Season 06/07 - March

England: Football hooligan clampdown - 27/03/2007

source: local newspaper

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is warning football hooligans not to travel to Barcelona for England's Euro 2008 qualifying match against Andorra.

Plain clothed football intelligence and uniformed police officers will be stationed at Manchester airport from today (Tuesday).

A total of 10,000 tickets have been allocated to England fans and police are urging people who do not have a ticket not to travel.
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Supt Peter Turner, from Manchester Airport Police, saaid: "As with the operation we held last week, we are sending out a clear message to people intending to travel to commit violence to think again.
"We are sending out a clear message to people intending to travel to commit violence to think again."
Supt Peter Turner

"Plain clothes officers will be working to spot known trouble makers and uniformed officers will be providing a high-visibility presence at the airport, talking to fans and monitoring the situation.

"In past operations, the vast majority of people approached by officers were genuine supporters who were co-operative and understanding, but we have been successful in stopping a number of known hooligans travelling.

"The operation aims to continue the good work that has already been achieved in previous operations of this kind and prevent troublemakers ruining the reputation of genuine football fans."

The Football Banning Order Authority has sent out letters to people in England and Wales who are subject to banning orders.

The recipients must follow certain courses of action, such as reporting to a police station on the day of the match and surrendering their passport. Any breaches of the conditions will be treated seriously.

England fan gets 30-month ban - 28/03/2007

Source : Manchester Evening News

A FOOTBALL fan from Lancashire, already banned from soccer matches, has received a further ban for trying to travel to watch England play Andorra.

David Grimshaw, 38, was stopped by police as he tried to catch a flight to Barcelona from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Grimshaw, of Accrington, who was the subject of a previous football banning order, appeared before Liverpool magistrates and agreed to a new 30-month banning order.

This means that for the next 30 months he will not be able to attend any matches in the UK or abroad.

He will also have to surrender his passport and sign in at a police station at specific times.

Merseyside Police said the banning order was the first imposed under the National Ports Operation for tonight's Euro 2008 qualifying match.

Infuriated soccer fans bite off ears of pub owner in Greece - 28/03/2007

Source : RIA Novosti

A man in Crete unwillingly sacrificed both of his ears trying to stop a fight between soccer fans in his pub, Greek television said Wednesday.

The fight erupted in a pub owned by Dimitris Tsibibakis following Greece's 4:1 humiliating defeat by Turkey in the 2008 Euro-Cup qualifier.

The Greek television said Bulgarian expatriates began chanting support for the Turkish team in the pub after another goal was scored, and pub locals retaliated, sparking the fight. The pub owner tried to prevent the brawl and was immediately thrown to the floor.

"One of them dug his teeth onto my ear, and another began chewing the other ear," Tsibibakis said, adding he managed to keep the ears and now requires plastic surgery.

Police have arrested three of the fighters and are looking for the fourth.

The Greek soccer team could face sanctions from international soccer authorities following the behavior of Greek fans who threw objects and flares at the Turkish players and referee during the Athens game.

Turkish fans were more ingenuous and crashed the Web site of the Hellenic Football Federation prior to kickoff.

Man dies as fans clash in Athens - 29/03/2007

Source : CNN

A man died and six other people were injured, one critically, in clashes between rival volleyball fans heading to a women's match in eastern Athens, Greek media reported on Thursday.

"They were fighting with clubs, knives, steel bars, stones for over 15 minutes. I hid behind the electricity pylon for cover. It was war," a resident of the Peania suburb told private Mega television.

The station said the dead man, who was in his twenties, had been stabbed several times in the stomach and hit by a car after fans of Olympiakos Piraeus and Panathinaikos spilled on to a major road.

According to the Athens news agency ANA, the driver of the car was set upon as he attempted to escape.

The violence was condemned by Greek Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras.

"I would like to express my sorrow. These were very violent scenes," he told reporters.

Television reports suggested that some 350 hooligans had arranged to meet for a fight some two km from where the volleyball match took place. Three shops and two cars were damaged in the fighting.

