Season 06/07 - October

Iran football fans clash with police - 22/10/2006

Source: BBC

Hundreds of Iranian football fans have clashed with police in Tehran after the national team lost a World Cup qualifying match.

Witnesses said crowds of supporters attacked banks and government buildings after rumours spread that the 3-1 defeat at home to Bahrain was politically fixed.

About 1,000 police, aided by Basiji militia men wielding sticks, fought running battles with youths in the streets of the capital.

Scores of protesters were arrested and several police were hurt after being pelted with rocks and fireworks.

The fans' anger was apparently triggered by claims that the Iranian side was instructed to lose the game, in order to avoid repeat scenes of clashes 10 days ago after Iran beat Iraq.

Witnesses said youths began protesting against the Iranian leadership, chanting "death to the mullahs", and "Iran has turned into Palestine", the French news agency AFP reported.

Leaflets criticising the government were also said to have been distributed.

Police had anticipated trouble and deployed in several potential flashpoints in the city immediately after the match, according to Reuters news agency.

The Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami, had earlier urged fans to avoid any wild celebrations if Iran beat Bahrain and police warned supporters against "threatening public order".

The security forces were on alert after the violent scenes that followed Iran's 2-1 victory over Iraq on 12 October.

Then police used tear gas to break up a crowd of 20,000 fans who had gathered in western Tehran, and arrested more than 400 people.

COLOMBIA: Fighting Violence in the Stadiums - 03/10/2006

Source: Sports Colombia

Father Alirio López, standing in the middle of the stadium dressed in a jersey with the logos of the two Colombian football teams that are playing each other that day, calls on fans to stay calm and urges them to watch the game in peace.

Colombian journalists Antonio Casale and Francisco Cardona -- followers of rival teams -- have come together to work against violence in the sport they love, through their radio broadcasts.

And stringent official measures have been taken to clamp down on hooliganism in the Colombian capital.

Violence is not new to this South American country, which has been in the grip of armed conflict for over four decades. But violence in the stadiums is a more recent phenomenon, and one that authorities are now attempting to curb before it spirals out of control.

Like in Argentina and Uruguay farther south, Colombia's hooligans are organised in "barras bravas" (unruly or tough gangs of fans), which began to emerge in the late 1980s. Each professional team has its own barra brava.

Under the new measures adopted by authorities in the Colombian capital, fans under 18 cannot enter the sections of the stands specially reserved for the barras bravas; the members of these groups must show their identity cards to enable the police to create a database; and increased supervision has been put in place to prevent people with criminal records from entering stadiums.

The Bogotá city government has also trained stadium security guards in violence de-escalation techniques.

Last year's murder of Andrés Garzón, a young fan of the Bogotá club Independiente Santa Fe, in the country's largest stadium, the Nemesio Camacho "El Campín", marked the start of the changes.

But while peace and calm appear to be gradually coming to the stadiums of the Colombian capital, deaths continue to occur in other cities.

After a Sep. 24 match between Millonarios from Bogotá and the Deportivo Tolima club in the capital of the province of Tolima, local fans attacked a bus carrying supporters of the team from the capital. In the fracas, one young man fell into traffic and was hit by a passing vehicle, while another was stabbed as he tried to get on the bus, and is still in critical condition.

To that incident was added the late September murder of Octavio Velásquez Mejía, ex-president of Envigado, a first-division team in the northwestern city of Medellín.

And earlier this year, two footballers were killed: Elson Becerra in Cartagena and Martín Zapata in Cali.

But despite the recent deaths, hope is spreading among peace-loving football fans. "Today, the end of matches in Bogotá brings a party-like atmosphere," Camilo González, a devotee of Millonarios, commented to IPS.

"Messages are written in the air with coloured spray, toilet paper rolls are thrown from the stands like paper streamers, and the buses are shared by fans of both teams," he said.

Father Alirio, as the Catholic priest is widely known, began his campaign against violence in 2001, under Bogotá mayor Antanas Mockus (1995-1998 and 2001-2003), who was well-known for his efforts aimed at inculcating a culture of mutual respect among the local populace.

But Alirio's efforts were preceded by a no less important initiative. In 1998, when Casale, a Millonarios fan, was 25 years old, he invited Cardona, a follower of Santa Fe, to work together as sports commentators campaigning against violence as they give the play by play during matches.

"'Football is a war in peace' was one of our first slogans," Casale told IPS. "We tell young people: it's true that going to football games gives you a chance to let off steam, but there is no need to be aggressive and violent. And we, without hiding our team loyalties, are respectful when we're at the microphone."

The first case of massive violence in Colombian stadiums occurred in April 1989 at the end of a match for the Copa Libertadores de América between Millonarios and Atlético Nacional, in the city of Medellín.

In fact, analysts date the birth of the local barras bravas to that game.

