Season 06/07 - February

LOSC - MAN UTD: Uefa to investigate crowd disturbance - 21/02/2007

Source : Irish Times

Uefa have launched an investigation into the circumstances which led to at least two Manchester United fans being helped out of the crowd during their side's Champions League away trip to Lille.

Reports suggested a problem was caused by a crush at a 10-foot high barrier at the front of the stand after fans with tickets for other parts of the ground were ushered into the area.

Nobody was reported injured, although at least two supporters, including one child, were helped over the barrier.

Officials from Uefa and United are attempting to find out the precise reasons behind the incident but if early speculation about ticketless fans is proved correct, Lille can expect to receive a heavy punishment.

At one stage police fired tear gas into the crowd to quell the disturbance at Lens's Stade Felix-Bollaert.

Afterwards Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar claimed that his vision had been affected by the gas.

United won the game 1-0 after a quickly taken Ryan Giggs free-kick. Lille were incensed the goal was allowed to stand given keeper Tony Sylva was still lining up his wall and goalkeeping coach Jean Noel Duse called the home players to the sideline in what appeared to be an attempt to get the game abandoned.

United manager Alex Ferguson was furious at the conduct of his opponents, particularly as he felt his own side had done nothing wrong.

"If the referee allows you to take a quick free-kick, the goal should be allowed it is as simple as that," he said. "We have seen it a few times in the Premiership already. You ask the referee if you can take it. If he says yes, that is what you do.

"I have no idea who was responsible for what happened after that, it is not my concern, but I have never seen anything like that before. It was a disgrace."

Opposite number Claude Puel responded to Ferguson's attack with some critical comments of his own.

"I have heard this before from Sir Alex Ferguson because he likes to influence the referee. He is trying to create a situation.

"Of course, we are very disappointed because I would prefer to talk about football."




Video : https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19gva_lillemanu-crowd-disturbances

French police 'over-reacted' claim United fans - 22/02/2007

Source : Daily Mail

Angry Manchester United fans have rejected accusations they caused the crush that threatened the lives of supporters in Lens's Stade Felix Bollaert on Tuesday night.

The United fans arrived back in Manchester telling horrific stories of poor organisation and police brutality at the hands of French elite forces during their club's controversial 1-0 win over Lille in the Champions League.

UEFA have already launched an investigation into the incident and it is possible that Lille could be kicked out of the competition — if United have not already beaten them in the second leg — when Europe's governing body meet on March 22.

But last night the French police inflamed the situation by suggesting that United fans were impossible to control and were to blame for trying to enter the ground with forged tickets.

A spokesman for the French police said: "Some English fans had counterfeit tickets. The capacity of this stand is 3,500, and it seems there were 5,000 fans in there. We had to intervene as some policemen were in opposition with fans who were out of control. They had to use tear gas."

Mark Longden of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association hit back and said: "This is an outrageous accusation but typical of another Continental police force that has chosen to hit people first and ask questions later.

"Every week at Old Trafford we have 76,000 people and there is never any trouble. So why does it happen in Europe? Because we are English they think they can do what they like to us, because of our reputation. It is a scandal."

According to other witnesses, United fans were beaten and attacked with dogs and tear gas outside the stadium before kick-off.

Further problems occurred when fans without tickets were admitted early in the first half, causing a crush at the front of the United section.

United fan Iain Kelly said: "We were forced in through one tiny entrance and police were pushing the queue from the back. Once we were in it was clear there were too many people in there. As we were waiting to get out at the end of the game the police fired some kind of gas at us.

"There were kids and old men there who were affected and I ended up carrying two blokes out who couldn't see because of the gas. There were plenty of dazed United fans staggering around outside. The police then started to pile in with their batons — everyone was getting hit."

United are compiling their own report for UEFA and many fans have already responded to an appeal to contact the club with their accounts.

United had been shocked by poor facilities at the stadium when officials visited it after the draw for the last 16 was made.

A United spokesman said: "We will put a report in to UEFA and in order to do that it is crucial that we collect all the evidence from our supporters that we can."

With Dutch club Feyenoord having been thrown out of the UEFA Cup for crowd problems recently, Lille could face heavy sanctions.

UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner said: "Having seen what went on with the security side and in the match itself, it would be standard procedure for the referee to report the incidents and for the control and disciplinary committee to take the appropriate action."



