Season 01/02 - June

Argentina Soccer Fans Riot - 13/06/2002

Source: China.org

After disturbances and clashes between the police and soccer fans in Cordoba and Mar del Plata streets due to the elimination of Argentina from the Korea- Japan 2002 World Cup, authorities arrested 71 individuals.

According to Cordoba's police chief Ivan Altamirano, in this city's disturbances 57 individuals were arrested, most of them under the effects of alcohol, after looting several establishments.

Violent demonstrations started when some 300 individuals met outside Patio Olmos commercial center in Cordoba's downtown, north of Buenos Aires, and launched bottles and other objects to the streets.

Later, they stoned windows of the shopping center, neighbouring establishments and the Court's windows.

The police had to use rubber bullets to disperse them.

In Mar del Plata, authorities arrested 14 other fans who broke windows from an important shopping center and a bank from the area.

The national team was eliminated from Korea-Japan 2002 after a 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Turkish and Brazilian Fans Clash in Berlin - 03/06/2002

Source: Deutsche Press

Presse-Agentur Clashes broke out Monday between about 400 Turkish fans and 60 Brazilian supporters at a screening in Berlin of the World Cup match between the two countries in
South Korea, according to Germany's major press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA).
Police said one person was injured and a man arrested after fighting broke out among supporters watching the match on a giant screen at the Sony Center at Potsdamer Platz. Brazil beat Turkey 2-1 in Ulsan with a late and controversial penalty while two Turkish players were sent off.

Pitch invasion costs Partizan L 4,000 - 06/06/2002

Source: One Football Website

Partizan Belgrade have been fined £4,000 for the pitch invasion which followed their title success last weekend. Obilic players were stripped of their kit and jewelry when the fans stormed on. The trouble started when Damir Cakar scored the winning goal. The Yugoslav FA also announced that match supervisor Spasoje Pavlovic would be banned for four months for not stopping the game following the incident and referee Goran Mihaljevic also faces an investigation.

One killed in drunken clashes as English celebrate victory over Argentina - 06/06/2002

Source: Reuters

An 18-year-old man died of stab wounds during drunken brawls in England between soccer supporters celebrating their team's World Cup victory over arch-rivals Argentina, police said Saturday.
The man was stabbed during a fight in a pub in the town of Corby on Friday and later died of his injuries, they said. Two men aged 18 and 19 were being questioned by police Saturday over the incident.
Five police were slightly hurt in clashes and five people were arrested in a melee at a pub in the village of Havant in Hampshire.
A total of at least 34 people were arrested in disturbances around the country.
Some 200 youths clashed with police in the northeastern towns of Hull and Grimsby, where pubs were filled to overflowing and drunken fans hurled bottles after England's 1-0 victory over Argentina in Japan on Friday.
"The public ignored police warnings to control themselves and drunken yobs caused difficulties in both Hull and Grimsby," said Inspector Steve Page of Humberside police.
Five people were arrested Friday in a McDonalds restaurant in Staffordshire in the west when a group got into a fight after throwing food at each other, police said.
"It would appear that the majority of those involved were football supporters who had been celebrating the English victory," a Staffordshire police spokesman said.
There were also clashes in several pubs in the county of Essex, in southeastern England, and 14 people were arrested.
In London, where celebrations were more peaceful, former England star Paul Gascoigne was mobbed by revellers.
"They were hugging and kissing him and throwing beer all over him. He lifted up his shirt to show the fans his belly. Everyone wanted to touch him," said one onlooker.
The victory dominated Britain's press on Saturday.
"Up yours Senors -- Becks' Argie revenge," was the headline on the front page of Britain's top-selling daily The Sun.
A message on the back praised England captain David Beckham who scored the winning goal: "Foot of God, Becks ends four years of hurt."
This was a pun on the phrase "Hand of God," used by Argentine ace Diego Maradona after he punched the ball into the net to score against England in his side's 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win in Mexico in 1986.

