hjulstad of the Oslo police department said officers were on alert for trouble overnight as police helicopters circled downtown Oslo, witnesses said.

After the 30 minute break in play the match resumed and Bosnian captain Zvjezdan Misimovic opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a deftly curled free kick from just outside the penalty box.













Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G8SZ8Cr0xI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2E20min%2Ech%2Fsport%2Ffussball%2Fstory%2F11412064

Greece vs Turkey: Greek soccer chief says security not a problem - 22/03/2007

Source: Turkish Daily News

Turkey this weekend will once again play defending European Champion Greece. Nothing could separate the sides when they met during their failed World Cup 2006 qualification campaigns, with both legs ending in goalless draws and there is little to separate the two on current form.

Ahead of Saturday's match, Greek Football Federation (EPO) chief Vassilios Gagatsis said he expected a tough match. �Two very good teams will be on the pitch on Saturday and naturally I hope Greece will be the winner,� daily Radikal quoted him saying.

History ensures a lively atmosphere whenever these two countries meet, but the fixture schedule has also thrown up an intriguing coincidence with the match falling on the weekend of a Greek public holiday celebrating the country's independence from the Ottoman Empire.

However Gagatsis said they were not concerned. �Soccer has no relation with national days or political and nationalist fanaticism. The national holiday is important for us, but the match is a completely different issue. There is no doubt about the Turkish squad's security; Greek police will take the necessary security precautions.�

Speaking to Greek daily Elephterotphia, Turkish national squad coach Fatih Terim expressed his hope for both teams qualifying from the group. He added the decision not to allow away team supporters to the games was sad, but necessary.

Greece defender Giourkas Seitaridis believes the game will have a significant bearing on whether the holders will be defending their UEFA European Championship crown in Austria and Switzerland next year.

"It will be an extremely difficult game as we're both good teams," said Club Atletico Madrid right-back Seitaridis. "I hope we can succeed in winning - if we do then I feel 99 percent sure that we'll qualify for the finals."

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Greece - Turkey - 22/03/2007

source: 20minuten.ch

The game has been stopped for a few minutes while supporters were throwing bottles on the pitch.

Czech Republic - Germany - 24/03/2007

Source : Herald Tribune + DPA + AP + Prague Daily Monitor

38 German soccer fans stopped at the Czech border

Thirty-eight suspected German soccer hooligans were denied entry to the Czech Republic for Saturday's European Championship qualifying game in Prague.

Most of the fans stopped at the border Friday were on a list of people with criminal records for soccer violence and are barred by German police from traveling abroad for matches.

About 1,000 German fans are expected to attend Saturday's game for the top spot in Group D for the 2008 championship.

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German hooligans turned back at Czech border ahead of qualifying match

German police caught 170 hooligans Saturday trying to reach Prague ahead of Germany's European Championship qualifying match at the Czech Republic.

Prague police said they expect 1,000 German hooligans to be in the Czech capital for the game despite efforts to stop them from entering the Czech Republic.

German border patrols turned back 135 hooligans Saturday and 50 Friday, and Bayern state police stopped 35 on Saturday. Troublemakers have also been stopped at the Prague airport.

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Czech Police Make Arrests After Fans Clash In Prague

Czech and German fans clashed in central Prague Saturday ahead of a Euro 2008 qualifying match between the two countries, police said.

Fighting broke out in the early evening in central Prague's popular shopping thoroughfare, Na Prikope Street, near Wenzels Square, according to Czech media reports.

Hooligans also smashed shop windows and restaurant furnishing at nearby Melantrichova Street, it was reported.

Police spokesman Ladislav Bernasek said 23 people including seven Germans were arrested.

According to Prague authorities, around 200 German "problem" fans had arrived in the city without match tickets.

German police earlier denied 205 potentially violent football fans entry into the Czech Republic. Czech security authorities stopped another 31 German fans at the border.

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Czech, German soccer rowdies clash in Prague's centre

Tens of Czech and German soccer fans put up a fight before the European Championship qualifier between the Czech Republic and Germany in Prague's centre today, Czech Television (CT) said.

The hooligans broke shop windows and destroyed restaurant interior. The police have detained 23 people and two police officers have been injured, CT said.

Numerous groups of fans clashed in Prague's Na Prikope street. Some 300 members of Czech "hard core" rowdies provoked a battle with an equally strong group of German fans.

Chairs, flowerpots and dustbins were hurled in the brawl, CT said.

The police have dispersed the crowd with special detonators and sealed off the area, CT said.

However, scattered groups of fans are still roaming the Prague streets, it added.

According to the latest information, some 2000 fans came from Germany to watch the match. Roughly 200 fans were halted at the border and sent back.

Special teams composed of Czech and German police have found 300 German and 200 Czech "problematic" fans in Prague, CT said.