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'Pepper spray, tear gas, fans in cages... it felt like the 80s'

Mark Harrison is a 27-year-old Manchester United season ticket holder from Cheshire. He has followed United home and away for 12 years.

"I think my worst memory of Tuesday night was seeing a young girl clinging to the fence at the front of the United section.

Panicked by the crush developing behind here, she couldn't have been more than 15 and she was terrified and crying.

She just wanted to get out.

So what did the police do? They sprayed tear gas in her face.

I have been following Manchester United away in Europeand have never seen anything like it.

Pepper spray, tear gas, police beatings, fans in cages. It was like being back in the 1980s. And all because the authorities couldn't handle the game properly.

As we entered the stadium, nobody checked our tickets. They could have been fake or anything and that ultimately was what caused the problem.

Just after kick-off, loads of fans were still trying to get in, some with genuine tickets, some with fakes and others with no tickets. And I think the police and stewards just panicked and let them in at the back.

We were all standing on these old bucket seats and when you have that situation you just need one fan to be pushed and fall and there is a domino effect. That is what happened.

A crush quickly developed at the front and everybody was just thinking: "Let this not be another Hillsborough".

It was terrifying for us all, not just the women and the older people involved.

We were pleading with the police and stewards to let us out but they just thought we wanted to cause trouble. That's what happens with English fans. It's the reputation, unfortunately.

It was getting seriously scary and a couple of lads managed to get out over the top. We also managed to open a safety gate in the fence to try to get people out.

But the police were just beating us back with batons and the two lads who did get out were beaten by the police. Ten police on one United fan. I have never seen anything like that.

The tear gas wasn't nice either. Our eyes were streaming and our throats were burning. It was horrendous and like that for half an hour.

It wasn't much better at the end. They kept us in the cage and then opened one exit to let 4,000 fans out. So there was another crush.

And then they wouldn't let us out of the car park. It was late and it was cold. We had seriously had enough.

Some United fans started fighting among themselves. It had just been a long night.

We won the game but that isn't what people will remember. We felt like we were back in the dark ages."

Lille OSC - MAN UTD pics

Source : CORBIS

SK Beveren - SK Lokeren - 17/02/2007

Source: mail

Lokeren lads attacked their own playersbus after the lose against their biggest rival Beveren. Rocks and bottle were trown to the bus. Windows were smashed. After that there was a little fight with the stewards and some turkish people. Then the police arrived and all Lokeren lads left the place.

United fan on France nightmare - 23/02/2007

Source : This is Anfield

The scenes at Man United’s match in France on Tuesday night brought back horrible images of the Hillsborough disaster 18 years ago.

While English stadiums have moved on to prevent such disasters recurring, many European stadiums are years behind with fencing and poor policing - particularly when the English are in town.

Our resident United fan, Kenny, was at the match and describes the scene and shows how European police and media still brand English supporters as yobs and hooligans - something which is far from the truth.

Kenny writes:

Let me tell you that the whole thing was a fit up from start to finish.

The French dibble (police) was “at it” all day - baton charging any groups of say larger than 20, and scattering everyone all over the place. Once we got to Lens mid-afternoon there was two bars on opposite corners of the street. Hardly any singing as it was quite early and lots had still not arrived. Outside one of the bars roughly 40 dibble had camped outside and it was clear they were provoking confrontation. Only 15 minutes after amassing outside this bar they did a co-ordinated charge on the bar over the road, which sent fans running all over the place. A group of fans came running up the road towards the bar we was all in. Among them was a guy carrying what looked like a young girl of about 15 years of age. As he was running with her under his arm, two policemen chased them hitting the guy over the head whilst the other battered the girls legs with a night stick.

On arrival at the ground, any “English” supporters where plucked out of the queues and escorted by stewards and police to the lower section of the stand which by this point was already clearly filled to bursting point. I made it known to stewards that we was in the wrong section and produced my ticket as proof, he then took us all over to 2 coppers who told us in no uncertain terms to get back in line for the lower tier or be batoned out of the stadium to a waiting police van.

We was actually being forcibly pushed by the riot police into the crushing fans. There was fans passing people who were injured over the fencing and there was probably the best part of 1,000 fans still to come into the ground. Those who actually made it over the fences were CS gased, batoned and arrested. It was an absolute disgrace. And all this whilst the second tier of the stand we all had tickets for stared down at us totally empty.

