Season 02/03 - December

San Lorenzo - Independiente - 01/12/2002

Source: ESPN

After the 3rd goal scored by Independiente, local fans caused troubles inside their stands.

Coventry fans: jail sentences - 07/12/2002

Source: Coventry Telegraph

Faces of violence

Eight Coventry City fans involved in a major brawl at the end of an FA Cup tie were today starting jail sentences.

The men all pleaded guilty to violent disorder following some of the worst scenes of violence seen at a football ground for years.

They all got 12 months for their parts in the disturbance at Manchester City's ground Maine Road on January 27 last year.

At Liverpool Crown Court yesterday the men, who are all from Coventry, were also all banned from attending football matches for six years.

The fans, who were situated in the north stand, pushed their way into the main stand towards the Manchester City fans soon after Shaun Goater scored the winning goal for the home team.

A "large-scale disturbance" followed and officers, security staff and stewards intervened and moved them back into the north stand.

Sentencing, Judge Bryn Holloway said that the fans' huge disappointment was no excuse for the violence.

He added that the men were not stereotypical football hooligans and accepted that it had been a spontaneous incident.

He said: "Such incidents do not happen frequently nowadays, but when they do the courts must do what they can by the sentences they impose to make clear that custodial sentences will follow."

The eight Coventry City fans jailed are: Simon Richardson, aged 38, of Forrets Court, Mount Nod; Richard Jones, aged 34, of Haynestone Avenue, Coundon; Robert Healey, aged 28, of Dormer Harris Avenue, Tile Hill; Paul Lawler, aged 37, of Glencoe Road, Coventry; William Finnie, aged 29, of Ridgethorpe, Willenhall; Mark Sheehy, aged 36, of Ascot Close, Willenhall; John Hartley, aged 33, of Playdell Close, Willenhall and Andrew Wallen, aged 42, of Sebastian Close, Stonehouse Estate.

Celta Vigo - Celtic - 12/12/2002

Source : Evening Times

RIOT COPS ON THE RAMPAGE; TEENAGE CELTIC FAN HURT AFTER POLICE ATTACK ON WHEELCHAIR-BOUND MAN SPARKS SPANISH AIRPORT BATTLE

A GLASGOW schoolboy was injured when Celtic fans clashed with riot police as they travelled home from Spain.

Daniel McAleney, 14, was hit on the head by a police baton at Vigo airport after last night's Uefa Cup game.

Scores of other fans were battered and bruised after the violent confrontations early today.

Police wearing riot helmets and wielding batons charged at the supporters as they waited to fly back to Scotland and Ireland following Celtic's game against Celta Vigo.

Fans reported seeing a wheelchair-bound fan being hit by one police officer, and this triggered a running battle inside the airport terminal.

Daniel, from King's Park, was hit on the head and body - and the assault continued even after he had fallen to the ground with blood pouring from his head.

The sight of him being beaten sparked an instant reaction from other Celtic fans, which led to baton-swinging sweeps by the police in an attempt to clear the area.

Bottles flew as more fans became involved in the clashes, and pleas for calm from other supporters were largely ignored.

Daniel said: "They just all started fighting. The police hit me on the head, then on the shoulder and the back."

His dad Frank, 46, said Spanish police had attacked the fans for no reason.

He said: "There were queues for two flights at just one check-in desk. The fans were causing no trouble but the police couldn't seem to cope with the sheer weight of numbers."

Mr McAleney added: "It all seemed to start after a fan in a wheelchair was hit by a baton by one of the police and it escalate from there.

"There were around 30 police in riot gear and they waded in really heavily among the supporters. I was very angry at what happened to Daniel, but I managed to keep calm and not retaliate.

"The police then seemed to calm down but shortly after began wading in with batons again.

"At that point some of the fans tried to stop them but they didn't stand a chance and were also hit on the body and head."

Daniel received treatment from a paramedic before flying home.

He was monitored throughout the flight back home in case his condition deteriorated.

But Mr McAleney, who also had his 18-year-old son Mark and 21- year-old daughter Gillian with him, said Daniel had been left with a gaping wound on his forehead, which was still pouring blood when they arrived back in Glasgow.

He was due to take him to hospital for a check-up today.

Daniel, a pupil at Holyrood Secondary School, who lives with his mum in Curling Crescent, was being kept off school today while he recovered.

Celtic fan Aidan Quinn, son of club chairman Brian Quinn, was injured in earlier clashes before the game.

He was left with blood pouring from a head wound and a broken nose.