German mob

RANGERS THUGS UNMASKED - 25/03/2007

Source : Sunday Mail

THE TWO BANNED FANS BEHIND SHAME

TWO football thugs at the centre of violence and sectarian chants which tarnished Rangers' match with Osasuna are today unmasked by the Sunday Mail.

Casual ringleaders Elliott Macrae and Barrie Donnelly defied life bans by the club in a calculated bid to cause mayhem at the UEFA Cup game in Spain.

Macrae, 31, and Donnelly, 30, are leading figures in the notorious Inter City Firm.

Macrae was caught on camera in the thick of a clash with batonwielding police at the tie. He was first banned by the club in 1999 after being caught with a swastika flag on a return flight after another match in Spain.

Donnelly was shown on website YouTube chanting sectarian songs at the match. The mobile phone film clip is being studied by UEFA bosses, who could hammer Rangers with a ban.

He had already been booted by the club after being arrested during a clash of fans in 1999 in Eindhoven, Holland.

Macrae was held by police in the same battle, involving Rangers casuals and a PSV Eindhoven mob.

Last night, Rangers security chief Laurence McIntyre said he hoped courts would use new powers to keep thugs away from matches abroad. Football banning orders - which have only been available since September - force hooligans such as Macrae and Donnelly to hand over their passports in advance of Euro ties.

The Sunday Mail revealed last week how footage of fans singing sectarian songs was posted on the internet.

The UEFA probe could see future European fixtures at Ibrox played behind closed doors.

Macrae was the ICF "standard bearer" at the Osasuna match and carried a Union Flag with "Inter City Firm" printed on it. He was pictured confronting riot police with a group of around 20 men in casual clothes with no Rangers colours.

The former prison officer lives with his wife in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, and works as a furniture store manager.

But he has a murky past and, like Donnelly, he flouted a lifetime ban handed to him by Rangers.

He was once suspended after complaints of verbally abusing female inmates atCornton Vale in Stirling. He was given his first ban by Rangers - an indefinite suspension - in 1999.

The club's security chiefs acted after discovering his swastika flag on a return flight from a match in Valencia.

Weeks later, he was arrested while attending an away game against PSV Eindhoven.

And he was handed a life ban for attending a 2000 home match against Sturm Graz.

He was arrested again after a Champions League home match against Inter Milan in December 2005, resulting in a £200 fine.

Skinhead thug Donnelly lives with his partner on a quiet estate in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, in a £200,000 home with a BMW X3 and VW Golf in his drive.

Following his arrest in Holland in 1999, Rangers banned him indefinitely from matches.

The following year, he got his life ban - also after attending the Sturm Graz match at Ibrox. But that has not deterred Donnelly from attending matches marred by violence. The club received reports of his presence at a UEFA Cup away game against Paris St Germain in 2001.

He was also accused of attending a January 2002 clash against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, where kickoff was delayed by crowd trouble.

Afew months later, he was arrested in Bradford among an ICF group who travelled south for former Rangers and Scotland player Stuart McCall's testimonial.

And he got three months in prison in 2004 for his part in a mass brawl between Rangers and Aberdeen casuals in Glasgow city centre.

Athird hooligan, Sandy Chugg, 36, was last week given a life ban by the club because he went to Spain while serving an indefinite ban.

Ibrox security chief McIntyre said: "From the outset, Rangers have supported banning orders.

"We have done everything we can in terms of warning people and banning them indefinitely or for life.

"Despite that, some continue to flout these bans and it is clear a new remedy has long been required.

"That remedy is banning orders and we encourage courts to apply these for the sake of Scottish football and its reputation abroad."

Last month, it was announced that one football banning order had already been sought in Scotland and 100 were being pursued through the courts.

Darlington FC - Hartlepool United - 25/03/2007

Source : The Northern Echo + Hartlepool Mail + BBC News

Violence mars first derby at stadium

BOTTLES and bricks were thrown at mounted police as they battled to contain football hooligans attempting to attack rival fans after a derby day clash.

On several occasions, police horses charged through Darlington supporters following yesterday's match with Hartlepool, the first time the sides had met at the Quakers' 96.6TFM Arena.

There were ugly scenes as fans made their way home following the Quakers' 3-0 defeat.

Both police and the football club have played down the incidents, which marred the match and its immediate aftermath.

However, on one occasion, police horses had to be taken into the stadium during the match to restore order after a man wearing a St John Ambulance jacket tried to reach Hartlepool fans.

Glasses and other missiles were thrown at police as they tried to bring the crowds under control after the match.

The town's famous brick train was covered in graffiti and police deployed the force helicopter to keep watch on the crowds.

In one of Durham Constabulary's largest operations in recent years, 14 arrests were made across the town.

Police are hailing the operation a success, while fans' groups and residents have condemned the actions of a minority of supporters who caused trouble.