Russia - Japan - 09/06/2002

Source: BBC News

Authorities in Moscow are to stop televising World Cup games on giant outdoor screens after thousands of football fans went on the rampage in the city, leaving two dead and many others injured. The violence happened in the centre of Moscow on Sunday after Russia went down 1-0 to Japan, severely denting the country's chances of progressing to the second round of the tournament. Thousands of fans had been watching the game on an outdoor screen in Manezh Square. After the final whistle blew, many threw bottles and attacked cars while chanting the popular football slogan Forward Russia, as the violence spilled into other parts of the city centre.
Politicians blamed the events on poor planning by the local authorities.
"Everywhere in the world where fans go on rampages, the police thoroughly prepare for it," said liberal deputy Sergei Mitrokhin. "But here the organizers of this event were just irresponsible."
Rampage
A 20-year-old man was found stabbed to death in the square, and a policeman who was seriously injured by rioters died in hospital early on Monday. Three of the injured are in a serious condition; in all, about 50 people were hospitalised, including 20 police officers. A number of vehicles were set alight near the lower house of parliament, where windows were broken. Crowds rampaged down the street towards to the headquarters of the Russian security services, smashing shop windows and setting fire to cars. There had been only a small police presence, and reinforcements did not arrive until almost an hour later, when most of the rioters had left the area. Firefighters arrived first, and the rioters attacked their trucks. Photographers and cameramen were also reported to have been beaten. Five music students from Japan who were attending the 12th Tchaikovsky competition were attacked, and one was slightly injured.
Crackdown
The BBC's Jonathan Charles, in Moscow, says such violence is highly unusual for the city. Special forces police were brought into the centre of Moscow to bring the situation under control. Interfax quoted Moscow police as saying 60 people has been arrested. The authorities have vowed to track down those responsible for the trouble. Our correspondent says Russia's football hooligans are a growing problem. With their distinctive shaved heads, they model themselves on their British counterparts, even down to the wearing of Union Jack T-shirts.

Moscow beefs up security ahead of Russia-Belgium World Cup match - 14/06/2002

Source: AFP

Police were out in force Friday in central Moscow as the authorities beefed up security for the open-air transmission of Russia's crucial World Cup match against Belgium, in order to avoid a repeat of riots sparked by the teams's defeat by Japan.
More than 2,000 police officers were deployed in city squares where giant screens were due to broadcast the match, with the largest number in Manezh Square opposite the Kremlin where drunken fans went on the rampage last Sunday.
Moscow police chief Vladimir Pronin told AFP that the extra security measures had been taken in order "to guarantee the security of 8,000 spectators."
The sale of all alcohol and drinks sold in bottles was banned in the immediate vicinity of the outdoor screens in a bid to preempt a repeat of Sunday's disorder, which left one civilian and a police officer dead, according to reports.
Meanwhile, police also bolstered security around the Belgian embassy in Moscow in case of disturbances prompted by an untoward result for the Russian team, an embassy source told AFP.
"More police officers have been posted around the embassy," the source said, adding that diplomatic staff had not been given individual protection.

German soccer fans riot at Dresden street fair - 16/06/2002

Source: AFP

Pitched battles overnight between police and soccer fans left 51 officers and five hooligans injured at a street fair in this eastern German city, authorities said Sunday. Police said the trouble began when a handful of supporters of the German team, which qualified for the World Cup quarterfinals Saturday, demolished a tram stop.Witnesses said police officers who attempted to intervene were attacked with bottles, stones and fireworks.The incident took place on the sidelines of a street festival, where other young people, many of them intoxicated, joined in the rioting.Police arrested 30 suspects.Up to 400 youths went on a rampage at the same summer festival last year leading to injuries and detentions.