Millonarios devotees organised themselves at the time in the "Comandos Azules" and the followers of Independiente Santa Fe in the "Guardia Albiroja". These groups were later imitated in Medellín and in the western Colombian city of Cali, home to two other leading Colombian teams.

That was the time when the big drug cartels were in their heyday, and the clubs were largely financed by drug money.

Druglord Pablo Escobar, who was killed in 1993, financed Atlético Nacional, and it was during that time that it was at its top performance both nationally and internationally, with a large portion of its players selected for the national team when Colombia took part in the World Cups in Italy (1990), the United States (1994) and France (1998).

Cali's América team was sponsored by the Gilberto and Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela drug baron brothers, currently in jail on drug trafficking charges in the United States, while cocaine kingpin Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha, killed in 1989, backed Millonarios.

But when the drug cartels were dismantled, the bonanza was over.

However, Colombian football's close ties with drug money did not disappear. A 1997 report by the governmental Superintendence of Companies reported that between 70 and 80 percent of the shares of the five biggest clubs were controlled by drug traffickers.

"Added to the money laundering are the deaths that have thrown a further pall over Colombian football: Pablo Correa Ramos, part owner of the Medellín club, and Octavio Piedrahita, former owner of Nacional and of the Pereira club, were killed in 1986," states journalist Wilson Sánchez in his article "Colombian Football's Own Goals".

The best-known case was the 1994 murder of footballer Andrés Escobar, who was gunned down after scoring an own goal in a match in the World Cup in the United States. Colombia was eliminated early from the championship as a result of the game, which the United States won 2-1.

"His father insists that the murder was linked to gambling," Sánchez notes, referring to speculation that Escobar's murder was ordered by gambling syndicates that had bet large amounts of money on Colombia in the World Cup.

In 1995, the then president of the Colombian Football Federation, Juan José Bellini, was sentenced to six years in prison, accused of "illicit enrichment" and of being a front man for drug traffickers.

In the meantime, the barras bravas grew in strength, and team-based rivalries and clashes between them have led to a number of deaths.

As a result, special places were created for the different barras bravas in Bogotá's main stadium, with the stands on the north side reserved for the followers of Millonarios and the south side reserved for Santa Fe fans.

"During the time that the clashes peaked, you had to get to the stadium at least four hours early," said González. Although he does not belong to the Millonarios barra brava, he said he went to their stand a few times "out of curiosity, although a little scared."

"The police searches took a long time. You had to go in without your shoes on, and nearly naked. But we often saw knives and jack knives in the stadium before the game. The fans would be drinking and smoking marijuana. What I don't know is how that was allowed to happen -- or who allowed it to happen," he added.

While that was going on in the stands, journalists Casale and Cardona began to issue calls for civil behaviou and calm over their radio programme "Rock-and-gol".

The two reporters are working to counteract aggressive messages broadcast by other journalists, "like TV presenter Carlos Arturo Vélez who as a ‘paisa' (the name for people from the province of Antioquia, of which Medellín is the provincial capital) attacks Santa Fe and Millonarios and is biased in favour of the clubs from his region," said González.

"There is no respect for people's preferences, and the Bogotá fans shout at him ‘paisa, son-of-a-b**ch, why don't you go back to where you came from!'," he added.

In his undergraduate thesis "Football Language on the Radio and Its Influence on Fans", William Díaz, a journalism student, wrote that "The fans all have a common objective: to accompany the team they love. But it is important to insist that commentators have a responsibility to society for the language they use in commenting the football games."

"Eighty percent of the members of the barras bravas are desperate young men without opportunities or alternatives, with low self-esteem, who have often suffered the effects of a very complex phenomenon of domestic violence," said Father Alirio in an interview with the BBC.

In war-torn Colombia, football plays a special role, and can even give rise to dreams of a more peaceful world. In his 1998 comedy film "Golpe de Estadio" (titled Time Out in English), Sergio Cabrera showed guerrillas and soldiers watching a game together on the only TV set in a remote jungle village.

Treviso - Mantova - 29/10/2006

Source: italian press

Four people were arrested during troubles who occured at the stadium during this game.
All arrested are Mantova ultras.
Police forces used CCTV to arrest them after troubles erupted, opposing Mantova fans to police forces.

Larissa - PAOK Saloniki - 29/10/2006

Source: Phantis + Khatemerini

Greek fans clash during soccer game

At least 30 people had minor injuries Sunday when rival soccer fans clashed during a Greek league match.

Hundreds of Larissa and PAOK supporters fought in the stands of the Alkazar stadium during the match, hurling rocks and flares at each other and tearing up seats.

Police used tear gars to disperse the rioting supporters, forcing the referee to suspend the match for 25 minutes.

Clashes between rival supporters also broke out outside the stadium after the match.