Mega said two people in the car had been arrested and 18 of the rioters taken in for questioning by the police, who were still investigating.

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Man killed ahead of volleyball match

A 25-year-old man was killed and five other people were injured during hooligan violence in Athens on Thursday, before a match was to take place between the women's volleyball teams of Olympiakos Piraeus and Panathinaikos Athens for the Greek Cup.

The tragic event occurred in Lavriou avenue in the Athens suburb of Peania and the young man, who died before an ambulance could arrive to rush him to hospital, was run over by a car during scuffling in the motorway. Five other people were injured and taken to an Athens hospital for treatment.

According to eyewitnesses, two people were riding in the car and its driver increased its speed and plowed through the scuffle in his effort to get away when his car was beginning to be bashed. Both the driver and the passenger were arrested.

One of the persons injured is a 22-year-old soccer player of fourth division club Marko, who had nothing to do with the incident, but who was attecked by Olympiakos fans outside a toys shop because his shirt was green (the colour of the Panathinaikos club). The perpetrators stabbed him in the thigh in a car and snatched his mobile phone from him.

Three shops in the area were damaged during the disturbances, as well as two cars, while 18 people were held for questioning.

Gov’t, parties condemn

Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) on Thursday evening condemned the death of a man and the injury of five other people during the hooligan violence before the match.

The grievous disturbances, earlier today in Peania, which resulted in the loss of life of a young person and the injury of many others, have nothing to do with sport. They have no room in Greece of the Olympic spirit and culture. They are categorically condemned by the government, every serious citizen, by the whole of society,? Roussopoulos said.

The KKE in an announcement said ?the dead youth and the other seriously injured, as a result of organised violence, which is growing in the field of sport, proves the great hypocrisy and the enormous responsibilities of the New Democracy government and those parties which for years support the commercialisation and the active role of entrepreneurs and ‘sponsors’.?

The Synaspismos announcement said that ?we express our deep grief over the loss of the young person and our support to his family. The dead youth and the tens of injured is the expected result of the absolute commercialisation of Greek sport and the conversion of stadiums in fields of reactionary ideas, hate and violent acts.?

Greece suspends team matches for two weeks - 30/03/2007

Source : Reuters

Greece on Friday suspended all team sports matches for 15 days following the death of a fan during clashes between rival hooligans late on Thursday.

"All team sports matches are suspended for 15 days," government spokesman Theodore Roussopoulos told reporters following a cabinet meeting chaired by the prime minister.

Fans clashed in an eastern Athens suburb ahead of a women's volleyball match between the country's biggest clubs Olympiakos and Panathinaikos.

One fan was stabbed to death and run over by a car, at least six people were injured, one of whom was in critical condition and police made 13 arrests.

Roussopoulos said matches would resume after April 13.

He said fans convicted for violence during clashes in future would not have the right to a suspended sentence but will face jail terms.

Serb, Croat water polo fans get fiery - 30/03/2007

Source : AAP

At least five fans were ejected from the men's water polo semi-final between bitter foes Croatia and Serbia at the FINA world championships in Melbourne.

In a match played amid heavy security, Croatia stunned the reigning world champions and gold medal favourites Serbia 10-7 to book a spot in Sunday's final.

An estimated 100 police were on hand inside and outside the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in an attempt to avoid a repeat of ethnic violence between the two sets of fans which broke out two months ago at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne.

One fan was ejected from the stands by police prior to the match commencing, while at least four more were escorted off the premises after a flare was set off inside the venue after the opening Croatian goal.

In January, more than 150 people were ejected from the tennis at Melbourne Park after Serbian and Croatian fans kicked and beat each other with flagpoles.

Scope to extend hooligans’ ban orders - 31/03/2007

Source : News & Star

CARLISLE football thugs could be subjected to extended banning orders of up to five years as the government clamps down on hooligans.

Fifteen Carlisle United fans have now been banned from grounds – and the government is warning it will get tougher.