Turks take to the streets to celebrate World Cup victory - 17/06/2002

Source: AFP

Turkish football fans exploded in riotous celebrations -- with fireworks, music and even gunfire, which caused a number of casualties -- as they poured into the streets of their country's main cities to celebrate their team's victory in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
"It's simply wonderful!" screamed one fan, a 40-year-old taxi driver named Omer who had stopped his cab in the middle of a busy Istanbul street to listen to the match on the radio.
"We're in the semi-finals!" he shouted, still apparently finding it hard to believe the good news.
Turkey beat Senegal 1-0 after scoring a golden goal. They now go on to play Brazil in Saitama, Japan, on Wednesday for a place in the World Cup final on their first appearance in the tournament for 48 years.
However, despite warnings from Turkish authorities before the game that people with dangerous health conditions should take it easy in the event of victory, one man failed to heed the advice, and died from a heart attack as his emotions got the better of him.
Another 18 people received bullet wounds as fans fired in the air to celebrate, the CNN-Turk channel reported.
Hundreds of smiling Turks had poured into the street in Ankara where they were treated to a small fireworks display before heading towards the capital's central Taksim square, where the team's previous World Cup wins were celebrated.
Picked out for special praise among the cheering crowds was Ilhan Mansiz, whose golden goal in extra-time saw off the African hopefuls.
"They played very well and it was good they played Malhiz instead of (star striker) Hakan Suker," a 32 year-old woman giving her name as Zeynep said in the capital.
Fans were even prepared to forgive team coach Senol Gunes, the brunt of widespread criticism in earlier games in the tournament.
"They should never have criticised Gunes," a man named Osman said.
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli congratulated the national team, saying "this is the best symbol of the success of unity and union -- which shows that the country will reach all its goals during the 21st century."
Turks living outside the country also went wild with joy, and thousands of Turkish Cypriots on the divided island of Cyprus gathered in city squares and sang "Turkey is the greatest".
In northern Europe too, home to significant populations of Turkish immigrants, fans celebrated their teams' victory. In Brussels, thousands stopped traffic as they descended on the normally quiet neighbourhood which is home to a number of EU institutions.
Similar displays of joys were also seen in other European centres, with notable turnouts in Stockholm and the eastern French city of Strasbourg.

Bryan Drew, expert on football hooliganism, receives Queen's Police Medal - 27/06/2002

Source: NCIS

Bryan Drew of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, who is known throughout Government and worldwide for his influential and pioneering contribution to the fight against football hooliganism, has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2002. As Head of Specialist Intelligence Branch, Bryan's responsibilities run from drugs and immigration to and football hooliganism, which Bryan has made his speciality over the last 14 years. Bryan's contribution, knowledge and strategic approach to the planning for the World Cup 2002 are recognised as having contributed significantly to the peaceful and good humoured nature of the England fans in Japan and Korea. Since Euro 200, the number of England football fans prevented from travelling abroad has increased tenfold, and NCIS's profiles on a further 500 fans ensured that as many potential troublemakers as possible were prevented from getting anywhere near the Orient. Bryan is a serving police officer, seconded to NCIS since 1992 from the Metropolitan Police Service <ww.met.police.uk>, where he holds the rank of Detective Superintendent. In November 1989 he joined the newly created National Football Intelligence Unit, which developed and coordinated the football intelligence network in England and Wales. Bryan was involved in the UK strategic planning for the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Euro '92 in Sweden, the 1998 World Cup in France and the Euro 2000 Championships. In 1994 he was the British police liaison officer for the World Cup in the USA. He was a member of the English police strategic planning team for the 1996 European Championships with specific responsibility for intelligence issues. He is currently liaising with colleagues in the law enforcement services in Japan and Korea in relation to the 2002 World Cup finals.