PAOK won 2-1. Larissa and PAOK are level in fourth place with 12 points in the 16-team league.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs37D7IwtKE

Panathinaikos and AEK fined after derby violence - 27/10/2006

Source: Reuters

Panathinaikos and AEK Athens were fined 120,000 euros ($152,100) on Friday following the violence which marred their derby match earlier in the week.
Monday's game was delayed by 20 minutes after fighting between rival fans led to 20 people being injured.
A spokesman for AEK said the club had already lodged an appeal against the fine. Panathinaikos are expected to follow suit.
Another Athens club Ionikos have been docked four points and fined 80,000 euros after club president Christos Kanellakis was found guilty of trying to hit a referee after a league game.
Kanellakis allegedly attempted to punch Theofilos Fotiadis when the duo met at the airport after Ionikos had been beaten 2-0 by Kerkyra.
The Ionikos president was banned from attending games for three years.
Ionikos have appealed against the decision.

Mourinho wants jail for Blades bottle thrower - 30/10/2006

Source: Soccernet

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has called for a fan who threw a bottle at Frank Lampard during the victory over Sheffield United to be jailed.

The incident happened in the closing moments of the Blues' 2-0 win at Bramall Lane when the England midfielder went to take a corner at the Blades' Kop end.

Mourinho told the Daily Mail: 'It's a serious incident but what can I say? If one guy did it, and if we can catch him and send him home or get him to spend a night in jail, that would be perfect.

'But it wouldn't be fair to punish the club or 30,000 fans. I don't think the club can be punished because of one individual. Maybe the guy drank red wine or beer with breakfast instead of milk.'

Lampard attempted to play down the incident, saying: 'It was only a plastic water bottle and there are no hard feelings for me.

'I know it's not something you want to see, but if it had landed on me I might have felt different. There was quite good banter in the far corner and nothing nasty aimed at me.'

Boca go top in Argentina despite more trouble - 29/10/2006

Source: Reuters

Boca Juniors beat Argentinos Juniors 2-1 to go back to the top of the Argentine championship as the competition, which has been plagued by postponed and interrupted matches, ran into more trouble at the weekend.

The Banfield-Racing Club game was postponed less than half an hour before kick-off after a floodlight problem even though commentators said the game could comfortably have been played.

Boca have 28 points from 11 games and lead on goal difference from Estudiantes and River Plate, who have played two games more.

Estudiantes beat Nueva Chicago 2-1 and River were held 0-0 by Independiente.

Boca's win over Argentinos produced nine yellow cards and two reds on Sunday.

Boca defender Juan Krupoviesa scored with a diving header in the 40th minute but was sent off for insulting the referee in the 62nd minute, two minutes after Argentinos Juniors midfielder Christian Ledesma was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Mauro Boselli increased Boca's lead in the 72nd minute and Sebastian Carrera pulled one back for Argentinos with five minutes left.

Boca have two matches in hand after being involved in two of the championship's trouble-hit games.

Their match at Gimnasia-La Plata in September was abandoned at halftime after the referee said he had been threatened by the president of the home team while their match at Racing Club last week was called off due to a row over hooliganism.

Two other matches have been abandoned due to crowd trouble in the competition and on Saturday night the Banfield-Racing clash was postponed because of problems in one of the floodlight towers.

Referee Sergio Pezzotta called off the game after consulting both goalkeepers with the stadium already full of supporters.

Estudiantes, again inspired by former Lazio and Manchester United midfielder Sebastian Veron, claimed their sixth win in a row against Nueva Chicago.

Mariano Pavone, with his eighth goal of the competition, and an Adrian Gonzalez own goal put Estudiantes in control in the first half before Federico Higuain replied for the visitors before halftime.

Previous leaders River Plate were held 0-0 draw with midtable Independiente.

Rosario Central beat Newell's Old Boys 4-1 in the Rosario derby helped by goals from former Costa Rica striker Paulo Wanchope and former Argentina midfielder Kily Gonzalez.

Eduardo Coudet and Marco Ruben completed the scoring for Rosario while Carlos Araujo replied for Newell's.

Newell's had Oscar Cardozo and Hugo Colace sent off in the second half.

The game was marred by another episode of crowd trouble as police fired rubber bullets at rioting Newell's fans at halftime. However, World Cup final referee Horacio Elizondo decided the game could continue.

Pics: Banfield-Racing

Greece: Hooligans attack sports journos - 30/10/2006

Source: The Australian

THREE Greece sports journalists were injured at a basketball game and a football match was interrupted when police fired tear gas at hooligans overnight.

In Piraeus, three journalists were attacked by fans of local basketball club Olympiakos following a last-second, 74-73 home loss to cross-town rival Panathinaikos Athens, the association of Greek sports journalists said.

One journalist had to be taken to hospital after being hit on the head with an iron bar.

Violence also marred a football game in the central town of Larissa, between the home club and PAOK Salonika. The game was stopped when riot police fired tear gas to divide rival fans.

Television footage showed riot police standing idly by as visiting PAOK fans tore down a dividing fence in the stands to get closer to home supporters, and players fleeing the stadium to escape the tear gas.

The game later resumed with Larissa losing 2-1.

