Season 06/07 - December

Mayor in PSG threat - 06/12/2006

Source : Eurosport

Paris mayor Betrand Delanoe has threatened to stop funding Paris St Germain unless effective measures are taken to rid the capital club of hooliganism.

The death of a PSG fan following last month's 4-2 UEFA Cup defeat by Hapoel Tel Aviv has triggered a nationwide debate about how to free French soccer from violence and racism.

"I have suggested that the collective agreement between the city of Paris and PSG should be reinforced to include the club's new commitments (in terms of security)", Delanoe told Le Parisien in an interview.

"The payment of the subsidy would be tied to an effective implementation of those measures," he added.

PSG have pledged to take action to bar fans known to be violent from entering their Parc des Princes stadium.

The city of Paris pay 2.3 million euros ($3.06 million) a year to the club.

"The few hundreds of people identified by police (as being violent) have nothing to do at Parc des Princes and must be barred from entering the stadium," Delanoe said.

"The true PSG supporters... can no longer be taken hostage by a handful of neo-Nazis who flout the true values of sport," he added.

The lower section of the Boulogne Kop, an area of the Parc des Princes where PSG's most extreme fans traditionally assemble, has been closed on police orders until further notice.

A league match between PSG and Toulouse scheduled for last Sunday, which would have been the capital side's first home game since the incidents, has been postponed for security reasons.

A policeman shot dead 25-year-old Julien Quemener and injured another fan while under attack from supporters after the November 23 game.

Witnesses said the policeman opened fire on a mob of PSG fans who were chasing a Jewish supporter of Israeli team Hapoel outside Parc des Princes.

PSG have been tainted by hooliganism for years. Their next home game is against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Cup on December 13.

FC Dordrecht - Go Ahead Eagles - 01/12/2006

Source : Soccerway

A scuffle took place before the game, opposing rival fans.
Police forces, with dogs, made an intervention and arrested 5 people (2 locals and 3 from Deventer).

BFC Dynamo - SV Babelsberg - 02/12/2006

Source : Spiegel

About 15 BFC fans sang nazis slogans during the game.
Babelsberg didn't make the transfrer due to the local fans reputation.

1. FC Kleve - Union Solingen - 04/12/2006

Source : RP-online

Five Union fans were arrested during troubles between fans and police forces.

Ionikos - Iraklis - 09/12/2006

Source: Reuters

Ionikos face more disciplinary action after ref attack

Athens club Ionikos are likely to face disciplinary action after their home Super League match against Iraklis was abandoned on Saturday when a supporter attacked the assistant referee.

The incident occurred in the dying seconds of the game with the score tied at 2-2.

A scuffle between the players had just seen Iraklis's former Cameroon international Joel Epalle and Ionikos defender Giorgos Poulopoulos sent off deep into added time.

The fan then attacked the assistant referee who had to be rescued by riot police and taken to hospital in a neck brace.

National broadcaster ERT also reported that the police had to intervene after the game to break up a fight in the dressing rooms but did not give details.

It is the second time this season that Ionikos have faced disciplinary action.

They have been docked two points after club president Christos Kanellakis, now suspended, attacked a referee at Corfu airport.

In the other game played on Saturday, Panathinaikos needed a late winner to claim the points against Larissa and leapfrog AEK Athens into second place.

With Ezequiel Gonzalez playing his first game of the season after returning from injury, Panathinaikos found it hard to break down Larissa until Dimitris Salpigidis pounced in the 88th minute for his ninth goal of the season.

The 1-0 win gives Panathinaikos 31 points from 14 rounds, one ahead of AEK and two behind leaders Olympiakos Piraeus, who both play on Sunday.

RSC Charleroi - RC Genk - 08/12/2006

Source: mail

Prior to the game, three locals were arrested as they were part of a small mob (+-20) who stopped a Genk coach with the aim to have an off.

Austria Wien - Red Bull Salzburg - 09/12/2006

Source: mail

Feyenoord say sorry to French club - 09/12/2006

Source : CNN

Dutch club Feyenoord have apologized to French side Nancy for the behavior of a section of their fans who ran amok during last week's UEFA Cup tie between the two teams.

The match was interrupted after 79 minutes when tear gas drifted onto the pitch as French police tried to control Dutch fans in the stands.