"There's no excuse for this sort of behaviour," said Tony Taylor, of Darlington Supporters Trust.

"We don't want to have anything to do with these people who go to matches and cause trouble.

"We've made some great strides in the last 30-odd years, the atmosphere was, in the main, very good today. You always get a minority who spoil it."

Police said two people were arrested outside the ground for breaching football banning orders and a third was arrested for a public order offence.

One fan from each side was arrested for pitch incursions.

After the match, a further nine arrests were made for minor public order offences.

Darlington Football Club has said anyone found causing trouble will be barred from the ground for life.

Last night, a spokesman for the club said: "There was a minor incident involving one fan who was arrested by police.

"As a result there was a minor surge forward of fans but police quickly restored order."

Chief Inspector Helen McMillan said: "The planning of the operation for the match was a major exercise and we are grateful for the help of our colleagues from British Transport Police and the mounted branch of Cleveland Police."

Jan Mazurk, of Neasham Road Residents' Group, which campaigned against the construction of the stadium, said: "This was only a medium crowd, they have the capacity for 25,000. We'll keep monitoring this and I'll be taking it up with Darlington Borough Council about the cost of this."

Pauline McSweenie, from Hartlepool Supporters Association, said: "We came on the supporters' buses. No Darlington fans were allowed anywhere near us and we felt totally safe."



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Fan-tastic fans praised

VIOLENCE erupted at a derby match - but police have praised Hartlepool fans for being well behaved.

Ugly scenes emerged at the Hartlepool United and Darlington match with bottles and bricks being thrown at mounted police.

Quaker's fans used foul language and chanted "die Poolies" and "monkey hangers" in front of opposition followers and young children, said one eye-witness from Hartlepool.

One Darlington fan dressed in a St John Ambulance jacket tried to reach Hartlepool fans during the match – which Hartlepool United won 3-0 – with order being restored when a police horse charged on to the pitch.
There were 14 arrests, with only one Hartlepool United fan detained for pitch incursion.

A Darlington fan was also arrested for the same offence, along with two men arrested for breaching football banning orders outside the 96.6 TFM stadium, and a third handcuffed for a public order offence.

After the match, a further nine arrests were made for public order offences.

Acting Inspector Malcolm Suggitt praised Hartlepool fans and said: "The Hartlepool fans left the town in a jovial manner, and as far as we are aware, returned to the town in a jovial manner.

"We had no problems with the mass exodus of 40 coaches leaving in the morning and everybody has been brilliant since they came back.

"For all those people to leave and return in the way they did is just excellent."

Durham Police hailed the policing of the derby match as a success, despite the trouble and the arrests.

Match commander Chief Inspector Helen MacMillan said: "Planning of the operation for the match was a major exercise and we are grateful for the valuable help from our colleagues in the British Transport Police and mounted branch of Cleveland Police.

"We had a passionate local derby watched by 10,000 people, the majority of whom were there to enjoy the football."

One fan said: "Before the game around the stadium, fans of both sides were mixing quite well and drinking together. 'But after the game a lot of the Darlo fans appeared to object to us celebrating a great result.
"They were even swearing and shouting at women and kids from Hartlepool."

The visiting fans were escorted back towards Darlington town centre after the game, with a line of police being forced to keep home supporters in the Tin Shed bar until the area was cleared.


The convoy of buses on its way to the Darlington match

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Thirteen arrests at derby match

The match was played on Sunday at the Darlington Arena

Thirteen football fans were arrested when trouble flared at a derby match between Darlington and Hartlepool.

The majority of arrests, for public order offences in Darlington town centre, happened after Sunday's game.

But two were also held before the match for breaching banning orders and two during play for running onto the pitch.

Police said the game, which Hartlepool won 3-0, was attended by 10,000 fans, the majority of whom were there to enjoy the football.

Those held for breaching football banning orders were both Darlington supporters, according to Durham Police.

All those arrested were taken to Bishop Auckland and Darlington police stations.

FC Magdeburg - Dynamo Dresden - 24/03/2007

Source : BULTRAS DYNAMO

Brazil - Chile (played in Goteborg) - 24/03/2007

Source : AP

Lithuania - France - 24/03/2007

Source : CNN

Lithuania condemn 'racist' banner

Police have launched a formal investigation into the brandishing of a racist banner by home fans during Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against France, the Lithuanian Football Federation said Monday.

"The police have started an investigation to find out who is responsible for the incident," said Vaidotas Rastenis, the federation's deputy spokesman. "The federation in turn is to release a statement for the fans related to the incident," he added.

At Saturday's match in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas, home fans displayed a large banner showing an outline map of Africa in the blue, white and red colours of France's national flag, emblazoned with the words: "Welcome to Europe".

The banner appeared to be aimed at France's black players, who make up the majority of the team.

