Season 05/06 - July

RC Lens - Lech Poznan - Intertoto Cup - 03/07/05

Source: mail

About 200 Lech fans for this Intertoto game. About 50 of them were hooligans from the youth firm called Young Freaks.
Old ones weren't presnt.
Before the game, no locals were seen.
At the beginning of 2nd half, locals exposed a banner against their Lille arch-rivals as they'll play in the Lens stadium for european games.
Security made an intervention and 2 locals went on the pitch.
Shortly after, scuffles erupted between locals and stewards.

Riot halts Boca match, Olimpo celebrate despite 5-0 loss - 03/07/05

Source:Reuters

Rioting fans forced the Almagro-Boca Juniors match to postponed on Sunday while Estudiantes and Rosario Central played out a controversial 1-1 draw which qualified both teams for the Libertadores Cup.
The last day of the Clausura championship, where Velez Sarsfield clinched the title last week, also produced bizarre scenes at Lanus as visiting Olimpo celebrated on the pitch despite losing 5-0.
Although they lost, Olimpo stayed in the first division after fellow strugglers Argentinos Juniors lost 2-1 at home to Banfield.
Almagro, already relegated, were leading Boca 3-2 in the 65th minute when their supporters began climbing the fences around the field and threatened a pitch invasion.
When Boca supporters did the same, the referee called the match off.
Three weeks ago, Boca's Libertadores Cup quarter-final second leg tie at home to Guadalajara was also abandoned by a crowd riot.
Estudiantes and Lanus took Argentina's third and fourth places in next year's Libertadores Cup after a 1-1 draw described as "suggestive" on La Nacion's website and "horrible" by another newspaper, Clarin.

Maribor - Red Star Beograd - Friendly game - 03/07/05

Source: SIOL.net

Sigma Olomouc - Pogon Szczecin - Intertoto cup - 03/07/05

Source: mail

Riots occured, opposing 300 polish fans (about 80 from Legia Warszaw) to 90 police forces membres.
Four policemen were transfered at hospital.

NK Maribor - Hajduk Split - 08/07/05

Source: torcida.org

Torpedo Mosvow - Lokomotiv Moscow - 09/07/05

Source: http:///www.rus-hool.narod.ru

The fight between Torpedo and Lokomotiv hooligans began on the station Chistye rudy. After the good, strong fight respectable opponents (Lokomotiv) found out a few lads lying unconscious and as much again lads with very badly hurt faces. Lokomotiv hooligans began to scream "ENOUGH", pull their own back to avoid severe injuries! When police stirred to action! Result: Lokomotiv lads surrender and met an understanding. No arrests! Respect to the participants: no scum, no firecrackers! Staff: young Torpedo lads (the CSF), which went to Sokolniki in number of 21 people; Lokomotiv staff: young Vikings + a few people from hardcore...

AFC Telford United - West Bromwich Albion - 09/07/2005

Source : BBC News

Fans turn pub into 'battleground'

The landlord of a Shropshire pub has said it was left looking like a "battleground" after rival football fans clashed at the weekend.

Fighting broke out between about 40 fans in the Buck's Head pub, Wellington before AFC Telford United played West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Landlord Norman Hodson said his furniture was used as weapons and women and children had to run to safety.

Mr Hodson said the incident was "like something out of a Wild West film".

West Mercia Police said there were a number of arrests in Wellington town centre at about 1130 BST on Saturday - half an hour kick-off.