Play eventually resumed and Nancy secured a 3-0 win in their Group E tie over the two-time UEFA Cup winners to advance to the round of 32.

"Club management, players and personnel would like to present their excuses to AS Nancy for the events which took place," Feyenoord said in a statement.

"We want to stress that the conduct of these elements is totally opposed to the values held by our club and supporters.

"The fact that these people are Dutch shames and dishonors us. Their conduct has been totally condemned in Rotterdam."

Feyenoord were fined 126,000 euros ($166,508) and received a suspended two-match closed doors ban by European football's ruling body UEFA for the incident.

The Dutch club will also have to reimburse Nancy for the damage caused at the Marcel Picot stadium.

Melbourne Victory FC - Sydney FC - 08/12/2006

Source : Herald Sun

Crowd violence mars record night

A RECORD-breaking night spilled into violence as soccer fans brawled and fired flares in the Telstra Dome.

Three people were arrested and police used capsicum spray to restrain hooligans after the A-League nil-all draw between Melbourne and Sydney on Friday night.

Sections of the 50,333-strong crowd, the biggest for a domestic soccer match in Australia, also had to be evacuated as smoke from a flare filled the northern stand of the arena.

Some were taken on to the Telstra Dome surface with several people suffering breathing difficulties.

Victoria Police spokesman Sen-Constable David Fitzpatrick said the brawl began inside Gate 7 after the match and spilled outside the ground. "Some spray was deployed, but there were no injuries to the people in the fight or police," he said.

The three men arrested were expected to be charged with assault-related offences.

Telstra Dome spokesman Haydn Lane said staff and police would view CCTV footage to identify troublemakers.

"But with more than 50,000 people and a draw, to have a couple of idiots fighting is not that much fuss," he said.

Belgian football club tackles racist chants - 09/12/206

Source : Xinhua

In an attempt to tackle racist chants by a small minority of its fans, Belgian first-division club Germinal Beerschot will make sure all its fans are permanently filmed during the match, VRT news reported Friday.

"We know where the small group can be situated," Herman Kesters of the club's management was quoted as saying.

"It's the same 50 hooligans who are causing us trouble time and again. Our message to them is clear: keep out of our stadium!"

"When an incident happens, we will be able to pass the footage on to the police, who will be able to identify the hooligans straightaway."

The club also announced other methods. When racist chants start, the stadium announcer will come into action.

"We will ask our real fans, who make up 99 percent of our home crowd, to start clapping their hands to drown out the racist chants," said Kesters.

He added that a broad platform is need to solve the problem.

"We should solve this problem together with the Belgian Football Association, the Profliga (the association of professional football teams in Belgium), the government and fan clubs."

Germinal Beerschot also wants to explain to its fans what the possible sanctions are in the case of racist chants. Before the game against champions Anderlecht on Jan. 28, leaflets will be distributed.

Earlier this year, Interior Minister Patrick Dewael announced that fines and punishments for hooligans will become heavier.

PSG game moved to Sunday for security reasons - 11/12/2006

Source : Reuters

Paris St Germain's first home league game since one of their fans was shot dead by a policeman has been moved from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon for security reasons.
The French Professional Football League (LFP) said on Monday that PSG's Ligue 1 match against Nice at Parc des Princes, initially scheduled for Saturday at 1900 GMT, will kick off on Sunday at 1600 GMT.
A policeman shot dead 25-year-old Julien Quemener and injured another fan while under attack from supporters after PSG's 4-2 UEFA Cup defeat by Hapoel Tel Aviv on Nov. 23.
Witnesses said the policeman opened fire on a mob of PSG fans who were chasing a Jewish supporter of Israeli team Hapoel outside Parc des Princes.
The fan's death triggered a nationwide debate about how to rid soccer of violence and racism in France.
PSG should have since hosted Toulouse in Ligue 1 but that game was postponed for security reasons. No new date has been set yet.
The Boulogne Kop, an area of the Parc des Princes where PSG's most extreme fans traditionally assemble, has been closed on police orders until further notice.
LFP said they had decided to move the game against Nice to Sunday after being asked to do so by police.
PSG, experiencing their worst start to a season, dropped to 15th in the 20-strong league after a 3-1 defeat at leaders Olympique Lyon on Sunday. The club have been troubled by hooliganism for years.