Lithuanian federation chief Liutauras Varanvicius slammed the fans' behavior, saying their actions could bring punishment for the Lithuanian team.

"Such an action is a crime. We now should expect heavy sanctions from UEFA," Varanavicius said in an interview with the daily newspaper Kauno Diena.

Rastenis, meanwhile, said the federation had not yet received any official contact related to the incident from UEFA.

European football's governing body has been cracking down hard on stadium racism in recent years, and a string of national teams have faced sanctions including heavy fines and being forced to play matches behind closed doors.

France managed an unconvincing 1-0 win over their hosts in Saturday's Group B match with Nicolas Anelka scoring a late winner.

UEFA, act now! - 27/03/2007

Source : AP

Vague promises were made by Greek Soccer Federation officials, coach Otto Rahhagel and his players before Saturday’s Turkey-Greece match that the game would be played in a friendly atmosphere.

However, none of these empty promises were kept. Quite the contrary, throughout the entire match Greek hooligans pelted Turkish players with water bottles, long sticks, projectiles, missiles, mobile phones and fire crackers -- you name it, they threw it.

This was only a soccer match, but Greek vandals tried to turn it into a war, almost ruining the beautiful game. New UEFA boss Michel Platini has vowed zero-tolerance on soccer hooliganism and vandalism. We all wait impatiently to see what punishment the UEFA, which loves to penalize non-EU member Turkey, will mete out to the Greeks.

Call for banning orders on hooligans - 27/03/2007

Source : The Northern Echo

POLICE have pledged to pursue football banning orders against 15 fans arrested following the weekend derby clash between Darlington and Hartlepool.

Fourteen of those arrested have now been charged with various offences, mainly public order matters, and are expected to appear before Darlington magistrates in the next few weeks.

The remaining fan was dealt with by way of a £60 fixed penalty notice, police said.

advertisementOverall, police said the operation was a success and Darlington Football Club has stressed that the vast majority of problems were away from the stadium.

Chief Inspector Helen McMillan, of Durham Police, said: "Despite the arrests, the day went as well as could be expected.

"We've had a passionate local derby watched by 10,000 people - the vast majority of whom were there purely to enjoy the football.

"We are going to pursue the possibility of obtaining football banning orders against all 15 arrested. In addition, we will be studying CCTV footage from both inside and outside the ground.

"If we can positively identify anyone committing offences from that material, we will pursue them also."

Darlington Football Club backed the police's determination to root out the trouble-causers.

Chief executive Jon Sotnick said: "We must do everything within our power to ensure these thugs stay away from attending our football matches.

"The club has been congratulated by all authorities, including the highways department, in their handling and hosting of the first derby between the two clubs at the Darlington Arena."

Durham Police engaged in one of its biggest operations in years for the match at the Quakers' 96.6 TFM Arena, which saw Hartlepool win 3-0.

About 200 officers were involved on Sunday, including Police Community Support Officers and special constables.

Eight riders and their horses from Cleveland Police were drafted in to escort fans to and from the stadium, with help from British Transport Police.

Police said one fan from each side was arrested during the match for running onto the pitch.

There were three arrests outside the ground - two for breaching banning orders and one for a public order offence.

Later, ten arrests were made away from the ground for public order offences, one after an incident on licensed premises.

Glasses and other missiles were hurled at police as they tried to control crowds after the match. At least one mounted officer was hit by a stone.

Two helicopters hovered over the town, but a police spokesman denied they were both police aircraft.

He said: "Aerial support was provided by the helicopter from the North-East Air Support Unit, but it was not such a big operation that we needed two helicopters. People get angry about the expense of the helicopter, but it is cost-neutral in that it is on-call all the time."

Councillor Bill Dixon, deputy leader of Darlington Borough Council, who was at the match, said: "Most residents were happy with the way the police deployed themselves and maintained a very difficult situation very well.

"It is just a real pity that a limited number of idiots spoiled it for everybody and could have besmirched the name of the town."

Comments from fans on The Northern Echo website also suggested the police operation had by and large been well-run.

Simon Brodie, from Darlington, said: "Not at any point did I feel concerned. The police managed the minor skirmishes well."

Chelsea bans three fans for throwing celery - 203/2007

Source : AP

Chelsea banned three supporters for throwing celery during the team's FA Cup replay win at Tottenham. Chelsea fans have been singing a sexually explicit song about celery and throwing the vegetable among themselves for about 20 years, but the club warned supporters that throwing celery could result in a ban.

Two of the three banned supporters were arrested during the March 19 match and the third was reported to the club, Chelsea said Tuesday. Another Chelsea fan was arrested for running onto the field.

About two weeks ago, Chelsea warned its fans that they could be banned if they throw celery at games. The move came as a result of recent reports from referees mentioning the activity.

The club also offered a telephone number for fans to call if they see somebody throwing celery.