Torpedo Vladimir - CSKA Moscow - Cup - 13/07/05

Source: post

Karlsruhe SC - VFB Stuttgart - Friendly game - 12/07/05

Source: LostBoys website

FC Utrecht - RSC Anderlecht - Friendly game - 16/07/05

Source: mail - Anderlecht lad view

12am this 16th July and we left Brussels to the Netherlands by cars with about 50-60 BCS'ers...after several stops we arrived in B., a small town 15 kilometers far away from Woerden (when the game was played). There, about 15-20 Ajax friends waited us by about the same number of our pals.
We exchanged several phonecalls with Utrecht lads who said they could come to B. We enjoyed this but in fact, it only was rumours...Other phonecalls, and we made a new off in front of the Woerden station; so we took the road with about 90-100 lads.
There, police forces are present but without any pressure.
So, we saw about 15-20 lads which provoked us...we charged...some punches were exchanged....Some Utrecht lied on the floot and the others ran away (they were outnumbered). We continued our way as we thought these guys were the first line and thinking the others were some meters far away...but it wasn't the case.
Finally, 2 Utrecht at hospital (it seem one on coma)/
After this scuffle, we were well up for it but OB surrounded us beside a bridge. A few skirmishes erupted with them but itwas too late.
Two of our pals were injured.
Two hours after that, we were released, escorted back to Rotterdam. It must be noticed Utrecht lads tried to approach us...without any success.
It must be noticed that another BCS group (30odd came by coach from Aalst and Gent) arrived at the stadium and had a toe-to-toe with 50-60 Utrecht lads inside the team cantine. Chairs, tables were used. Some rumours also said some knive.
Last thing: belgan press said Feyenoord lads were them for attacking an Anderlecht player, Bar Goor. Of course, it was pure bollocks.

Finally: a great abroad game but we expected more with Utrecht mob.
We had a tidy firm (+-100) + our Ajax friends (15-20)

FC Sion - FC Luzern - 16/07/05

Source: Sinosupporters.ch

At the end of the gamen Luzern ultras tried to attack their rivals. They threw some missiles but police forces made an intervention before the local ultras' arriving, who charged Luzern fans.

Deported fans fight football ban - 19 july

Source : BBC NEWS

Eight England football fans deported from Portugal for rioting during Euro 2004 are fighting legal moves in the UK to have them banned from matches.

Kent firefighter Garry M***, 47, from Faversham, and John J******, 23, from Newcastle upon Tyne, are appealing against convictions in Portugal.
Mann's counsel told a court in Uxbridge his client was "simply not there" when the 200-strong riot took place.
The pair appeared in court with six others also fighting banning orders.
District Judge Stephen Day said he would hear evidence of why they claim their trial for public order offences in Albufeira was unfair.
But he said he was not prepared to have a re-hearing of the Portuguese case.
Also at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court were Peter B******, 38, from Thornaby, Teesside; David J******, 31, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire; Daniel M****, 21, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire; John P*****, 20, from Dudley, West Midlands; Ricky T*********, 22, from Cheshunt, Herts and Andrew W*******, 23, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
The Metropolitan Police is seeking orders banning them from all football fixtures.

Sent witnesses away

The court heard the men were tried at the same hearing in Portugal with one interpreter between them who was replaced in the middle of proceedings.
It was alleged the men were not told details of the charge against them.
Some sent their witnesses away after mistakenly believing they could choose to be deported or stand trial.
Mann's counsel, Anthony Metzer, said: "There was great concern as to how the defendants, the respondents in this case, were able to put their case."
Mr M***, a Birmingham City fan, is alleged to have hurled a bottle at a soldier and incited supporters against the police, the court heard.

European Court

But Mr Metzer said his client was not arrested until three hours after the riot.
M***, who was deported after being handed a two-year jail term in Portugal, will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if his appeal is unsuccessful, Judge Day was told.
The Met had argued it would not be right for the court to consider the facts of the Portuguese case.
"The court in Portugal is a competent court of jurisdiction," its counsel Andrew Waters argued.
The hearing, which is expected to last three more days, was adjourned until Tuesday.

London club set to call off Iran match over bombing avenge fears - 19 july

Source : AFP

English second division club Millwall are considering calling off a scheduled match with the Iranian national team because it was feared the game will be targeted by far right extremists.
There were reports Tuesday that far right extremists and football hooligans were acting jointly to attack Muslims and "avenge" the London bus and tube bombs.
Millwall club officials were preparing to cancel the fixture amid fears that Iranian fans may be attacked going to and from the club's London ground.
"All options are being considered. A statement will be issued later today," a Millwall club spokesman told AFP Tuesday.
The club was expecting up to 10,000 Iranian fans to watch the game. Iran is on a sporting high, having qualified for next year's World Cup.
Other fixtures, against another London side Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and Premiership side Portsmouth on August 6, will go ahead.
But the Millwall match was regarded as a higher risk.
Last year Millwall became the first club to be charged by the Football Association over racist behaviour by supporters. The governing body took the unprecedented action after it was claimed that a Liverpool player was subjected to monkey noises.
A 25,000 pound fine was imposed, along with a suspended order that Millwall's ground be closed to all spectators for one senior home match if there was a repetition.
"The club's concern is not about safety and security inside the stadium but rather that the occasion may be used as a vehicle for those holding extremist views to cause problems," a club source told The Guardian newspaper.
He added that the club had worked hard to shake off a notorious reputation and promoted initiatives such as Kick Racism out of Football.
Mark Devlin, the QPR chief executive, said the club had taken advice but felt the game could be played without risk inside or outside the ground.
"It will give communities the chance to come together and display a positive side rather than a negative one. We have monitored our internet chatroom and there doesn't seem to be a clamour among our fans for the game to be called off."
Tickets were also still on sale for the Portsmouth game.
A police source said they would have been able to cope with the Millwall fixture but added: "The timing couldn't really have been worse. We would not have said no but it would have been very difficult."
Scotland Yard has been monitoring internet chatrooms which show hooligans from a number of clubs making common cause. Postings advocate attacks on targets such as mosques.