Hooligan threat dormant, not dead - 30/06/2002

Source: Reuters

'Perfect' is how FIFA described the behaviour of England fans at the 2002 World Cup, but it would be complacent to suggest that the threat of hooliganism at future soccer tournaments has disappeared. In so many ways, Korea-Japan 2002 has been a unique, uplifting tournament on the field, with a series of results that went against the grain. The good behaviour of England's followers off it was also a surprise to some, although British police were always confident troublemakers would struggle to get through a tight security net. History shows how rare it is that tournaments involving the England team are trouble free. At the 2000 European championship in Belgium and the Netherlands, the Belgian town of Charleroi was the scene of serious disorder. At the last World Cup in France, England fans battled with locals in Marseille and also fought in Toulouse. The 1992 European championship in Sweden, the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the 1988 European championship in then-West Germany were also marred by serious hooliganism involving England fans. The list goes on. Mexico 1986 was the last occasion England supporters did not go on the rampage in a World Cup. There was also no trouble at the 1994 tournament in the United States, but England failed to qualify. The other notable exception was the 1996 European championship, played in England. A variety of factors, notably the absence of foreign hooligans and intelligent policing, contributed to a largely peaceful championship, although there was some disorder in towns across England after their penalty shootout defeat by Germany in the semi-finals. Geography is crucial. In Japan, where England played all their games at this World Cup, the distance and expense involved was probably the biggest single factor in deterring troublemakers. Distance was also an important factor in Mexico, while at Euro 96, supporters could disperse to their homes after matches, rather than returning in groups to city centre hotels or camp sites. But at the 2004 European championship in Portugal and the next World Cup in 2006 in Germany, getting there and finding accommodation will not be difficult for fans coming from England, or anywhere else in Europe.

MOSCOW RIOTS

Experience shows it is when fans gather in large numbers and consume large amounts of alcohol that trouble can follow, and it is hard to see how the security forces can prevent them congregating in either Portugal or Germany. Add into the mix England's traditionally fierce rivalry with German supporters and it is easy to understand, why, as one England fan put it in Japan: "In Germany it'll go pear-shaped. It'll be chaos." The hooligan threat is not only from the England followers, with Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Poland among those countries with fans who have a tradition of trouble-making at club level. Hooliganism has also reared its head in Russian club football and two men died in the ugly Moscow riots that followed Russia's World Cup defeat by Japan on June 9. Turkey's success in reaching the World Cup semi-finals has established them as a major soccer force and they are already talking of Germany 2006 being like a home tournament, with the large Turkish immigrant population there. Tension between Turks and Germans is already a feature of German society and after the fatal stabbing of two Leeds United fans in Turkey and the trouble at the Arsenal-Galatasaray UEFA Cup final in 2000, English fans also have a history with the Turks. It is not all doom and gloom. The much-predicted thug fest at Euro 96 never materialised, while England's 5-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Germany in Munich last September also passed off peacefully. There is also the possibility that England and several of the other countries concerned may not qualify, although that in itself is unlikely to stop hard-core hooligans travelling. For now, football can give itself a well-deserved pat on the back after a World Cup that will be remembered the right way, as a festival of fun. But the suspicion remains that the so-called 'English disease' of hooliganism is merely in remission.

Injuries, arrests in football-related incidents in Germany - 30/06/2002

Source: AFP

Seven people were injured and 12 arrested Sunday when violence broke out in a crowd watching the World Cup final on a giant screen in the eastern city of Leipzig, police said.
The incidents occurred after police tried to break up a dispute in a restaurant near where the Germany-Brazil final was being screened.
Some of the 2,000-strong crowd joined the scuffles and two officers were hurt by a barrage of bottles and stones.
Cars and shop windows also became targets, and police said damage would run into tens of thousands of euros.
In the western city of Dortmund, two football fans were arrested for chanting extremist slogans.
Police in Berlin said two people were hurt by exploding fireworks and that some arrests had been made but reported few other incidents.

Russian Football Hooligans Target Asians - 14/06/2002

Source: iwpr.net


Much of the soccer violence last Sunday was directed at Asians who are increasingly being targeted by the city's thuggish fans.


Football hooligans on the rampage in Moscow following Russia's loss to Japan at the World Cup took much of their aggression out on Asians.

Police largely stood by and watched as skinhead-led rioting on June 9 led to the death of two people, injuries to about 100 and the trashing of all the Japanese and Chinese restaurants and stores around the Kremlin and state parliament.