Other fans told how police had been heavy-handed with supporters during the match at Celta's Balaidos ground.

Gordon Cowan, of Cathcart, and pal Kevin McGloin, of Giffnock, accused police of over-the-top tactics in policing the massive contingent of Celtic fans.

Mr Cowan said: "The police at the ground were totally out of order and were very heavy-handed in the way they treated the Celtic supporters.

"It was completely unnecessary as none of the fans was causing trouble."

Celtic fans' chief Eddie Toner was unaware of the trouble at Vigo Airport until contacted by journalists.

Speaking from Vigo, the general secretary of the Celtic Supporters' Association said: "I would not want to say too much until I am fully aware of the facts, but if there were incidents involving fans being attacked for no reason by the police, then I would hope Celtic would launch an investigation into just what happened.

"There has not been a hint of trouble between the fans of both clubs the whole time we've been here and all the Celtic supporters I have spoken to enjoyed a fantastic trip."

There were also ugly clashes between Celtic and Ajax fans in Amsterdam last year ahead of the Champions League qualifying tie.

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Source : Daily Record

Fans face riot cops at airport

RIOT police moved in last night after Celtic fans were caught up in ugly scenes at a Spanish airport.

Trouble flared after a flustered cop was reported to have been lashed out at a young fan in a wheelchair.

The authorities pushed the panic button after other angry fans gathered around the wheelchair.

Police at Vigo airport had apparently been unprepared for the appearance of 4000 boisterous Scots celebrating Celtic's victory in the UEFA Cup earlier.

Only one flight gate was open to handle the huge numbers, who became restless as they were funnelled into a small overcrowded section.

Heavy-handed Spanish cops began to panic and one was said to have lashed out with his baton, hitting the fan in the wheelchair.

Blows were exchanged as several of the supporters tried to protect the youngster from baton blows.

With the brawl threatening to turn into a mass battle, the airport authorities called in riot police.

However, by the time they arrived the scuffles were over.

There were no arrests.

One fan said: "It was pandemonium. They were trying to shepherd hundreds of fans through one gate."

Celtic - Rangers - 08/12/2002

Source : The News Letter

Riot in Londonderry

Vexed Celtic fans go on the rampage; Sectarian supporters bring shame to game.

Source : The News Letter (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
December 9, 2002


CELTIC football fans went on a riotous rampage in Londonderry city centre on Saturday afternoon.

Christmas shoppers screamed as they fled in terror as the disgruntled supporters went on a four-hour orgy of violence, launching an attack on police officers guarding the Apprentice Boys of Derry Lundy Day parade.

A woman and two small children narrowly escaped injury as a 150-strong mob started attacking police, firstly outside the Foyleside Centre and later in rioting at Shipquay Street, Butcher Street, Castle Street and Magazine Gate.

Former mayor Pat Ramsey, SDLP, condemned the disgraceful scenes and said: "It is inexcusable, especially in the Christmas season, that the city of Derry's name should be tarnished in such a manner.''

The violence erupted after Celtic fans had packed bars to watch the televised Old Firm derby clash which Rangers won 3-2.

Afterwards, the Celtic fans spilled out of bars and soon the city centre became a riot zone.

In all, 13 people were arrested.

The trouble flared as the Apprentice Boys march approached the Diamond, where rival factions were hurling verbal abuse at each other from behind Perspex screens erected to keep them apart.

Police moved in and forced loyalist protesters away from the Diamond.

During the procession of 2,000 marchers, members of the Apprentice Boys broke ranks to attack a Channel 9 cameraman.

Nationalist rioters, most of them wearing Celtic shirts, scarves and hats, intensified their attacks on the police.

Despite a police pre-match appeal to pub owners, asking them to prevent people leaving their premises with glasses or bottles after watching the match, rioters hurled both at police, as well as throwing bricks, stones and rockets, which they fired horizontally, turning them into potential blast bombs.

One of these disabled a police vehicle in Butcher Street.

During the four hours of violence, a car and a lorry were hijacked and set on fire in the city centre.

Riot police moved in when the hordes of nationalist rioters tried to encroach on the route of the Lundy Day parade.

They hurled stones and bottles at police lines at Ferryquay Gate.

People outside the city's most popular shopping complex got caught up in the mayhem and a number of them were hurt.

The mob was forced into Foyle Street but they made their way back into the city centre via Shipquay Street where missiles continued to rain down on police officers long after dark.

Apprentice Boys' governor William Allen said: "It had been a good day for us until the trouble started.

"It did not come from us but from those who threw the stones and bottles.''