Powers to apply for banning orders will be extended for the first time to the Crown Prosecution Service and British Transport Police.

And next week ticket touting laws will be extended to cover the sale of unauthorised match tickets on the internet. Offenders could face fines of up to £5,000.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: “Banning orders have transformed the behaviour of unruly football supporters.

“Arrests at home and abroad continue to fall and these new measures will help build on that progress.

“Over the weekend, 4,500 England fans travelled to Israel without any incidents or arrests. There is no complacency but the behaviour and reputation of the fans has improved dramatically over recent years.

“In light of recent football problems in Italy and elsewhere, the Home Office and police are working closely with their counterparts around Europe and with UEFA.

“Our banning order strategy is based on partnerships with supporter groups and the police. This model is now being replicated around the globe.”

Two of the 15 Carlisle United fans placed on banning orders received them last year.

Banning orders prevent known troublemakers from attending domestic matches and travelling to overseas matches.

The new measures are being introduced as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act.

The Home Office said arrests for violent disorder in connection with domestic and international football matches have fallen by 32 per cent in each of the last two seasons.

HOOLIGAN ARRESTS - 31/03/2007

Source : Glasgow Daily Record + The Herald

FANS from across Scotland, Ireland and England have been rounded up in a major crackdown on football hooligans.

Police yesterday said 24 supporters had been arrested following a pub car park riot after Celtic beat Aberdeen at Pittodrie last month.

If convicted, they could be banned for life from attending their sides' matches.

Thirty men were detained in a joint Grampian and Strathclyde Police operation after fighting broke out at the Gordon Hotel in Aberdeen.

Of those, 14 Aberdeen and 10 Celtic fans were charged.

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24 charged after football fans’ mass battle

Police have charged 24 hooligans after a mass battle between scores of rival football fans in a pub car park.

The men were tracked down by detectives after a major confrontation between Aberdeen and Celtic casuals six weeks ago.

Several people were hurt, although none seriously, as up to 60 supporters clashed outside the Gordon Hotel on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Some of the men charged had come from as far away as Dublin and England but police do not believe the fight was arranged in advance over the internet.

Fourteen of the men charged purported to support Aberdeen. The other 10 claimed to follow Celtic. Another six men were detained and interviewed but have not yet been charged as part of a huge operation involving police from Grampian and Strathclyde. Superintendent Adrian Watson of Grampian Police said: "This is yet again a clear illustration of how Scottish forces are working together to combat football hooliganism.

"My organisation is committed to dealing with all forms of antisocial behaviour and with the support of colleagues from Strathclyde Police we shall be reporting 24 men in connection with this particular incident to the procurator-fiscal. Enquires to trace others continue.

Chief Superintendent Kenny Scott, a regular match commander at Celtic Park and one of Europe's leading authorities on football-related violence, said: "Where appropriate, police will seek football banning orders in respect of any individual found guilty of offences. This will ensure their exclusion from football matches in the future."

The fight broke out after the kick-off between Aberdeen and Celtic on February 17. All will now appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on citation.

Odra Wodzislaw - GKS Belchatow - 01/04/2007

Source: forum kibice

Widzew Lodz - Gornik Zabrze - 31/03/2007

Source: Widzew websites

Riots in Sweden: AIK Stockholm vs Djurgarden IF supporters - 31/03/2007

Source: Aftonbladet

It kicked off on at least two occasions in Stockholm. batter.gif
about 200 lads involved ,the fight started near Aik ground and continued in citycenter.

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Four injured after hooligans clash

Violent fighting broke out in Stockholm and Solna on Saturday evening between rival sets of football fans.

At least four people were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries.

Almost 100 police officers were needed to keep the factions apart.

The fighting began early in the evening when around 100 fans each from AIK and Djurgården met at Rålambshovsparken for what appears to have been an orchestrated confrontation.

At that point police managed to nip the battle in the bud. A bus was brought in to remove around 50 supporters from the flashpoint.

But later in the evening the groups of hooligans clashed for a second time in Solna. This time the battle raged for some time before police were able to put a stop to the fighting.