Thirty fans were injured in the exchange of broken seats and flares, state television NET reported, adding that rival supporters clashed at a train station before the match.

Organisers of the Greece football league, which was recently relaunched as a Super League solely run by clubs in a bid to combat hooliganism, accused the police of failing to ensure order at matches.

The ministries of sports and public order countered that clubs ought to take more responsibility for combating the violence that endemically plagues Greece sport, such as hiring more private security and vetting supporter groups suspected of harbouring repeated offenders.

"The police has a responsibility to enforce the law, not to act as animal tamers," said Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras in a statement.

A week ago, three police officers and another 17 people sustained minor injuries in a pitch invasion ahead of a game between AEK Athens and Panathinaikos at Athens' Olympic Stadium.

Ipswich football yob banned - 29/10/2006

Source: Evening Post

AN Ipswich carpenter is banned from football matches for the next three years today after a court heard he is one of the town's most violent football hooligans.

Peter Meadows, 28, of Ascot Drive, Racecourse, was at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on October 18 to hear the verdict in a landmark civil case brought by Suffolk police.

After summarising a string of violent behaviour convictions and incidents involving Meadows, District Judge David Cooper said it would be “irrational” not to make a banning order.

“Without a shadow of a doubt he is part of a small minority for whom the attraction of football matches is not the game but the warfare,” Judge Cooper said.

“The applicant [Suffolk police] has established Mr Meadows has caused or contributed to violence or disorder in committing three serious offences related directly or indirectly to football.

“It must surely be the case that it would be irrational not to make a banning order,” he added.

The powerful legislation prevents Meadows, who previously told The Evening Star he was upset that he was being punished again for offences he committed three years ago, from attending any football games in England and Wales as well as games abroad.

It also stops him from entering the town centre three hours before or after an Ipswich Town or England game and he is not allowed within five miles of a town or city where either of the teams is playing.

The first hearing in the case took place in May.

At that time Meadows was prevented from travelling to the World Cup in Germany as a result of having to remain in England and Wales while fighting the order.

Prior to delivering his verdict Judge Cooper said Meadows argued his case in earlier hearings but had left him unconvinced.

“The argument of Mr Meadows was that although he accepted he had caused violence in the past he wanted to attend games in the future and would not take part in violence or disorder,” Judge Cooper said.

“However I found his demeanour in the witness box cut an entirely unconvincing figure.

“At no time has he expressed any sincere regret for his past conduct or outlined any steps to prevent future bad behaviour,” he added.

Judge Cooper said police had told the court that Ipswich Town Football Club enjoys relatively trouble-free support but needed to provide a “huge” presence for matches due to the “threat” of Meadows and a group of associates.

Meadows was also described as having a “significant impact” on Suffolk Constabulary and one officer described him as “one of Ipswich Town's main risk supporters”.

Judge Cooper said the officer revealed that “where you find Meadows you find other risk supporters”.

Meadows is eligible to contest the ban in two years' time.

He was ordered to pay £3,819.63 costs.

October 1999 - Affray. Nine-month suspended sentence.

A man was attacked with a broken bottle before three men, including Meadows, kicked the victim while he was on the ground.

It was accepted in court that Meadows was not the man with the bottle.

March 2003 - Criminal damage. Ordered to pay a fine and costs.

A conviction relating to an incident on June 21, 2002, the day England played Brazil in the quarter final of that year's World Cup tournament in Japan.

Meadows became angry while on a bus and “got up into the face of the driver who thought he was going to be hit”.

He then hit the glass of the door.

October 2004 - Threatening behaviour. Sentenced to a community punishment order.

Incident occurred on August 20, 2003, the day England played Croatia in a friendly at Ipswich's Portman Road ground.

Two rival groups were at The Old Rep pub in Tower Street when a group of men in the pub surged towards officers and glasses were thrown from inside the pub.

Shards of glass hit a passing family that included a 72-year-old man and a seven-year-old boy.

Meadows was drunk and disorderly in Whitley Bay in November 200 following a match between Ipswich and Newcastle.

He had been prosecuted after the Ipswich versus Norwich game in February 1998 following a fracas at the Curve Bar in Princes Street, but was not found guilty of any offence.

He appeared in court following the England Denmark World Cup game in 2002 after a brawl but the prosecution was dropped.

Meadows was issued with a warning by Suffolk police's football intelligence officer Pc Dave King for acting in an aggressive manner when Ipswich played at Southampton on January 21 this year.

Meadows was also said to have abused Pc King when he travelled to Moscow to support Ipswich in the UEFA Cup in 2001 when he walked past the constable and said: “die Kingy, die”.

Meanwhile a newspaper photograph was said to show Meadows involved in a pitch invasion when Ipswich played Norwich in September 2003.

SPEAKING to The Evening Star after the case Mr Meadows admitted he had behaved badly in the past but said he was no longer involved in football violence.