Three people are expected to appear in court in Londonderry today.

Two men have been charged with riotous behaviour and one with attempted hijacking.
Seven men have been charged with disorderly behaviour and are expected to appear at Londonderry Magistrates Court on December 30.

Two men and a juvenile have been released pending a report.

Police said that more arrests are expected after they examine CCTV footage of the trouble.

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Source : guardian.co.uk

Derry riot after Rangers beat Celtic in Glasgow

Old Firm game taps sectarian divisions

Rioting erupted in Derry last night despite earlier pleas for calm from the Apprentice Boys and from the Celtic and Rangers football clubs on the day of the Old Firm game in Glasgow.

The violence broke out shortly after 4pm at the tail end of the Apprentice Boys' annual march into the city centre.

Police officers in riot gear fought running battles with nationalist youths in the city's commercial district.

The trigger for the trouble was when a group of Celtic supporters started taunting loyalists returning along Carlisle Road after the main parade had left Derry City centre. Bricks, bottles and stones were exchanged by nationalists and loyalists during the clashes.

A riot squad of the Police Service of Northern Ireland drove the nationalist youths back into Shipquay Street and made several arrests. A number of loyalists involved in the trouble were arrested during the disturbances. A car was burned in Magazine Street at the edge of the Bogside, a PSNI spokesman said last night.

Chinese style fireworks were fired horizontally at police lines during a stand off between the riot squad and nationalist youths.

The spokesman said eight people had been arrested on public order offences. Around 150 youths were involved in the rioting.

Police, community and business leaders in the city had warned about the poten tial for violence given that the Apprentice Boys' annual Lundy demonstration coincided with an Old Firm game at Ibrox.

City centre pubs were packed with Celtic supporters watching the lunchtime match, which ended in a 3-2 victory for Rangers.

In Belfast, police were so concerned over sectarian violence following the Old Firm game that they asked Security Minister Jane Kennedy for permission to close the Cavehill Inn for the day.

The pub is situated between the loyalist Westland estate and the mainly Catholic Lower Cavehill Road and was the focal point of sectarian clashes this year following the last Celtic-Rangers derby.

Coventry: Hunt goes on for soccer fans - 07/12/2002

Source: Coventry Evening Telegraph

Greater Manchester police today appealed for help in finding two men from the West Midlands wanted for questioning in connection with the violence which erupted at an FA Cup tie.

Eight Coventry City fans were each jailed for 12 months yesterday for their part in the trouble at the game between the Sky Blues and Manchester City in January last year.

Police are still trying to identify two men they want to speak to and anyone who recognises them is asked to phone police on 0161 856 4464 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Following the incident, Greater Manchester Police launched Operation Edit, which involved the scrutiny of high-quality video footage of the disturbance filmed by police and Manchester City Football Club, to identify the main troublemakers.

Steps taken by police before the match were also essential in tracking down those responsible and intelligence from West Midlands Police indicated that a coach from Coventry was arriving with supporters believed to have been involved in previous football-related violence.

This coach was stopped as it arrived at Maine Road, and each passenger was filmed as they gave their name, date of birth and address to the police before attending the match. Nine of those interviewed in this way were later identified as some of the main troublemakers.

Eleven of those arrested for the disturbance pleaded guilty to the charge. A twelfth man failed to appear at court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Sub Divisional Commander Superintendent Andy Holt said: "It has been some while since this dis-order occurred, but no matter how long it takes or how difficult it is, we will do all we can to secure convictions against people who engage in football violence in our clubs.

"People want to watch football in an exciting and vibrant atmosphere. What they don't want is to be subjected to fear, intimidation and violence, which is what happened on this occasion.

"Those who commit offences such as this are not football fans and we will continue to work closely with Manchester City FC to target those who attend matches with the intention of causing trouble. The sentences passed today send a clear message that Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate football violence in our clubs."

Oxford: Fans invade pitch at Kassam stadium - 02/12/2002

Source: http://archive.oxfordmail.net

Football fans piled on to the pitch after a match between Oxford United and Lincoln on November 30, while a group of about 20 people raised fears of a disturbance in the car park.

But police, who were called to the scene at about 4.50pm, said today they arrived to find only boisterous fans and the situation was kept under control.

No fighting occurred between fans, although one person was arrested for breach of the peace, but was not charged.

Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam later reassured fans that, despite the incident, it would be safe to attend next Sunday's FA Cup derby with Swindon.

Last week Oxford United fans were blamed for an hour-long riot, in which a policeman had one of his arms slashed.