By then at least four people were left needing treatment.

"One appears to be seriously injured," said police spokesman Kurt-Erik Hansson.

By 1am calm had been restored. Again a bus was required to transport 24 supporters out of the area.

Three people were taken into custody for drunkenness but there were no arrests in connection with the actual fighting.

AEL Limassol FC - AC Omonia - 11/03/2007

Source : Cyprus mail

Hooliganism: enough excuses, we need action

TEN DAYS AGO, after an evening volley-ball match in Paphos, hooligans decided to have some fun by throwing rocks from a motorway bridge at buses taking the visiting fans back home to the Famagusta district. Such was the size of one of the rocks that it smashed a bus windscreen and hit the bus driver, who passed out. Thankfully, a quick-witted passenger jumped into the driver’s seat and took control of the bus, eventually bringing it to a halt. If it had not been for him, the bus would have crashed and people could have been killed.

One day, people will be killed as a result of the actions of hooligans if the authorities continue to ignore the problem, pretending that meaningless verbal condemnations will make it go away. Hooliganism has existed for years – it is not restricted to football as the Paphos assault showed – and is progressively becoming a bigger threat to our society as a result of the abject failure of the authorities to deal with it. Every time there are violent incidents, we hear the clubs, police and politicians condemning the violence and promises of drastic action being taken against the perpetrators. But nothing is ever done.

Twenty-four hours after the Paphos incident, violence erupted in Limassol after the end of the Ael-Omonia match. Some 200 of the home side’s supporters left the stadium and begun throwing rocks, sticks and Molotov cocktails at the police – they could not attack rival fans as they had been kept inside the stadium for security reasons by police – injuring three officers and damaging cars; tear-gas was used to restore order. Residents of the area surrounding the Tsirion stadium, understandably, fear for their lives every time there is a match, but nothing has ever been done to protect them and their property.
Saturday night was the third time this season there had been violence outside the Limassol stadium. The violence was condemned each and every time, but had any action been taken to protect the residents? None whatsoever.

We have heard many proposals over the years for combating hooliganism, but these remain in the realm of theory. There has been talk of banning hooligans from stadiums, making them report to a police station during match-time, using identity cards for fans, using CCTV outside stadiums, but none of these measures has ever been implemented. It has also been reported that the police were being advised over what action to take by British police, who have vast experience in successfully dealing with football hooliganism. Apart from improving crowd control measures during matches, little else seems to have been achieved by the police.

This is not the fault of the police, but of the clubs which are the main obstacle to tackling the hooligan problem, because they take the immature and short-sighted view that they must always back their supporters, including the troublemakers. It is the clubs that have been preventing tough measures being taken by not co-operating fully with the police. The punishments imposed by the sporting disciplinary committees (controlled by the clubs) on clubs whose fans have caused trouble are ridiculously lenient and in no way act as a deterrent. Club chairmen seem to think that their responsibility in fighting hooliganism ends with routine verbal condemnations of crowd trouble
The fact is that without the full, practical co-operation and support of the clubs, the police can never win the battle against the hooligans. Clubs could be forced to co-operate if they were made to pay a high price for refusing to do so. When a match requires 100 or more officers to police it because of the risk of crowd trouble, the home club should be made to pay the police bill. Why must the taxpayer foot the bill for hooliganism, when the clubs are not prepared to do anything about it? Ael, whose fans have repeatedly gone on the rampage in the neighbourhoods surrounding the Tsirion stadium, causing damage to property and endangering lives, should be served with a prohibitive police bill every time they have a home game, so there is an adequate police presence, to protect the residents of the area. And if the club refused to pay, the match would have to be postponed because there would be no police to ensure law and order. Alternatively, they could be forced to play home matches behind closed doors for a season. That would make them take a more responsible stands towards their hooligans.