French league boss wants stadium bans, afternoon matches - 11/12/2006

Source : Reuters

"There are 300 to 400 hooligans considered dangerous by the police," Frederic Thiriez said in an interview released Monday on Le Figaro's web site.

The French Soccer League president asked Paris police to bar 300 fans considered violent from Paris Saint-Germain's UEFA Cup match Wednesday against Panathinaikos.

Stadium bans for hooligans and afternoon kickoffs would be the best ways to rid French soccer of violence, French Professional Football League (LFP) president Frederic Thiriez said.

The LFP said on Monday that PSG's Ligue 1 match against Nice at Parc des Princes, initially scheduled for Saturday at 1900 GMT, would kick off on Sunday at 1600 GMT.

A policeman shot dead 25-year-old Julien Quemener and injured another fan while under attack from supporters after PSG's 4-2 UEFA Cup defeat by Hapoel Tel Aviv on Nov. 23.

Witnesses said the policeman opened fire on a mob of PSG fans who were chasing a Jewish supporter from Israeli team Hapoel outside Parc des Princes.

The fan's death triggered a nationwide debate about how to free soccer from violence and racism in France.

"My feeling is that there are 300 to 400 hooligans (in Paris) who are regarded as dangerous by police," Thiriez said in an interview with Le Figaro posted on the French daily's Web site.

"If you had 300 who were banned from entering the stadium, the question of whether to close stands would become secondary.

"If you kick those 300 guys out, you will have peace. I've been saying it for two years. Now let's do it."

The Boulogne Kop, an area of the Parc des Princes where PSG's most extreme fans traditionally assemble, has been closed on police orders until further notice.

Since the Nov. 23 game, PSG should have hosted Toulouse in Ligue 1 but that game was postponed for security reasons. No new date has yet been set.

PSG's first home game since the fan's death is against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday. That match should go ahead as planned, Thiriez said.

Another way to fight hooliganism, Thiriez said, would be afternoon kickoffs instead of games starting at 2000 or 2100 local time.

"I've always been in favour of that," he said. "In the afternoon, you've got daylight, families and a more friendly atmosphere. We could do it from the 2008-2009 season in Ligue 1 and from 2007-2008 in Ligue 2."

LFP said they had moved the game against Nice to Sunday after being asked to do so by police.

Tight security as PSG return to Parc des Princes - 12/12/2006

Source : Reuters

Troubled Paris St Germain will be under tight scrutiny when they host Greek side Panathinaikos in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday in their first home match since one of their fans was killed by a policeman.

Exceptional security measures will be implemented around the Parc des Princes stadium and a UEFA delegate has been liaising with local police for days.

"It's not normally something we do for UEFA Cup matches but this match is special because of what happened a few weeks ago," said UEFA spokesman William Gaillard.

A policeman shot dead 25-year-old Julien Quemener and injured another fan while under attack from supporters after PSG's last home UEFA Cup match, a 4-2 defeat by Hapoel Tel Aviv on Nov. 23.

Witnesses said the policeman opened fire on a mob of PSG fans who were chasing a Jewish supporter from Israeli team Hapoel outside Parc des Princes.

A spokesman for the Paris police said exact figures about the security disposal for Wednesday's game would be released later on Tuesday.

"We have no particular reason to be worried because there are no problems between French and Greek fans," Gaillard said.

"We hope the tragedy will have calmed things down and helped some people realise what their behaviour can lead to."

The fan's death triggered a nationwide debate about how to free soccer from violence and racism in France.

PSG have not played a home game since. They should have hosted Toulouse in Ligue 1 but that match has been postponed for security reasons. No new date has been set yet.

Parc des Princes will not be full for a match PSG, experiencing their worst start to a season and lying a miserable 15th in Ligue 1, must win to qualify for the last 32.

The Boulogne Kop, the lower section of one of the stands where PSG's most extreme fans traditionally assemble, has been closed on police orders until further notice.

Scotland: Sectarian chanting by fans could cost their club points under new SFA proposal

source: scotsman.com

FOOTBALL clubs would be docked points for their fans' sectarian behaviour, under proposals due to be announced by the Scottish Football Association today.