He added: “I have been in trouble in the past - that has happened, but the last conviction I have is three years ago and I think it's a shame you can be punished for the same crimes over and over again.

“The financial costs will hit me hard because it is quite a lot of money and I feel I have paid my dues before.

“I think the whole thing was blown out of all proportion. I feel that I have been made an example of because this is the first case of its kind.

“I haven't been in any trouble for over three years but this has dragged on since May and I haven't been able to go on holiday during the summer because my passport was taken away.

“The whole thing has been quite upsetting and I feel the judge didn't really listen to me.

“Unfortunately I have previous convictions but I was punished for them at the time so why should it happen again?

“I can't get away from the facts but I feel strongly about it and now I can no longer watch the club I love.”

German police, politicians alarmed as soccer violence escalates - 29/10/2006

Source: Herald Tribune

BERLIN - A violent weekend in German soccer that left 23 policemen and more than 60 fans injured led to cries of alarm and demands for action Sunday from politicians and police.

On Friday, 500 Berlin police officers battled Dynamo Dresden fans to stop them from rushing the field through an emergency exit. In Augsburg, 56 people were treated for effects of pepper spray after clashes with police during and after a second-division match.

"I'm very uneasy about this — the violence in the stadiums is clearly increasing," said Konrad Freiberg, the head of the union representing police.

Politicians joined Freiberg in demanding measures taken against the violence, which has escalated since Germany hosted the World Cup.

"Those caught have to face tough punishment, from a stadium ban to criminal proceedings," Ralf Stegner, the state interior minister of Schleswig-Holstein, told Welt am Sonntag weekly. "We need a zero tolerance policy against the so-called fans."

Troublemakers have mostly targeted lower leagues, where financially strapped clubs can't afford good security. Sparse crowds and a lack of media coverage allow them to flourish outside the spotlight.

On Friday, the county of Siegen-Wittgenstein in western Germany canceled 70 amateur and youth games after a spate of attacks on referees. Last weekend, an official was stabbed by his linesman wielding a corner flag.

A referee was also forced to lock himself in the dressing room to escape angry players from a youth team.

"Enough is enough. In the lower leagues, the violence is growing constantly — I hear that from other counties too," said Juergen Boecking, Siegen-Wittgenstein's top soccer official.

The German soccer federation and the Bundesliga, which politicians have urged to fund increased security in the lower divisions, have arranged a crisis meeting for Tuesday.

Soccer officials are clearly startled by the recent violence. On Wednesday, a linesman was knocked unconscious when a spectator flung a filled plastic cup at him during a German Cup match.

"It's terrible that a phenomenon we thought was buried by the World Cup is in the spotlight again," soccer federation president Theo Zwanziger said. "It's very clear we just can't go about business as usual."

Germany drew wide praise for hosting a calm World Cup despite fears beforehand of hooliganism.

Although much of the violence has centered in relatively poor former East Germany, whose top clubs have sunk deep into the lower leagues, in Augsburg it was 150 supporters of 1860 Munich who rampaged.

They shattered the windows of their bus, threw bottles, shouted insults and tore seats out of the stadium during the second-division match before police moved in with pepper spray.

Police union chief Freiberg also warned of an increase in far-right sympathizers among fans. Anti-Semitic chants were heard from Dresden fans before the battle against Berlin police, where four officers were hospitalized.

Dutch midfielder Ellery Cairo reported Saturday that he was the victim of racist taunts, including jungle noises, when his Hertha Berlin team played at Energie Cottbus in the first division.

"Sometime, that has got to stop," he said.

That incident came amid an anti-racist campaign by the German Soccer Federation — triggered by similar chants against Ghana-born Germany midfielder Anthony Yeboah and Brazilian midfielder Kake.

Germany's lower league violence worries DFB chief - 29/10/2006

Source: Reuters

German Football Association (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger will meet Bundesliga chief Werner Hackmann on Tuesday to discuss a worrying rise in fan violence in the country's lower leagues.

"We have noted the recent incidents with dismay," Zwanziger said in a statement on Sunday. "We take this very seriously."

A riot at the regional third division match between Hertha Berlin's second team and Dynamo Dresden on Friday led to 23 injuries to police and brought 22 arrests, the DFB said on Sunday.

"I'm especially concerned at the injuries to the police," Zwanziger said. "I would like to apologise and to wish them a good recovery."

There was also crowd trouble and a number of arrests at the second division match between Augsburg and TSV 1860 Munich the same night.

That followed the incident in the German Cup on Tuesday night, when the referee abandoned the match between Stuttgarter Kickers and Hertha Berlin after a linesman was hit in the head by a beer cup thrown from the crowd.

The DFB also reported on Sunday that around 30 fans stormed the pitch at a lower league match in Baden-Wuerttemberg, while all the weekend's matches in the Siegen-Wittgenstein area were called off because of growing violence on the pitch and off it.