It is high time the clubs were made to suffer consequences that hurt for the rise in hooliganism. It is the only way to force the irresponsible officials who run the clubs to co-operate with the police and abandon their disgracefully ambiguous attitude towards crowd violence, which they often excuse, by claiming it was provoked by bad refereeing. Must there be fatalities before club officials understand that their support and co-operation is essential if the police is to defeat the hooligans?

Cyprus: Problem of hooliganism plagues authorities - 31/03/2007

Source : Cyprus Mail

THE PROBLEM of hooliganism on the island is a long-standing one, with the director of the police department in charge of combating the phenomenon calling for more resources to tackle the issue.

Almost every weekend, fans clash with police and there is violence either on or off the pitch, with police and sports authorities often left powerless.

Over the last few years, hundreds of people have been arrested and charged by police in connection with sports-related offences.

The clubs are laying the blame on the police and are seemingly content to rake in earnings from ticket sales and television rights, while the force wants courts to impose stricter sentences.

However, all seem to agree that the biggest sticking point in bringing the game out of disrepute stems mostly from the House Legal Affairs Committee.

The debate in parliament with regards to a bill dealing with the problem has been going on for years and everybody is keen to see one passed.

The Cyprus Football Association has said the aim is to have the bill ready and approved so it can be implemented before the start of the next season.

The problem is not just restricted to football though. Over the past fortnight, youths stoned a bus carrying volleyball fans back from Paphos, critically injuring the driver, while fierce fighting involving Molotov cocktails followed the AEL-Omonia match.

So, what can be done? Michalis Erodotou is the Head of the National Football Information Point and he explained that police personnel attend EU hooliganism seminars every year, as well as high-level matches across the continent, to see how they are policed. Advice is taken from authorities in countries such as England and Germany, which have traditionally suffered from hooliganism.

“In Cyprus, the problem is unfortunately very severe and more needs to be done to stop it,” he said.

“There are currently only two CCTV systems, at the GSP and Antonis Papadopoulos stadiums, and we desperately need to install more.”

He also said that a new ticketing system to control the number of tickets issued and how they are bought is required.

To add to the difficulties, there are no specialised stewards at grounds, with the police having to undertake all tasks required, something they are struggling to do with limited numbers.
“If we have a crowd of 20,000 people, we would like to see at least 200 designated stewards,” Erodotou said.

Psychologist and sociologist Antonis Raftis said that hooliganism is a universal problem, with many people behaving ‘normally’ when not at sporting events.

“When they get together at football or basketball matches, for example, they all have one thing in common, their team, and it is easy for them to express their frustrations when they are in groups rather than individually.”

He added that many people follow a select few ringleaders, “who spread the virus of violence. Emotions run high, there is lots of aggressive chanting and people simply get carried away.”

Last week, Sovereign Base Authority (SBA) Police delivered a strong anti-violence message to the community, with a school congress held at the Trachoni Gymnasium in the village.
Many of those invited were aged between 14 and 15, all of who are involved in athletics either as players or supporters.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education, as well as parents, teachers, police and many other agencies attended, with suggestions made on how to stamp out violence in sport.

Bases spokesman Captain Crispin Coates said the campaign is a way of introducing people to the concept of standing up to violence, “not just at sporting events but also in the home and workplace”.


Etymology of a fan

THERE IS some confusion as to the origin of the word fan. Paul Dickson, in his New Dickson Baseball Dictionary cites William Henry Nugent’s work that traces it to fancy, a 19th century term from England that referred mainly to followers of boxing.

It was originally shortened to fance then just to fan. The word emerged as an Americanism around 1889. Many assume that it’s a shortened version of the word fanatic, and the word did first become popular in reference to an enthusiastic follower of a baseball team. (Fanatic itself, introduced into English around 1525, means “insane person”. It comes from the Modern Latin fanaticus, meaning “insanely but divinely inspired.”)

The first use of the term hooligan is unknown, but it appeared in an 1898 London police report. One theory is that the word came from the name of an Irish hoodlum named Patrick Hooligan. Another theory is that it came from a street gang in Islington named Hooley.