David Taylor, chief executive of the SFA, is expected to unveil proposals for a campaign to stamp out sectarianism.

Teams could also be fined if fans are guilty of sectarian behaviour.

Mr Taylor, who is due to give a presentation at the Scottish Executive's second summit on the issue, said: "Sectarianism has been a stain on football for too long and perhaps in the past it has been tolerated and overlooked by many people in Scotland, the SFA included.

"With this report, and the help of the Executive, we want to erase that stain from the game.

"Legally, yes, it is a challenge and we have to have our constitution amended accordingly."

It is hoped the proposals could be implemented in time for the next football season. Last month, an Executive-funded report suggested that every footballer in the Scottish Premier League should be given anti-sectarian training.

In the report, Professor Bert Moorhouse, an expert in the sociology of football from Glasgow University, urged the SFA and players' union to offer training to players in an effort to eliminate actions which could fuel violence in the stands and streets.

At the time, SFA officials said supporters rather than players were at the root of sectarianism.

The report consulted fan representatives of 17 major Scottish clubs. Professor Moorhouse's consultation found that 16 of them considered sectarianism to be a "major problem" - the only exception being Rangers.

Rangers were earlier this year fined £13,300 by UEFA for "discriminatory chanting" in last season's Champions League matches against Villarreal.

Go Ahead Eagles - FC Zwolle - 10/12/2006

Source : de Stentor

LR Ahlen - Fortuna Düsseldorf - 09/12/2006

Source : Forum

Troubles started inside the stands, opposing Dusseldorf fans to police forces.
Six policemen were injured and 5 fans were arrested.





Vidéo : http://simpleupload.net/download/7326/MOV07868.MPG.html

2,000 police guard PSG stadium - 13/12/2006

Source : AP + Le Figaro

Some 2,000 police officers and 700 security staff will be on duty for the first match at Paris Saint-Germain's stadium since a fan was shot to death by a plainclothes policeman.

PSG hosts Panathinaikos at Parc des Princes in a UEFA Cup match on Wednesday. Amid fears of reprisals for the shooting, no tickets have been on sale for the past week.

"It is a risk match," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said Tuesday.

The 48,000-seat stadium is likely to be half full for the Group G game and sections of the Kop of Boulogne - where PSG's hooligans often gather - will be kept shut until at least January, police said.

On Nov. 23, PSG supporter Julien Quemener was shot and killed by police officer Antoine Granomort after a UEFA Cup match between PSG and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Granomort, who is black, was protecting a Jewish fan under attack from supporters shouting racist and anti-Semitic epithets.

"We know there are extremists who use football for another purpose," Gaillard said. "It distresses us that this is happening. It's the case across Europe, not just PSG."

Around 220 known PSG hooligans will be made to check in at police stations in Paris during the match, and UEFA has sent a security officer to liaise with French and Greek police - a measure which Gaillard said was taken only "when we feel there could be some problems."

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

2,000 police officers on duty for first game at PSG stadium after death of fan

Some 2,000 police officers and 700 security staff will be on duty for the first match at Paris Saint-Germain's stadium since a fan was shot to death by a plainclothes policeman.

PSG hosts Panathinaikos at Parc des Princes in a UEFA Cup match on Wednesday. Amid fears of reprisals for the shooting, no tickets have been on sale for the past week.

"It is a risk match," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard told The Associated Press by telephone on Tuesday.

The 48,000-seat stadium is likely to be half full for the Group G game and sections of the Kop of Boulogne — where PSG's hooligans often gather — will be kept shut until at least January, police said.

On Nov. 23, PSG supporter Julien Quemener was shot and killed by police officer Antoine Granomort after a UEFA Cup match between PSG and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Granomort, who is black, was protecting a Jewish fan under attack from supporters shouting racist and anti-Semitic epithets.

"We know there are extremists who use football for another purpose," Gaillard said. "It distresses us that this is happening. It's the case across Europe, not just PSG."

Around 220 known PSG hooligans will be made to check in at police stations in Paris during the match, and UEFA has sent a security officer to liaise with French and Greek police — a measure which Gaillard said was taken only "when we feel there could be some problems."