Eintracht Braunschweig - Greuther Furth - 27/10/2006

Source : UB01 website



Thx to the sender

Blackpool - Bradford City - 28/10/2006

Source : Blackpool Today

Football thugs in clash on streets

AROUND 80 football hooligans clashed in Blackpool town centre on Saturday night.

The thugs were involved in pitched battles around the Chapel Street area following Blackpool's 4 -1 win over Bradford at Bloomfield Road.
Police were confronted by rowdy fans before the game and fighting continued after the final whistle in the streets surrounding the ground.
The Princess Hotel on Foxhall Road had windows smashed as the violence continued.
Police recommended the Royal Oak on Lytham Road close its doors after the match.
Manager Sarah Bettney said: "The police said to us there had been one or two incidents, although none of the fans drinking in our pub had been involved.
"But because we do get a lot of football fans in on match days the police came in and said it might be a good idea to close because of the trouble which had already gone on.
"We closed the doors from around 4.40pm and opened them back up at 6pm and we just let home fans in.
"We didn't stop serving at any time, just closed the doors as a precaution."
Evidence gathering teams were out at the scene until late on Saturday and police have said they are confident of making arrests in the near future.

OGC Nice - Marseille - 29/10/2006

Source: REÜTERS

Fireman maimed by firebomb at Nice v OM clash



The Ligue 1 match between Nice and Olympique Marseille was suspended for five minutes after a fireman was hurt by a firebomb, a security officer said on Sunday.
The firebomb was thrown from the Marseille fans' stand and the fireman lost two fingers when trying to grab it on the ground.
The match was interrupted while stewards in the Stade du Ray tried to find the fireman's fingers.
"The bomb exploded in the fireman's hands," Andre Bloch said after the game won 2-1 by Nice.
"In the past four years there have been strong measures to prevent people from bringing these bombs into the stadium.
"But they are only five centimetres in diametre and therefore are very hard to detect," he added.
"We are looking at television footage to identify the people who threw the bomb and the prosecutor has ordered an investigation on the matter."
Marseille chairman Pape Diouf was upset by the incident.
"Defeat is part of the game but what I will remember from this evening is this image of violence which I strongly condemn," he told reporters.




Nice investigation into firebomb at victory over Marseille

Nice have started an investigation after a homemade firebomb was thrown from the football crowd and injured a fireman during Sunday's 2-1 win over Marseille.

The fireman lost two fingers when he attempted to pick up the bomb, which had been thrown by Marseille fans, and the match had to be suspended for five minutes. The fireman was taken to a hospital that treats hand injuries.

Nice security boss Andre Boch said: "He thought it was a flare and picked it up but it exploded in his hands.

"We are looking at television footage to identify those who threw the bomb."

Marseille football fans were detained for two hours after the match and police sniffer dogs helped search them.

Andre Boch said he was determined to find the culprits but admitted the bombs were very hard to discover.

"In the past four years there have been strong measures to prevent people from bringing these bombs into the stadium but they are only five centimetres in diameter and therefore are very hard to detect," Andre Boch explained.

Cops cleared of beating up football fans - 19/10/2006

Source: Birmingham Mail

POLICE have been cleared of any wrongdoing following an inquiry into claims that baton-wielding riot cops assaulted fans when Birmingham's Euro 2004 soccer party exploded in violence.

Watchdogs launched an investigation into events following England's last minute capitulation to France in June 2004.

A number of fans accused police of hitting them with batons and pushing them over as the riot officers tried to clear crowds from Broad Street.

But an 18-month inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission concluded that there was no evidence of any criminal actions by officers and no disciplinary issues either.

Even so, West Midlands Police was asked to look at steps to improve the planning and risk assessment of public events and improve the ability to identify individual officers policing such events.

Edinburgh: 17 arrested after derby fans clash - 17/10/2006

Source: The Scotsman

TWELVE people were arrested following clashes between Hibs and Hearts fans after the weekend derby.

Shortly after Sunday's 2-2 draw at Easter Road, fans of both clubs became involved in violent scuffles in the Gorgie and Fountainbridge areas of Edinburgh.

The trouble flared in Lothian Road, when it is thought that up to 20 youths came across a group of Hibs fans smoking outside the Uluru Bar.

Later, about a hundred fans clashed in the streets of Fountainbridge just after 9pm, halting traffic.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman confirmed: "There were serious incidents of violence in the Fountainbridge, Ardmillan and Gorgie areas of the city."

Five more people were arrested at Easter Road during the game itself.

FA seek more info on bottle incident - 30/10/2006

Source: Teamtalk

The FA will write to Sheffield United for further information about the incident which saw a fan throw a plastic bottle at Frank Lampard.The incident happened in the closing moments of Chelsea's 2-0 win at Bramall Lane when the England midfielder went to take a corner at the Blades' Kop end.

Referee Martin Atkinson did not mention the incident in his report so the FA are to seek clarification from the club.