Mob attacks car carrying China coach - 19/03/2007

Source : Reuters

Police in southeastern China broke up an angry mob of fans that smashed and spat on a car carrying national coach Zhu Guanghu, local media reported on Monday.

Zhu, who attended a Chinese Super League match between home side Xiamen Lanshi and Tianjin Taida on Sunday, was accosted by 'over-excited' fans as he left the stadium with former referee and friend, Chen Guoqiang, the Beijing Evening News said.

'The two got in their car at once, but a fan started smashing it and broke part of its bumper bar,' the paper said.

Other people surrounded and smashed the car, before dragging Chen out of the driver's seat and kicking him.

'Although Zhu was not pulled out, a few furious fans spat at the car door and window,' the paper added.

Local newspapers showed pictures of policemen next to a white sedan encircled by dozens of people.

Zhu, who took the helm after China failed to qualify for last year's World Cup finals, has endured repeated calls for his dismissal by fans and media irked by the national side's slide down the world rankings.

Rangers may ban travelling fans in Europe - 21/03/2007

Source : Reuters

Rangers could stop their own fans from attending away legs of European ties amid the fall-out from their UEFA Cup clash against Osasuna in Spain.

The idea was mooted at a meeting between club officials and the Rangers Supporters Assembly last night.

Some fans expressed concerned at the plan but the two groups will meet again next week for further talks.

UEFA say it is 'very likely' their control and disciplinary body will launch an official investigation into the tie, which saw visiting fans clash with police.

The Gers could also face sanctions after UEFA revealed they were 'fully aware' of internet footage which appeared to show fans singing sectarian songs after the game.

The Glasgow club complained about 'heavy-handed policing' as Rangers crashed out of Europe with a 1-0 defeat in the away leg of the UEFA Cup last-16 clash a week ago.

A joint statement from the club and assembly read: 'Fan safety, segregation, policing, crowd control and sectarian singing were discussed by the group at length.

'There was unanimous condemnation of policing and segregation arrangements at the match despite assurances given to Rangers and UEFA.

'It was agreed that the club will pursue the interests of supporters in the strongest possible terms with UEFA.

'The meeting also discussed sectarian behaviour at Osasuna and the club and the assembly agreed to continue to work together to eradicate all forms of sectarian behaviour amongst Rangers fans.

'In view of dissatisfaction over various aspects of the Osasuna match, a number of options were discussed in regard to ticket allocations for European matches next season.

'A number of options were raised including Rangers not taking tickets for away European ties next season but supporters' representatives were concerned about the implications of this measure.'

Any investigation into the game by UEFA's highest court would be heard at the end of the month or the start of April.

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 officially complained to UEFA about the lack of segregation and standard of policing at the El Sadar stadium.

Rangers received 1,400 tickets for the game but many more visiting fans gained access to the ground.

The footage of alleged sectarian singing emerged less than a year after UEFA fined Rangers about £13,000 for discriminatory chanting in a Champions League tie against Villarreal.

Taylor urges Rangers' fans to police chanting - 26/03/2007

Source : Reuters

David Taylor insists 'self-policing' among supporters is the key to Rangers banishing sectarian chanting.

Taylor leaves his post as the Scottish Football Association's chief executive this week and will become UEFA's new general secretary.

Rangers could be subject to disciplinary procedures from UEFA shortly, after fans were heard to chant discriminatory songs during the recent European match at Osasuna.

The UEFA Cup tie in Pamplona was marred by trouble in the stands, with Rangers supporters claiming they had been subjected to heavy-handed police action.

UEFA are looking into those claims but are also aware of the songs coming from the Rangers section.

The Ibrox club were also fined last year following incidents of sectarian chanting during their Champions League tie against Villarreal, and Taylor told The Sun: 'You have to keep fighting this head-on and the Rangers fans must recognise it's not acceptable.

'Supporters must stamp it out, that's the promised land of self-policing. People should be unhappy to hear these songs being blasted into their ears.

'If Rangers can get to that point they will know that they have cracked it.'