Both PSG and Panathinaikos have some violent fans but there is no history of trouble between the two clubs, and Panathinaikos hooligans are rarely involved in clashes outside of Greece.

Because of fears of renewed hooliganism, a Dec. 3 league match between PSG and Toulouse was postponed.

The shooting highlighted the problem of racism, violence and hooliganism among PSG fans, thrusting them firmly into the spotlight in France.

"We need to find a way to eradicate the problem of racism inside stadiums as quickly as possible," PSG forward Pauleta said. "It is not specific to PSG, but a problem throughout Europe."

A Web site run by PSG fans complained that Kop of Boulogne followers were being blamed by a "corrupt media" for what they called a crime committed by a police officer.

Gaillard said clubs should try harder to eradicate racists and thugs from stadiums.

"We have toughened up our sanctions, closed sections of grounds, issued fines," Gaillard said. "But we encourage clubs to take more action."

Police have said the shooting victim was a member of a group known as the Boulogne Boys, some of whom have links to PSG's violent far-right fan base known as The Independents, who gather in two sections of the Kop of Boulogne behind one of the goals.

Those two sections will remain closed for Sunday's French league match against Nice, and police said Tuesday that they will decide in January whether to prolong their closure.

Whites fans banned over derby stunt – 13/12/2006

Source : This Is Lancashire

TWO Bolton Wanderers fans involved in unfurling a club banner after being let into an enclosure among rival fans at a derby match have been banned from games for three years.
Magistrates heard that Blackburn Rovers supporters reacted angrily to the unfurling of the banner by a group of Bolton fans during the match at Blackburn in October.
Stewards and police had to protect them.
Ashley Glen Morris, aged 18, of Templecombe Drive, Sharples, and Paul Gatrick, aged 20, of Kirkhope Walk, Halliwell, both pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour when they appeared before Blackburn magistrates.
They were each given a conditional discharge for 18 months, banned from football matches for three years and ordered to pay £125 costs.
The court was told that they used a "Trojan Horse-style operation" to get among Blackburn supporters inside Ewood Park.
Neil White, prosecuting, said at least one of the Bolton fans, who had already been dealt with, had purchased a Rovers cap before buying tickets for the Riverside Stand. Shortly before the end of the game, which Wanderers won 1-0, the Bolton contingent left their seats and walked down to the concrete area in front of the stand, where the flag was unfurled.
It provoked a violent reaction from the Rovers supporters.
Richard Prew, representing Gatrick, said the person with the flag had not been arrested, and neither had any of the Blackburn fans.
Neither of the defendants opposed the imposition of a football banning order.

Soccer fans surround police as bail arrest made – 13/12/2006

Source : blackpooltoday

TWO police officers were surrounded by up to 40 chanting football fans while trying to arrest a man in a Blackpool pub.
Mark Nicholson was seen in the doorway of the George pub after the Blackpool v Swansea clash on Saturday.
But as he struggled violently against the two officers, he asked the crowd in the Dickson Road pub to help free him, a court heard.
The crowd gathered round the officers in a horseshoe shape and one officer was assaulted, before he pushed his panic button and reinforcements arrived.
Nicholson, 22, of Church Street, Blackpool, denied breaching his bail, but was found guilty of the offence after a trial.
Blackpool magistrates refused to rebail him and remanded him in custody to December 18.
Dana Gledhill, prosecuting, said the defendant had been bailed on the condition he did not enter licensed premises.
On Saturday, police received a report Nicholson was among Blackpool soccer supporters in the resort's George pub, after the Blackpool match.
As soon as the two officers entered the pub 30 to 40 Blackpool supporters started anti-police chants. Nicholson was spotted in the doorway of a fire exit at the pub.
As the officers took hold of Nicholson's arms he struggled violently, asking the crowd to help free him.
John McLaren, defending, said his client denied being inside the pub. Nicholson said he was in the doorway.
The defence said: "He is asking for bail. His mother is dying and it is said she is going to die before Christmas."