An FA spokesman said: "It was not reported by the match official and we will be writing to Sheffield United to ask for their comments and establish whether the offender was apprehended and if so what action was or will be taken."

Lampard has attempted to play down the incident, saying: "It was only a plastic water bottle and there are no hard feelings for me."

Shinnik Yaroslavl' - Spartak Moscow - 28/10/2006

source: Fanat1k.ru









Video: http://fanat1k.502.com1.ru/smallvideo/Yarik.2006.-.Myaso.vs.Homo.avi

AS Roma - Olympiakos Pireus - 31/10/2006

Source : dpa German Press Agency

Clashes in Rome ahead of Champions League match

Rome- Fans of Roma and Olympiakos have clashed in various part of Rome ahead of Tuesday evening's Champions League match at the Stadio Olimpico, Italy's ANSA news agency reported. In a first incident late Monday, a group of Roma supporters reportedly tried to set fire to the coach of 150 Greek fans staying at a hotel in the outskirts of the city.

The fire was quickly put off, but some cars parked nearby were damaged.

A second attack by Roma hooligans was reported in the early hours Tuesday at another hotel, where a visiting fan was stabbed in his leg.

Two other Greek supporters were assaulted as they walked along the Tiber river.

Clashes were also reported between Roma fans and police in the central Piazza Venezia. Nine fans were arrested.

Tension is high in the capital following fan clashes two weeks ago in Athens where Roma snatched a 1-0 win that took them close to qualification in Group D.






Source : La repubblica

Scotland: Police request nine orders banning rowdy football fans - 15/10/2006

Source: Sunday Herald

BRITISH Transport Police in Scotland have applied to have nine individuals banned from football grounds, the biggest number by any force since the powers were introduced last month.

It is understood that applications have been made against supporters of Aberdeen, Motherwell and St Johnstone football clubs relating to alleged violence and disorder on trains or in stations after football matches using the new exclusion orders, brought in on September 1.

Four teenagers aged between 17 and 19 are accused of fighting, throwing glasses and pool cues and committing a breach of the peace in Heroes Bar at Aberdeen train station on October 22 last year. The four are due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Tuesday, with a trial date set for next month.

An application has also been made against three Motherwell fans arrested for an alleged breach of the peace on a train between Falkirk and Glasgow, following the Falkirk-Motherwell match on August 26. The men, aged 21, 25 and 26, are due to appear in court on December 18.

And two men arrested and charged in connection with an alleged assault and breach of the peace on a train following a game between Dundee and St Johnstone are due stand trial next month.

Anyone who is convicted under the legislation will face being banned from every football ground in the country for up to 10 years, and would be prevented from travelling abroad with club or national teams. Those who break the order can be fined up to £5000 and jailed for up to six months.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We will take every opportunity to apply for banning orders for anyone convicted of a football-related offence on trains or the railway network.”

Task force to kick violence, racism out of German football - 31/10/2006

Source : AFP

The German Football Federation (DFB) and German Football League (DFL) revealed they have decided to assemble a task force to combat violence, racism and xenophobia.

The DFB and DFL will work in tandem to get an overview of where the problem areas lie in German football and the task force is aimed at helping with better communication and information.

"We want football without racism or violence. Parents and their children should not be afraid of being roped in to fighting on the pitch with idiots," said DFB president Theo Zwanziger.

"From the regional league downwards there are always incidents of violence. We must react to that."

The latest act of violence came over the weekend in the regional match between Dynamo Dresden and Hertha Berlin's reserve team resulted in 23 policemen becoming seriously injured as fans lost their heads.

It followed the controversial cup tie between Hertha Berlin and Stuttgart Kickers which was abandoned after the assistant referee was injured by an object launched from the crowd.

After hosting a safe World Cup in the summer, German football has had its image tainted by violent acts from supporters with racism also emerging as a problem.

A controversial cup match on September 9 started the racism row with Schalke 04's Ghana-born German international Gerald Asamoah subjected to monkey chants by the fans of Hansa Rostock's second team.

1.FC Pforzheim - Waldhof Mannheim - 28/10/2006

Source : City Boys website

Fights errupted between fans. Police used cs-gas. Some fans were arrested and one was injured.

Levski Sofia - Werder Bremen - 31/10/2006

Sourc : AP + Sportni.bg










Police stands in front of rioting fans of Levski Sofia before the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Bulgaria's Levski Sofia and Germany's Werder Bremen in the Vasil Levski national stadium in Sofia.

Swansea City - Millwall fc - 22/10/2006

Source : VitalFootball

Fans Riot After Millwall Win

Around 2-300 Swansea City 'fans' caused riots against the police yesterday after the 2-0 win over Millwall.

Bricks, glass, tyres and anything else they could find were being thrown at the police after the game as a few hundred Swansea 'fans' began rioting outside the stadium.

Some onlookers have even mentioned it was happening outside the Riverside pub.

Three policemen suffered head injuries as well as 2 supporters with head and leg injuries were taken to hospital.