Lille OSC - RSC Anderlecht - Friendly game- 23/07/05

Source: mails

Waiting for both reports, here is first news we received:

- a toe to toe erupted in Menin (Belgium), opposing Anderlecht lads to Bruges lads (Lille's friends);

- a group of 20/30 Bruges lads was escorted back to the Belgium border by police forces;

- a group of about 80 Anderlecht lads was arrested by the massive police forces presence in Villeneuve;

- Lille lads were about 50.
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Source: Lille lad view

About 100 top lads on Anderlecht side
About 80 on Lille side + 50 Bruges friends too
These last ones were spotted by cops 5 minutes before the off and they were send back to belgian border. Bad news for us.
Lille lads changed their plans to attack Belgians but were still up for it.
We had several contact with Belgians but views were different (different sources). These rumours said 'we know where your pub is situated. Don't move, we arrive', 'come to us near the museum as there's no cops' or 'don't come to the museum it's full of cops'.
So finally we said to them we waited them at our pub.
But in fact, the pre game winner was OB as Anderlecht lads were spotted by cops arriving to the pub.
During the game, just a few skirmishes erupted.
At the end of the game, about 30 locals waited in front of the belgian stand but when they arrived, we were totally outnumbered and after a few punches, we ran away.
Some rumours announced riots occured in Kortrijk, opposing Bruges lads to Anderlecht lads. But we have no confirmation of these events.

Hull City - Hearts of Midlothian - 23/07/2005

Source : Scottish website

Aarau: riots prior to the game - 23/07/2005

Source : ATS

About 100 fans from FC Zurich and St Gallen fought together saturday night at the Aarau train station. Two policemen were injured during these clashes. Some windows were smashed up.

Standard Liège - Juventus Turin - Friendly game - 23/07/05

Source: Le Parisien + mail

Some minutes before kick-off of this game, which ended the journey where was also played the game Udinese-PSG (in Geneva), some Standard fans charged PSG fans and pushed them back to the exit.
No real fight but a real hatred from Belgians who charged normal fans.
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Source: mail - Servette Geneva fan view:

....two games were played in Geneva during this journey but PSG fans and Standard fans were situated in the same terrace. Not a good idea of course...
On Udinese side, just some ultras with Curva Nord Udine t-shirts.
Some minutes before the end of the game, local stewards moved, joined by policemen , outside the stadium. We went out and saw minimum 20 Juve ultras with Legio+Drughi t-shirts. These were top lads.
At the end of the game, nothing special except a few arrests it seems.
Finally, a total of about 150-200 Juve fans were there.
On PSG side, just a few 'interesting' guys were there but normal fans sang against Standard fans (60-70 at this time with some old faces).
In fact everything started when young Ultras Inferno (Standard) charged PSG fans who stayed inside the stand.
Frenchies ran away and local stewards made an intervention.
That's all.

Celtic Glasgow - Leeds United - Friendly game - 23/07/05

Source: forums

About 70 Leeds top boys made the trip to Glasgow, joined by a few St Mirren lads.
They spotted in a pub. About half of the group was escorted to the ground and the 2nd half gace phone calls to locals saying they will arrive to their boozer but 10 minutes later, this mob was surrounded by OB.
Locals tried to shake off OB head to the pub without any chance of toe-to-toe. Leeds fans were sended back to Leeds.

Two charged over match violence - 20/07/2005

Source : BBC NEWS

Two more people have been charged with violent disorder over trouble in Brighton after a football match.