What made things worse was the French press the next morning had plastered all over the front pages…”Manchester hooligans…..animals” accompanied by pictures of police rioting with football supporters. Problem being, the pictures showed fans topless, with shorts on, trainers with no socks, and some of them with red crosses painted on their faces.

Well let me tell you! No one in their right mind would have been dressed like that in temperatures of 2 degrees, and some of the matchday morning it actually sleeted for 40 minutes. The pictures were archive photos of England fans from years gone by.

Hopefully for all football supporters the inquiry into the events finds the truth and the French authorities are forced to change their ways.

Argentina: Sportivo Italiano - Social Español - 20/02/2007

Source : Nuevo Diario de Santiago del Estero

Argentina's Soccer Gangs Test Limits of Public Tolerance - 24/02/2007

Source : Washington Post

Efforts to Curb Organized Hooliganism Follow Recent Mass Fights in Stadiums

Even by the standards of Argentina, where people like to joke that soccer is less a pastime than a pathology, a recent surge of fan violence has been exceptional.

In the past two weeks, local stadiums have erupted in mass fights -- some of them all-out brawls injuring dozens of fans -- an average of every other day.

Politicians are vowing reforms, and most fans and league officials are blaming the violence on organized hooligan groups known as barrabravas, which are increasingly labeled as out-of-control mafias eroding the integrity of the sport.

On Tuesday afternoon, as police fired rubber bullets into a crowd to separate warring fans in a Buenos Aires suburb, a congressional committee was grilling the president of River Plate, one of South America's most famous soccer clubs, about the violence that has resulted in the closure of its 65,000-seat stadium for five games.

Among the incidents in question was a gun-and-knife fight Feb. 11 among members of a River Plate hooligan gang that sent picnicking families fleeing the stadium.

River Plate officials eventually expelled six fans known to be affiliated with the barrabrava. But the incident sparked a public backlash against such gangs, many of which are rumored to receive money, tickets and jobs from the clubs. Club officials customarily deny links to the barrabravas. Many hooligan leaders, even those widely known to belong to specific gangs, often treat their affiliations as badly kept secrets: They shun media exposure and publicly deny connections to specific acts of violence as well as links to the clubs. But almost everyone else connected to the sport -- from security officials down to the most casual of fans -- simply assumes that the hooligan gangs and the clubs they cheer for are closely connected.

"The barrabravas are a cancer," said Hernán Fernández, 30, a River Plate fan standing outside the stadium one evening this week to protest its closure. "They have been a problem for a long time, but now they are stronger than ever, and the problems are getting worse."

According to local security officials, the gangs -- which began in Argentina in the 1950s -- have begun exporting their methods. Javier Alberto Castrilli, an official with Argentina's Interior Ministry who is in charge of soccer security, said the barrabravas' influence has spread in the past five years across South America and into Mexico.

"Here in South America, in countries where five years ago you'd never be able to imagine that so much soccer-related violence could exist . . . organization among barrabravas has reached very highly developed levels," Castrilli, a former World Cup referee, said in an interview Tuesday. "Groups abroad are copying the chants, the songs and even the flags that got their start here in Argentina."

According to a report this week in Olé, an Argentine daily newspaper devoted to soccer, leaders of some of the country's major barrabravas have shared their methods with fan groups in countries including Colombia and Mexico, charging money for courses in how to extort from team officials, use weapons and generally wreak havoc. The article quoted Rafael Di Zeo, considered a leader of a barrabrava of the Boca Juniors club, as saying that groups such as his are considered "the Harvard" of hooligans worldwide. "They come here to learn," Di Zeo said, according to the article.

Whether connected to the Argentine gangs or not, fan-related violence has spiraled throughout the region this year. In Colombia last week, police broke up fights between rival fan groups, according to the Associated Press. In Mexico, officials outlawed the free distribution of tickets to unruly fan clubs. In Peru, 10 people were injured by flying debris during a club match. In Chile, officials suspended two university matches, citing inadequate security.

South America has no monopoly on fan violence, however. This week, French police used tear gas to dampen passions at a Champions League match between Lille and Manchester United. In Italy this month, soccer games were suspended after a police officer was killed during a riot. And German officials canceled matches last weekend after fans attacked 300 police officers outside a stadium in Saxony on Feb. 10.