Three arrests were made and the police have warned more will be made when they look at CCTV footage.

A spokesman said: 'As a result of the match between Swansea City and Millwall there were sporadic disturbances in the city. Police officers were deployed to deal with the incidents accordingly.

'Three officers suffered minor injuries as a result of spectators using projectiles.

'Three arrests have been made and further arrests will follow.

There was plenty of banter and taunting between the two sets of fans during the game and police were quickly on the scene to seperate them as some began to climb over the netting towards the opposing fans.

This seemed to kick things off a bit during the second half. People have commented that the police handed the situation badly which angered the group of violent supporters.

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

Car tyres, bottles and wing mirrors were hurled at police when an angry mob of around 300 Swans fans rioted after the match against Millwall yesterday.Eyewitness said around 200 police officers, many in riot gear, were quickly on the scene. Three police officer suffered head injuries after being hit with missiles and two supporters with head and leg injuries were also taken to hospital. Police made three arrests and have warned more will follow once they have studied CCTV footage of the incident. A police spokesman said: "As a result of the match between Swansea City and Millwall there were sporadic disturbances in the city. Police officers were deployed to deal with the incidents accordingly. "Three officers suffered minor injuries as a result of spectators using projectiles. "Three arrests have been made and further arrests will follow. Swans director Dave Morgan said last night, the reason for the trouble was unclear. It is believed Millwall fans were not involved. Swans fans said violence erupted on Siloh Road, near the Liberty Stadium, when police closed off the dual carriageway to home supporters after the game. Witnesses said there was chaos in the streets as the police tried to control the crowd of Swansea supporters. One fan, who did not want to be named, said: "The police cordoned off the dual carriageway between the stadium and Rossi's restaurant. "Fans weren't able to walk across it. "It just created aggravation in the fans and they retaliated against the police. "The police were in riot gear, some had dogs, some were on horseback. "At one stage there were car tyres being thrown at the police, it was terrible. "I just got out of there as quickly as I could." "People started throwing bottles and tyres at the police."

Other witnesses described the terrifying clash between the fans and police desperately trying to restore order. Neil Lloyd, aged 23, of Gorseinon: "It started in Siloh Road after we had left the ground. "It was frightening." James Williams, aged 22, of Winch Wen, added: "I was standing nearby when it all started. "I saw a fan with his head split open." Another fan who did not want to be named said: "It wasn't the Millwall fans, it was Swansea fans against the police. "Bricks and bottles were being thrown at the police, it really got quite frightening." Fans were also seen fighting outside nearby Rossi's restaurant. A spokesman said: "It was really bad, we had to shut the shutters to save the windows. "We were really frightened." Swans director Dave Morgan said there had been no trouble inside the stadium. "During the match, some Millwall fans did run into a segregated seating area which had been kept empty. "But stewards quickly moved them back and there was no further problems inside." Mr Morgan said he believed the Millwall fans had been bussed out of the stadium before the trouble started in Siloh Road.






Millwall lads

Assyriska fans riot at relegation match - 30/10/2006

Source: The Local

Riot police were needed on Sunday to protect the referee in a play-off match between Assyriska and Bunkeflo, at Assyriska's home ground in Södertälje. A section of furious home supporters threw glass bottles and seat legs at match officials, while others invaded the pitch.

Assyriska's head of security Munir Rahvi blamed the referee for the tumultuous scenes.

Eighteen months ago the sports pages of Sweden's newspapers were full of the rags to riches strory of the immigrant club that had made it all the way to the top. Founded in 1974, Assyriska had quickly advanced through the divisions before making its debut in the top division, Allsvenskan, in 2005.

Assyrians all over the world followed the fortunes of the Södertälje-based club. Despite some impressive early results however the club struggled in the top flight and was relegated to Superettan this time last year.

Back in the lower division the club struggled to find its feet and last night found itself playing for its survival in Superettan. Bunkeflo's late equalizer yesterday in the play-off match's second leg was enough to consign Assyriska to the relative anonymity of life outside the upper echelons of Swedish football.

When referee Patrik Berglund waved his red card at Assyriska's goalkeeper, Christian Frealdsson, a group of supporters invaded the pitch and attempted to attack the leading official. Berglund fled to the dressing rooms with forty seconds of the match remaining.

"I didn't have time to be frightened. I just tried to get out of there as quickly as possible," Berglund told Metro.

When riot police arrived at the stadium Berglund was able to return to the pitch and allow the teams to play out the remaining seconds.

The final whistle was accompanied by a hail of glass bottles. One of the referee's assistant was fortunate not to be struck in the head. Berglund was later escorted from the stadium by riot police.

"I felt threatened. There was a bad atmosphere for the whole match," Berglund told Expressen.

Assyriska's head of security Munir Rahvi described not the fans' behaviour but the referee as "scandalous", blaming him for the scenes at the end of the game.

"The referee had a bad game. That was what caused it all," Rahvi told Metro.