FEYENOORD GET ANOTHER UEFA FINE - 13/12/2006

Source : Sportinglife

Feyenoord have been hit with their second fine from UEFA in the space of a week, this time for an incident in which a fan threw beer at a Blackburn Rovers player.
The Rotterdam outfit received a 12,000 euro (£8,100) penalty after Blackburn midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen was hit by a plastic cup thrown by Feyenoord fans - who also let off fireworks - during their UEFA Cup tie last month.
Last week, the club were fined 125,000 euros (£85,000) as punishment for the riots in Nancy before they UEFA Cup match on November 30.
They were also told they may have to play two European games behind closed doors if their fans are involved in further incidents.
Feyenoord have three days to appeal the latest fine.

UEFA to appeal over Feyenoord fine - 14/12/2006

Source: Teamtalk

UEFA is set to appeal against the punishment meted out to Feyenoord after crowd trouble marred their UEFA Cup encounter with Nancy last month.Play was suspended for 35 minutes during the Group E clash at the Stade Marcel Picot on November 30 - which Nancy eventually won 3-0 - after police deployed tear gas to control a section of the away support.

The Rotterdam club were hit with an £85,000 fine and told they may have to play two European games behind closed doors if their fans are involved in further incidents within the next three years.

However, UEFA's chief prosecutor is seeking to increase that punishment after announcing plans to appeal the original decision of the organisation's Control and Disciplinary Body.

Feyenoord director Chris Woerts said on the club's official website: "It is a democratic right to appeal, so we will wait for the arguments of the UEFA prosecutor before deciding how we will handle this situation."

The club is expected to receive written confirmation outlining the grounds for the appeal within a week, with the new hearing scheduled for early January.

PSG - NICE Security - 15/12/2006

Source : Metronews

PSG will host Nice on Sunday with a strong police presence expected around the Parc des Princes.

About 2,000 police officers and 700 stewards kept watch inside and outside the stadium Wednesday when the Paris team beat Panathinaikos 4-0 in the UEFA Cup.

One part of the Kop of Boulogne stand, where the club's hardcore hooligans gather in the bottom section, remains shut for Sunday's game. Police will decide in January whether to prolong the closure.

Hadjuk Split - Dynamo Zagreb (indoors tournement) - ??/12/2006

Source : vecernji-list

Greek police to set up special unit to tackle soccer violence - 17/12/2006

Source: Xinhua

Greek police will set up a soccer violence unit to help prevent incidents at soccer matches and other sports events that will also arrange data exchanges with authorities abroad, police said on Saturday.

Created under a presidential decree, the unit will be housed in a general policing division operations room at police headquarters, Athens News Agency reported.

Among the unit's duties will be locating suspects in sports violence and rating the danger level of events from a security angle.

Swindon Town - Bristol City - 16/12/2006

Source: BBC

Probe after fans ripped up seats

Swindon Town Football Club has begun an investigation after seats were ripped up and thrown at Saturday's match against Bristol Rovers.

The club said that supporters from both teams were involved in the fracas at the County Ground.

It is now liaising with the police and will be searching through CCTV footage to identify any troublemakers.

A total of 11 arrests were made for assault, public order and drugs offences.

'Unacceptable'

Some 130 officers from Wiltshire, Avon & Somerset & British transport police were on duty.

Swindon Town says it was taking the matter very seriously and will take action against anyone singled out.

Geoff Dunford, chairman of Bristol Rovers, told BBC Radio Bristol: "It is unacceptable. There were women and children sitting there. We are fully behind the Swindon investigation."

Swindon Town won the game, 2-1.
***********************************************************

Source: Swindon Advertiser
CHRISTMAS shoppers looked on in horror as parts of Swindon town centre were turned into a war zone following violent clashes between Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers fans.

Trouble flared throughout the afternoon with some fans even throwing seats at each other as the animosity reached boiling point inside the County Ground.

But the trouble spilled outside the stadium both before and after the game with several altercations taking place in many streets around the town centre.

By the end of Town's 2-1 win 11 fans had been arrested for assault, public order and drug offences, only one short of the total arrests for the whole of last season.

During the day there was a massive police presence in the town centre as 130 officers held groups of fans in pubs to avoid trouble.

The club said that supporters from both teams were involved in the fracas at the County Ground.

STFC's acting chief executive Martyn Starnes said: "What a regrettable incident. We had a bumper crowd and supporters have been absolutely fantastic, turning out in their numbers.

"Then we get a small element deciding to throw seats and it was coming from both sides.