"They [the rioters] saw signs with Asian characters, and struck immediately," said local resident, Evgeni Makarov, who witnessed the mob violence. "They attacked every Asian they spotted."

The authorities have yet to release the identities of the two fatalities. Six Kazak nationals were seriously injured in the violence.

Several thousand football fans had congregated in Manezh Square, which is near Red Square, to watch the game on a giant screen, set up on the initiative of the capital's mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

The fans were restless and aggressive during the match and their anger was further fuelled by the huge quantities of alcohol freely available in nearby stores. When the Russian team lost 1-0 to Japan, severely damaging its chances of staying in the tournament, the real trouble began with cries of "Kill the squinty-eyed!" amid aggressive football chants.

Many citizens of Kazakstan and other Central Asian states were among those who suffered at the hands of up to 8,000 bottle-throwing rioters. The violence quickly spread to other areas of the city and was the worst seen in the Russian capital for a decade.

"I had hidden in a courtyard, otherwise they would have bashed me for sure," said Serikjan Maulenov, a Kazak student in the capital.

"I hate Moscow police and Moscow teenagers. I go to school here and I don't mess with anyone. Why do I have to suffer because Russians cannot play football?" said another Kazak student who was beaten outside his house. "The cops just stood and watched. They looked like they could join in on the attackers' side any moment."

Many Asians in Moscow, fearful of being beaten by a mob of angry football fans, now think twice before going out, especially on match days.

"I'm scared for my family and friends," said another Central Asian living in Moscow. "Those people do not care that you're innocent and friendly. They target Asians and Africans just because they look different. They treat us like animals."

People from the Caucasus and Central Asia are widely - often openly - blamed for the country's crime and economic woes.

Many of the ringleaders of the latest violence were skinheads, who often model themselves on violent shaven-headed British football hooligans. A large number are supporters of the city's Spartak team, which boasts the country's largest fan base. When the club fared badly in the last Russian championship, several Kazak citizens were assaulted.

"My girlfriend and I were on a Metro train. Suddenly, a crowd of football fans barged in. I think Spartak had just lost a game," recalled Mukhtar Samatov, a Kazak who acquired Russian citizenship this year. "One of them confronted me and called me a 'black'. Then he hit me. Someone slapped my girlfriend. Thankfully, other people in the carriage broke this up, so we were able to flee at the next stop."

Ozod Novruzov from Uzbekistan has been living near Moscow's Luzhniki stadium for the last three years. "I stay home whenever Spartak plays. Its fans are regular brutes. They target all Asians, and the police don't mind at all," he said.

Despite an avalanche of angry protests from Asian embassies in Russia, national and local authorities have not been doing much to curb rampant racism in the capital beyond announcing a halt to further broadcasts of World Cup matches on giant outdoor screens.

It appears to many Asians that the Moscow police are less interested in protecting them than hounding and harassing them for money. Now some foreigners here are gearing up to counter violence with violence.

"I've got a gun," said a Japanese national who preferred not to be named. "If they hit me, I'm going to shoot. I'd rather face punishment for illegal arms possession than get beaten to death by some scum on the street."

Erbol Jumagulov is an independent journalist in Kazakstan

Hertha BSC Berlin II - Dynamo Dresden - 09/06/2002

Source: Soccer Fans

More than 10.000 Dresden Supporters (between them around 250 Hooligans and Ultras) travelled by trains to Germany's capital.
Berlin presented around 400 lads (cooperation between Hertha, Union Berlin and BFC Dynamo) for this day.
A group of 150 Berlin thugs attempted to ambush Dresden Fans on the first minutes of the match, but were pushed back by the police.
At the End of the match missiles were thrown at Hertha supporters. At full time Dresden fans invaded the pitch and attacked the security and the police. At the same time, the Berlin mob leave the ground and tried to confront the Dresden hooligans outside. But the police (they looked like robocops) kept the two groups apart and closed some streets.
Splitted in small groups, Berlin marched to the nearest underground station where they again tried to break through the police line.
Some Berlin lads took the underground to break away from their police escort. However, at the next station the Berlin lads attacked the surprised Dresden supporters.
In the afternoon, there were also some clashes in Berlin's city.