In Argentina, officials say they hope legislative measures can stem the influence of the hooligan groups. Castrilli and Interior Minister Aníbal Fernandez have sponsored a bill that would give judges more power to stop hooligan leaders from entering stadiums. They have also suggested that the stadiums need better security measures, such as more video and audio surveillance devices.

"These stadiums were designed 60 or 70 years ago, when the public wore ties to soccer matches," Castrilli said. "It's a different world now."

Castrilli said the current problems stem from the culture of leniency and neglect that ruled Argentine soccer in the 1980s, when the barrabravas amassed power. But even in recent years, threats of crackdowns have had little effect. In the late '90s, then-President Carlos Menem issued executive orders to prevent known hooligans from entering stadiums, but most clubs ignored them.

River Plate's president, José María Aguilar, testifying before the National Congress this week, said he maintained absolutely no relations with the group linked to last week's violence. He denied reports that the club pays the groups thousands of dollars each month and supplies them with free tickets.

But Aguilar added that expelling fans believed to be leaders of the barrabravas would probably do little to stem soccer violence because the hooligan groups have acquired too much cultural influence. He said that one of the hooligan leaders he expelled from River Plate this week, for example, signs as many autographs as the team's star midfielder.

"The attraction that they hold for the middle class, which includes the majority of the public, is something inexplicable," Aguilar said.


Police officers guard soccer fans after a Feb. 18 clash in Buenos Aires involving gangs known as barrabravas. "The barrabravas are a cancer," another fan said.

Israel: Fight breaks out between soccer fans in North - 24/02/2007

Source : Jerusalem Post

Fights broke out on Saturday afternoon at the soccer stadium in Jisr e-Zarka in northern Israel between fans of the home team and fans of the rival Barata club.

Police from Zichron Ya'acov were scrambled to the scene and began attempting to calm the crowd.

Two police officers were reported lightly injured, and at least two members of the crowd were arrested on suspicion of assault. According to Israel Radio, a Barata player was also arrested for allegedly throwing rocks.

Additional officers were called in to maintain order.

Aberdeen - Celtic Glasgow - 17/02/2007

Source : Mail

Aberdeen Soccer Casuals Vs Celtic Soccer Crew

30 CSC + 10 Bohemians Dublin lads travelled to Aberdeen
for last weeks SPL clash. 17 Feb 2007

the CSC and Bohs decided not to enter city center and stayed
in a bar just outside aberdeen.after bout an hour 2 ASC spotters
approached CSC and asked if they wanted some.

about 20 mins later 30 Aberdeen came round corner.and a good
toe to toe went on for about 5 to 10 minutes.Celtic managed to
back Aberdeen off to the edge of bar car park then ASC turned and
legged it as Celtic were well on top.

police arrived in 2 vans and few cars.took CSC names and then
put everyone on bus home.police gave escort to city motorway.
Aberdeen called to say well done on numbers and result(respect to ASC)

no arrests on both sides
1 CSC lad injury to head from can of beer thrown by ASC
great day
great result

Regards

CSC-Dirty Bastard Club

St. Mirren - Motherwell - 20/02/2007

Source : ITK

SS vs LSD

Around 10-15 SS YOUTH travelled to paisley last night.

St Mirren having around the same numbers failed to show in the arranged meeting place after the game but were met with ss heading back down to the station.

Good few punches exchanged from either side before St Mirren legged it down the road. Police were on the seen quickly forcing both mobs away pulling out battons and screaming round in their vans.

No real result for anybody really. Would have been a good off if St Mirren showed when meant to!

Red Star Beograd - Partizan Beograd - 24/02/2007

Source : Associated Press + Reuters

Serb police clash with soccer fans in Belgrade; 6 injured

Riot police clashed with fans in Belgrade on Saturday during and after a soccer match between local rivals Red Star and Partizan. At least six people were injured.

Red Star fans were angered by their team's 4-2 loss and built barricades in downtown Belgrade with trash bins as police on horseback charged at them, witnesses said.

At least 20 fans were arrested at the Red Star stadium and in later clashes, police said, with at least five fans and one policeman injured.

One fan seriously injured his eyes when a flare hit his face, hospital officials said.

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Thirteen injured, 27 arrested after Belgrade derby

Thirteen people were injured and 27 arrested in clashes between fans and police after Saturday's Serbian derby between Red Star Belgrade and city rivals Partizan, police said.

Four of the injured were riot police who came in to quell the violence while charges will be pressed against five of the offenders, one of whom assaulted a police officer, they said in a media statement.