The two men, aged 37 and 39 from Brighton and Hove, bring the total number of men charged to 10.

It follows disturbances in the city after a game between Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United on 23 October.

During the incident the Pump House in Market Street was badly damaged. The 10 men are due to stand trial at Hove Crown Court on 19 September.

Man admits role in Euro pub riot - 20/07/2005

Source : BBC NEWS

A man involved in a riot in Norfolk last year after a Euro 2004 football match has admitted violent disorder.

Edwin F***, 23, of Thetford, was part of a mob which attacked a Portugese-run pub after England lost to Portugal. At Norwich Crown Court on Wednesday he pleaded guilty to violent disorder for his part in rioting and violence outside the Red Lion pub in Thetford.
He was released on bail to be sentenced at a later date. Six others admitted violent disorder at previous hearings.

The trial of nine others who deny the charge is due to begin on Thursday.

They are :
Daniel R***, 25, and Wayne W*******, 26, of Thetford;
William H*****, 19, and Steven R*******, 31, both of Diss;
Daniel M**, 20, of Roydon;
Danny R********, 18, of Shelfanger and Patrick H****, 40, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire,
and a youth and a girl, both aged 17.

Cyprus braces for landmark grudge match with Turkish club - 22/07/2005

Source : AFP

Cyprus unveiled a massive security operation and appealed for restraint from fans after league champions Anorthosis set up a first ever football clash with a Turkish side in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
An estimated 1,000 riot police and anti-terrorist units with sniffer dogs will form two security rings inside and outside the Nicosia venue for next Tuesday's home leg of the grudge draw with Turkey's Trabzonspor.
UEFA has categorised the tie "high risk" and an official from European football's governing body will review security arrangements on the eve of the game.
Anorthosis is supported by Greek Cypriots who were displaced from the eastern city of Famagusta by Turkey's 1974 invasion and plays "in exile" in the south coast resort of Larnaca.
Police said all fans would be searched on their way into the 23,000 capacity GSP stadium and banners and flags would be banned.
All Cyprus home ties have to be played in the Nicosia venue as it is the only one on the island that meets UEFA requirements.
The last time a Cyprus club drew a Turkish one in European competition was in 1986 when APOEL Nicosia earned a two-year ban after refusing to play Besiktas of Istanbul in Turkey in a European Cup qualifier.
Justice and Public Order Minister Doros Theodorou urged Greek Cypriot fans to rein in any nationalist hostility to Turkey for the game.
"This is a great opportunity to give the best possible impression of Cyprus and its people," he said.
"The match should be undertaken in the spirit of fair play and without nationalism."
Club officials said Trabzonspor had waived its right under UEFA rules to 1,200 tickets for away fans, so Anorthosis would not be taking any supporters to the return leg in Trabzon on Turkey's Black Sea coast on August 3.
"I urge the fans to behave, as all eyes will be on this game," club president Andreas Panteli told a news conference.
"Trabzonspor have told us they will not be bringing any fans and so we will not be taking any with us in the return leg."
But several thousand Turkish Cypriot fans are expected to cross the UN-patrolled Green Line that divides the island and support the Turkish club from seats in the home end.
The police operation will be as big as those mounted two years ago when Israeli club Maccabi Haifa was forced to play its home fixtures in the Champions League in neutral Nicosia following UEFA's ban on matches in Israel due to Middle East violence.
The politics of the Cyprus problem has ensured that Cyprus-Turkey sporting contact is rare.
There have been some meetings in volleyball, tennis and handball but on the football field it has been non-existent.
Even Trabzonspor's travel arrangements are fraught with difficulty, as Ankara bans all flights to and from the Greek Cypriot government-controlled south of the island.


Anorthossis Famagusta fans

Bristol City - Bristol Rovers - friendly game - 25/07/2005

Source : BBC NEWS

Police numbers stop match trouble
A heavy police presence at a derby match in Bristol has been credited with preventing trouble between rival fans.

A total of 17 arrests were made in the area around the Memorial Stadium before and after the friendly match between Bristol City and Bristol Rovers.
Fifteen of those were detained on suspicion of breach of the peace after claiming to be Rovers fans and trying to get into the ground without tickets.
Many bars and clubs nearby closed ahead of the match, which City won 1-0.
A police spokesman said: "It was generally very peaceful, we are pleased - there were no problems at all inside the stadium during the game.
"We have robustly policed the area and this has been justified by the safety inside the ground and also for those living and working around the ground."