Trouble spoils England victory party - 08/06/2002

Source: Bolton Evening News

BOTTLES were thrown at police officers as a small group of revellers -- including known soccer hooligans -- marred the World Cup celebrations in Bolton town centre.

Several shop and office windows were smashed and police reported several outbreaks of violence with drunken youths.

And, reflecting on the violence which followed England's victory, a senior police officer today warned that the relaxing of the licensing regulations for future matches during the World Cup may now be reviewed.

The scenes in Bolton were repeated in other towns in Greater Manchester and throughout the country as a mixture of the celebratory mood, alcohol and warm weather resulted in violence.

Police chiefs in Bolton say the vast majority of the revellers who took to the streets after England's 1-0 victory over Argentina were well behaved, but a group of up to 50 hooligans were intent on trouble.

Bradshawgate -- where the celebrations were initially joyful -- was sealed off as up to 500 revellers spilled out onto the street at the final whistle.

But, as the mood became more menacing and bottles thrown, the area quickly became a "no go" zone for shoppers and office workers returning to work.

In one terrifying incident a woman motorist was trapped in her car, with her three-year-old daughter, as up to a dozen thugs jumped up and down on the vehicle's bonnet and roof.

Extra police officers were drafted into the scene together with additional dog handlers.

Chief Insp Alan Greene, who was in charge of the police operation, said: "The vast majority of the fans were well behaved but, as usual in these situations, a small group of troublemakers were intent on causing problems. They included several known football hooligans."

The mood had changed from earlier yesterday lunchtime when jubilant fans packed Bolton's pubs and bars to watch the crucial soccer clash.

Before the match, banks and shops were full, but, as kick off approached people disappeared into the pubs or returned to work to watch televisions in their offices or factories.

Even calls to the emergency services drastically fell. Calls to Greater Manchester Police fell by around 40 per cent from 423 to 260 calls between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

But as the final whistle blew celebrations spilled out onto the streets.

Fans chanted England songs and waved flags. Within minutes Bradshawgate was swamped with fans. Some of the revellers climbed traffic lights and drainpipes of nearby shops.

Shopkeepers were forced to put their shutters down as shoppers ran for cover, while others staged an impromptu game of football, blocking access to buses and cars.

One woman caught up in the scenes, was trapped in her car on Bradshawgate with her young daughter. Karen Johnson and three-year-old Lauren were travelling home from a shopping trip in their Citroen AX car when crowds of fans began spilling out of a pub on Bradshawgate.

Karen, of Tonge Fold, said: "It was terrifying. They draped England flags over cars in front to slow down the drivers. They let them go.

"But they started rocking my car backwards and forwards. Then they started jumping on the bonnet and smashed in the sunroof. My daughter was screaming in the back seat and was covered in glass. We both had cuts but I think they let us go when they realised that there was a terrified young girl in the car."

As police officers wearing riot gear arrived more bottles and beer glasses were thrown. Local pubs were closed. The police initially monitored the situation and a video camera was used to film the ringleaders before officers moved in to disperse the crowds. Bradshawgate was left littered with glass but no injuries were reported.

Chief Insp Greene described the behaviour of the drunken troublemakers as "unacceptable." He added: "Behaviour of this sort is totally unacceptable to law abiding people in Bolton. It will not be tolerated."

Two known troublemakers were arrested and face being banned from watching any soccer matches next season.

Celtic fan jailed for 10 years over death - 19/06/2002

Source : Herald Scotland

A CELTIC fan who stabbed and killed a 24-year-old man after an Old Firm clash was jailed for 10 years yesterday. A jury cleared Mark Fox, 40, of murder, but convicted him of the lesser charge of the culpable homicide of Frank Forrester Jnr.

The killing happened in Fenwick, Ayrshire, a week after Fox fell out with the dead man's father and after Rangers beat Celtic 5-1 in November 2000.