Rival fans hurled rocks at each other and at police after Parizan won 4-2 to close the gap on champions and league leaders Red Star to nine points.

The Belgrade derby has a long history of crowd trouble as Red Star and Partizan fans often clash in a densely populated residential area, home to both stadiums which are less than 100 metres apart.














Video : http://lcn.canoe.com/cgi-bin/player/video.cgi?file=20070225-092605&link_nouvelle=http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/lemonde/archives/2007/02/20070225-092605.html&link_archive=/lemonde/&type_archive=Le Monde&alt=

Atlético Madrid - Real Madrid - 24/02/2007

Source : Radinrue + Reuters

Severe riots during Madrid derby

Severe troubles erupted in Madrid, provoked by Atletico fans prior to their game against arch-rivals from Real.

Journalists' cars and police forces cars were damaged.
Police forces charged several times near the stadium.

Finally, 17 people were injured; 6 transfered to the hospital.

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Madrid derby marred by crowd trouble

Police used rubber bullets and baton charges to disperse fans before Saturday's derby between Atletico and Real Madrid, Spanish media reported.

El Pais said the trouble started when a group of Atletico's ultra fans threw bottles and other objects at the police who responded by trying to disperse the crowd.

The fans reacted by destroying cars belonging to the local media that had been parked alongside the stadium.

Local emergency services said that the disturbances had resulted in minor injuries to 17 people, four of whom were taken to hospital.

In a separate incident around a dozen Atletico fans fell some two metres on to the ground at one end of the stadium when a barrier collapsed while they were celebrating the opening goal in the 1-1 draw. No one was reported hurt.

Fans held over pub brawl

Source : Bolton News

CCTV images of a mass pub brawl involving rival football fans have identified 10 suspects from the Bolton area.

Violence erupted close to Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium last month as about 40 fans hurled bar stools and bottles during a series of clashes at the FA Cup tie with Bolton Wanderers.

The brawl was caught on CCTV inside and outside the pub.

advertisementSix men from Bolton were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder by South Yorkshire police on Wednesday and a further four were held today.

All now face being made the subject of football banning orders, which will stop them travelling to games for up to 10 years.

The head of Bolton police, Chief Supt Dave Lea, said: "Anybody who travels to football matches to cause trouble will be caught and faces being banned from football.

"We have shown here that we can work with other police forces to take action against individuals who are involved in trouble away from Bolton.

"Football banning orders scare these people and have been very successful in reducing the amount of disorder at games."

A section of Whites fans left the game early after watching their side romp to a 4-0 lead in the thirrd round tie on Saturday, January 6, and started drinking in Yates's in Doncaster town centre.

Doncaster fans confronted the group and glasses, bottles and bar stools were used as missiles, leaving several windows in the pub broken and innocent drinkers cowering in fear.

Police officers from Bolton travelled to the town earlier this month to watch the CCTV footage and identified suspects.

The 10 Bolton fans arrested have been released on police bail pending further inquiries. Six Doncaster Rovers fans have also been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and released on bail.

Hannover 96 - Borussia Dortmund - 24/02/2007

Source : DPA

Dortmund Fans Cause Havoc In Bus

Police in Bielefeld on Sunday said that they arrested seven Borussia Dortmund fans after they caused havoc in a bus transporting them back to Dortmund after a Bundesliga match.

Dortmund lost 4-2 against Hanover 96 and fans threw bottles and smashed a window of the bus during the trip back.

The bus driver stopped the bus at a resting place and told the fans he would not complete the journey. Police tried to calm the 50 fans, but arrested seven of them.

Blackpool fc - Millwall fc - 24/02/2007

Source : Blackpool

Thugs arrested after clashes mar football

SOCCER thugs clashed as ugly scenes marred Blackpool's match against Millwall on Saturday.
Riot and mounted police were forced to push back angry mobs as trouble erupted around Bloomfield Road and in Blackpool town centre both before and after the match.

A line of riot police had to push back a baying mob of Millwall fans on Bloomfield Road just after the final whistle.

Police made several arrests for public order offences.

Blackpool Police drafted in extra patrols while intelligence officers from the Metropolitan Police in London travelled to the resort to hunt out known Millwall hooligans.

Various scuffles broke out in pubs in Blackpool town centre after the game, which Millwall won 1-0.