"Bristol Rovers supporters were culpable, but so were ours judging by the damage to the furniture we've got in the Arkells Stand."

Mr Starnes said the club would take a firm stance. He said: "Obviously we're extremely disappointed and unhappy with that and we're going to have to deal with it.

"We'll get a report from the safety officer as soon as possible. He will view any pictures they've been able to get from the CCTV cameras and we'll deal with our own supporters, if they need to be dealt with, in the appropriate way."

Nigel Bennett, chairman of Swindon Town Supporters Club, said he had not seen such clashes for several years.

He said: "Fortunately, incidents such as this are extremely rare.

"It is always very disappointing when incidents like this do happen.

"I am sure that the club and the authorities will be looking very hard at the videos from the inside of the ground to ensure that they deal with the perpetrators."

Chief Inspector Adrian Griffiths, of Swindon police, said that officers from Swindon, Avon and Somerset and the British Transport Police had their work cut out.

He said: "A crowd of 10,000 attended the football match.

"There were several public order incidents involving rival supporters before and after the game in the town centre, and there was minor disorder at the ground that was brought under control by the police and club stewards.

"This was a challenging day for us. A large number of people who claim to be fans of these two teams gathered in the town but did not actually go to the game.

"They were intent on fighting each other no matter what we did, and whether we were there or not."

Shoppers looked on as up to 40 fans clashed outside The Bedroom bar on Bridge Street.

Bristol Rovers fans were kept inside the pub as officers moved Swindon fans on towards the County Ground.

Inspector Paul Hawkins said: "We had a small incident earlier involving 30 to 40 fans in total.

"There were both Bristol and Swindon fans involved in a confrontation, but no one was hurt."

But at the Merlin pub on Drove Road, manager Jay Cutler said the police presence made for a good day.

He said: "We didn't have any trouble with the Rovers fans, they were very respectful to my staff.

"We had a few officers on the door before the game, and during it 30 odd Rovers fans came in for a drink with a police escort.

"They were perfectly well-behaved and I have no complaints."

Another incident

THE TROUBLE between Bristol Rovers and Town fans at Saturday's game is the second major episode this year.

Twelve people were arrested on March 4 at the Queen's Tap pub, opposite Swindon railway station, when Bristol Rovers supporters smashed windows and threw cans and bottles at Swindon fans inside.

Around 100 people were involved in the clash that occurred when Bristol Rovers' game away at Oxford United was cancelled on Saturday morning.

Rovers fans got off the train at Swindon and met Robins fans that afternoon. Town's game against Tranmere had also been cancelled.

Sergeant Carly Stevenson, from Swindon police, said at the time: "Every single window in the pub was smashed and upon arrival there was about 50 to 100 people still outside showing signs of disorder."

Nine men, seven from Bristol and two from Gloucestershire, appeared in court in Swindon in July to face charges of affray.

David McMurrough, 26, from Bristol, and Ian Price, 25, were given community orders in August.

The landlord, who had only opened the pub two days before the trouble, said it was the worst violence he had seen in 12 years in the trade.

Fans' views

After the game many fans discussed the violence on Swindon Town supporters' websites.

On one forum, www.thetownend.com, there was argument between those who condemned the violence and those who supported it.

One posting said: "Who started it?

"I didn't even think things were that heated and then all of a sudden seats are being thrown.

"It's a sad story really. It's a shame people have to do this at football matches."

But another member was more enthusiastic.

He said: "Hahaha can't beat a bit of festive coin dodging.

"Fair play to the Rovers headcase who started marching across the netting!

"What with Millwall coming back t'other way, could be a few feisty encounters around Town tonight, poor coppers."

At the Bristol Rovers site, brfcforum.co.uk, there was similar disagreement. One member posted: "The seat throwing and bottle and coin throwing was also a complete embarrassment.

"Why do these people actually think they can achieve something through this? The only thing they will achieve is getting banned from footie for life.

"I know for one that this is the last thing I would ever want and would never do anything to risk this."

But again, many fans were more intent on retaliating.

Another posting said: "After the Swindon fans started throwing stuff I was half tempted to lug a few things back.

"There were not enough police. Too many young chavs are running around, I have to say some of them could do with a good slap."