Jailed hooligan signs up for club - 26/07/2005

Source : BBC NEWS

Welsh Premier football club Carmarthen Town has defended its decision to sign a convicted football hooligan.

Craig Hughes, 26, is currently serving a 33 month sentence at Prescoed open prison near Usk for violent disorder.
He was also banned from attending matches for eight years after trouble before a Cardiff City v West Ham United match in September 2003.
But Carmarthen Town vice chair Alun Williams has said everyone deserves a second chance.
Mr Williams said he hopes the striker's problems are behind him.
The club had hoped that Hughes would be given a 12 hour release permit to be allowed to play in their UEFA Cup tie against Irish team Longford Town later this week, but the prison authorities have refused to grant a licence.
"Even if he is unable to play with us on Thursday night we hope that he will be able to play in the coming season," said Mr Williams.
"I'm sure he will strengthen the side".
"I believe everyone deserves a second chance.
"We have all made mistakes in our past.
"We are a family club and I am sure we will make him happy and he will settle down with us."
Hughes, from Ynyshir in the Rhondda, was jailed for violent disorder at Cardiff Crown court in April last year and banned from attending football matches for eight years.
He was arrested after fighting between rival fans following the match between Cardiff City and West Ham.
The court heard that Hughes punched a West Ham fan near a city centre pub.

'Totally unacceptable'

Seven other fans were also sentenced at the time.
Five years ago, Hughes - who has also played as a striker for Barry Town and Cwmbran Town - was given an 18 month sentence for a clash with Millwall fans.
He also successfully challenged a previous ban on attending matches so he could play for Port Talbot.
Welsh Premier League Chairman Alun Evans said that finding a way back into football would be good for Hughes.
"He is a talented boy," he said. "He had junior international honours for Wales and really should have made a good professional career for himself.
"I think rehabilitation is far more important than penalisation of a player, beyond the normal penalty of going to prison."
Prison Reform Trust director Juliet Lyon said: "Anything that is going to ensure that people do have a good job and important work to do and really do become more responsible has got to be supported I think".
But the chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation Dr Malcolm Clarke said if Hughes was allowed back into the game it should be made conditional.
"Maybe it should it should be part of the conditions that he turns himself into a good role model rather that a bad one, by giving out a message that his previous behaviour he now recognises is totally unacceptable".


Craig Hughes will not be available for UEFA Cup clash this week

Hull City - Sunderland - 27/07/2005

Source : BBC NEWS

Nine held after football violence
Nine men and boys, aged between 13 and 23, were arrested when violence broke out after a pre-season friendly football match in Hull.

A fight broke out in the Walton Street car park near Hull's KC Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The nine, who are all from Hull, range in age from 13 to 23 and were held on suspicion of violent disorder.

Humberside Police said on Friday that after questioning them it had been decided to take no further action.

During the disturbance after the pre-season friendly, two men from Hull were slightly injured and a car belonging to a 19-year-old man from Gateshead man was damaged.

Four deny Euro football pub riot - 28/07/2005

Source : BBC NEWS

English fans hurled missiles at a Portuguese-run pub after a Euro 2004 football match, a court heard.

Some 40 customers were locked inside the pub in Norfolk after violence broke out following England's defeat to Portugal, Norwich Crown Court heard.
Up to 300 fans threw bricks, bottles and bits of paving slabs, jurors heard.
William H*****, 20, Daniel M**, 21, Stephen R*******, 32, and Danny R********, 19, all of Diss, Norfolk, deny violent disorder.

'Customers in fear'

Seven other men admitted violent disorder at previous hearings and are due to be sentenced at a later date.
On Thursday, Christopher Morgan, prosecuting, said England fans threw missiles at the Red Lion pub in Thetford on 24 June.
Customers inside the pub "felt threatened and feared for their own safety", he said.
Police were present as there had been an indication trouble might flare because Thetford has a large Portuguese community, said Mr Morgan.
He said that by 2230 BST a considerable amount of alcohol had been consumed and England had lost.
Fans from two other local pubs then joined the crowd at the Red Lion and began hurling missiles.
In a statement, the manager of the Red Lion told the court there was confusion and tears and that he remembered seeing blood and hearing screaming.
He said 37 windows were broken in the pub.

The trial continues.