Argentine hooligan leader turns himself in - 29/03/2007

Source : Reuters

Argentina's most notorious soccer hooligan turned himself in on Thursday after three weeks on the run from a four-year sentence for crimes related to a 1999 stadium battle.

Rafael Di Zeo, leader of the La Doce (The 12th Man) fans of Boca Juniors, turned himself in at the Federal Police Investigations Superintendency in Buenos Aires, a judicial source told Reuters.

Dozens of Boca fans gathered outside the police building to cheer Di Zeo, who will be transferred to a high security prison to serve his sentence for a weapons-related crime.

The conviction stems from a clash between La Doce and fans of Chacarita Juniors during a training match in 1999 in the Bombonera stadium.

The sentences against Di Zeo and five other La Doce members - all but one has turned himself in - are seen as a test for a justice system trying to crack down on a wave of stadium violence.

Argentine judges hand down preliminary convictions and the convicted criminal is often freed until a higher court confirms the sentence.

After a superior court upheld the La Doce sentences early in March the six men went into hiding while their lawyers tried unsuccessfully to appeal.

Di Zeo, 45, took over La Doce's leadership from Jose Barrita, who was found guilty of the 1994 murder of two fans of River Plate, Boca's bitter rivals.

White-haired Di Zeo is a well-known figure in Argentina. News of his conviction and subsequent disappearance have hung over the soccer season and landed him on newspaper front pages.

Only weeks ago, he posed on a magazine cover alongside a fancy sports utility vehicle and a bikini-clad woman.

During matches, television cameras often focus on his group in the stands, and when he and the other convicted members of the group went underground, cameras focused on the empty spot kept there for them.

Di Zeo, a Buenos Aires municipal employee, had boasted in the past that justice could not catch up with him because he had the phone numbers of the most powerful people in the country.

He also boasted of teaching hooligans in other Latin American countries how to organize.

Many organized hooligan groups in Argentina make money from extortion, threatening clubs with violence or mayhem unless they get kickbacks.

United fans face 90 minutes of waiting in Rome - 30/03/2007

Source : Reuters

Manchester United fans have been warned they will be kept behind in the Olympic Stadium for 90 minutes after the end of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final with Roma.

Although United have expressed reservations about the move, local police believe it is necessary to prevent trouble between the two sets of supporters.

Mindful such a lengthy wait could cause problems amongst their own 4,000-strong travelling contingent, United plan to show club videos on big screens inside the stadium once the home fans have departed.

Supporters have been warned of the delay in a letter from United with has been sent out with match tickets.

The club have also passed on more specific information warning of the dangers of travelling independently to the stadium, advising that supporters of other English teams have experienced major safety problems due to the violent behaviour of the local 'ultras'.

According to the letter, of particular danger are the metro trains to the Piazza Flaminio, the Ponte Nenni bridge and also the Campo de Fiori.

The game is the first involving a British team in Italy since Serie A was suspended following the death of a policeman following the Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo in February.

Greece suspends all team matches until April 13 after fan's death - 31/03/2007

Source: ANA-MNA

ATHENS -- Greece has suspended all team matches until April 13, following the death of a fan in a pre-arranged battle between rival club supporters. The decision was announced on Friday, following an urgent meeting between Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the three ministers directly responsible for sports and law enforcement, Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras, Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras and Deputy Sports Minister George Orfanos.

As 13 fans arrested during the incident went up before a public prosecutor, meanwhile, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stressed that current laws did not allow suspended sentences or fines for those convicted of sports-related violence and that they would go straight to jail.

The spokesman also announced the formation of a special committee, which would include the three ministers, to monitor that laws were strictly carried out and said that Orfanos would call a meeting with all professional sports clubs and bodies during Easter week to discuss action against hooliganism.

Roussopoulos underlined that authorities would take pains to track down hooligans and hold specific individuals responsible for violence, ensuring that all stadiums had cameras installed and that tickets were issued electronically by name, so that those attending games could be identified.

The clash involving some 500 hooligans occurred on Thursday evening ahead of a women's first-division volleyball match between Greece's two largest clubs, arch-rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos. According to police reports, there is strong evidence that it was arranged in advance and that the match itself was just a pretext. The two groups engaged in a 20-minute battle in the eastern suburb of Paiania, during which a young man in his early 20s was killed and several others, including passers-by not directly involved in the fighting, were seriously injured. Police intervened, detaining 18 people and arresting 13, who were charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm.

According to the coroner's report, the slain Panathinaikos supporter was killed by severe blows to the head with a blunt instrument, such as a club, but also suffered multiple stab wounds from two knives and had been kicked while lying on the ground. The victim had not, however, been run down by a car as suspected earlier.

While investigating the incident, police raided the offices of 11 Panathinaikos and Olympiakos fan associations around Athens, recovering items such as clubs, crowbars, chains, flares and a quantity of hashish.

Among those arrested and sent before a public prosecutor was the driver of the car seen ploughing through a crowd of battling fans, who was originally suspected of running over the slain youth. Police said the car had actually run down an Olympiakos supporter who is now being treated in KAT hospital.

According to the driver, he was trapped in his car in a line that had formed because of the battle on Lavrio Avenue and was attacked by Olympiakos supporters who realised that he and the three passengers in his cars were Panathinaikos supporters headed for the women's volleyball match at the Paiania Sports Centre.

When they began to damage his car, the driver swung into the opposite lane in an attempt to escape them and accelerated, so that he ran over one of the young Olympiakos supporters.

A 14th man - the head of a fan association in Peristeri - was also placed under arrest and led before a public prosecutor on Saturday after he turned himself in. Police had been looking for him after finding a number of suspect items at the fan association's offices during Friday's raids.

Following a meeting at police headquarters on Friday, investigating officers said they had no firm evidence that the arrival of Panathinaikos supporters on the scene had been organised in advance but it was clear that Olympiakos supporters had orchestrated their arrival in large numbers.

They were seen leaving Karaiskaki stadium, the Olympiakos home ground, on 150 motorbikes headed for Paiania, while another 50 motorbikes joined the group at the Kallimarmaron (Panathenian) stadium in central Athens.

FV Dresden-Nord - Chemnizter FC - 31/03/2007

Source : tagesschau.de

Riots erupted in Dresden train station, opposing Chemnitz fans to police forces.
Several people were injured and others arrested.
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Source: Dresdner Morgenpost



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Source: ns-boys.de

Zenit St Petersburg - Spartak Moscow - 31/03/2007

Source : Radikal.ru

PSG b - Red Star'93 - 04/03/2007

Source: L'Equipe

The 4th french division game was stopped 7 minutes into the match, when 30 PSG hooligans attacked the suburban parisian fans from RED STAR’93. Some of the RED STAR fans were beaten up and 3 of them were injured. PSG hooligans stole the RED STARS’ flags. Police forces weren’t present inside the stadium. No arrestations were made. Politics seems to be at the origin of the conflict, in fact RED STAR fans are left-wing.

LYON - BORDEAUX – French League Cup final - 31/03/2007

Source : Football365

Clashes errupted at the end of the game in Lyon, on the Bellecour place, provoked by angry fans.

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Source : Mail

150/200 Lyon lads were present but Bordeaux fans were very discreet. A massive police force prevented any fights.

Video :

https://www.dailymotion.com/bookmarks/pscrew/video/x1ojrk_lyon-bordeaux-finale-stade-france-2

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Source : Le Parisien

About 50 PSG lads caused havoc in Paris, Saturday night after they watched the final on a big screen in a Pub. Clashes errupted after the police force wanted to control their identities. One policeman’s car was damaged. 12 supporters were arrested.

Violence in Argentina - 13/03/2007

Source: http://www.diario-ole.com.ar

The Argentina Football Association gave 3 points of penality to the teams from Newell's Old Boys and Ascenso due to the fact their supporters caused troubles.
Newell's fans caused troubles during a game against River Plate.
This season, both teams Almirante Brown and Midland received the same sentence.