A spokesman for Blackpool police said: “We stationed mounted police outside the stadium long before the game started and were able to stop any large-scale violence happening.

“After the game a number of patrols guided visiting supporters into the town where many were staying overnight.

“There were a number of arrests but these were carried out after CCTV evidence was used to find those starting the trouble.

“There was no major outbreak of violence and we are pleased with the operation we carried out throughout Saturday.”

Millwall fans used The Castle on Central Drive as their base for the game while Blackpool fans mainly kept out of the town centre.

Dave Daly, landlord at The Castle, said: “There were more police out on the streets for a home game than I can ever remember.

“They did a very good job of keeping them apart and should use this zero tolerance approach more often.

“There was a hardcore of around 500 Millwall fans in my pub and they were spoiling for a fight.

“Fortunately, it did not happen.”

A total of 865 Millwall fans travelled from London to watch the League One clash.

Bristol City - Bristol Rovers - 21/02/2007

Source : Local press

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Leeds United - 24/02/2007

Source : Wolverhampton Express and Star

Supporters in clashes

Violence erupted after Wolves’ clash with Leeds when a fight between rival fans was disrupted by police.

Police chiefs said around 20 home fans and a handful of Leeds supporters were found gathered in Camp Street after Saturday’s game, which Wolves won 1-0.

Officers who had been deployed around the ground to disperse fans managed to split the group up before any trouble broke out.

1.FC Dynamo Dresden - VfL Osnabrück – 24/02/2007

Source : Reuters

Police probe fan attack on Dresden players

Police in the eastern German city of Dresden said on Monday they were investigating an incident in which Dynamo Dresden players were threatened by a group of around 50 of their own supporters.

After Dresden lost 1-0 at home to Osnabrueck on Saturday in a regional third division match, the supporters, some of whom wore masks, confronted the players at a training session on Sunday, shouting insults, firing blanks and attacking a television team.


'This has never happened in Germany before. It was really extreme,' a police spokesman said.

Officials were also investigating why the club did not inform the police, who first learned of the attack from a television report on Sunday evening, he added.

The incident was part of a recent pattern of violent behaviour among German soccer fans, particularly in the lower divisions and in eastern regions such as Saxony, where Dresden is the capital.

Saxony's soccer federation cancelled some 60 lower league games earlier this month after fans in the city of Leipzig assaulted police.

'I'm shocked,' Dynamo Dresden captain Sebastian Pelzer told Monday's edition of the Saechsische Zeitung newspaper. The club are seventh in the regional third division, seven points behind leaders Osnabrueck.

'They set off fireworks and charged at us. It makes you think about your wellbeing,' Pelzer added. Players were considering boycotting this Saturday's match against Fortuna Duesseldorf, MDR television reported.

Dynamo Dresden were once one of the most successful clubs in East Germany, winning the league title eight times.

Dinamo Zagreb - Hajduk Split - 24/02/2007

Source : Forums

Jail for thief who stole from football fans - 27/02/2007

Source : Burnley News

A PROLIFIC car criminal who targeted football fans' vehicles has been jailed and slapped with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order.

Sean NerneySean Nerney (27), of Hobart Street, Burnley, was jailed for four months for two counts of thefts from vehicles, but police are hoping his ASBO will deter him from further car crime in future.

Police said Nerney had a history of breaking into the cars of both home and away fans parked in or near Turf Moor during games.

The terms of the ASBO bar Nerney from entering any vehicle without prior consent of the owner, and either entering Burnley on days when Burnley Football Club are playing at home, or if in Burnley, to remain indoors two hours before, during and two hours after the match. It runs until February 2009.

Insp. Damian Darcy, of Burnley police, said Nerney was arrested as part of the ongoing Operation Forecourt, targeting prolific car criminals.

"When it began we sent letters out to all car criminals in the Burnley area warning them that if they continue their activities they are liable to be imprisoned or be given ASBOs," he said.

"Nerney didn't take heed of this so he has now lost his liberty and will lose further liberties when he is released. He had a history of breaking into the cars of football fans parked in and around Turf Moor."

CELTIC FANS FEAR MILAN CHAOS - 28/02/2007

Source : icScotland

WORRIED Celtic fans jammed the Record Sport switchboard last night as their Milan travel plans descended into chaos.

Thousands of supporters have booked package trips which include a match ticket for the Milan end but Parkhead chiefs insist they won't get into the San Siro with new security measures which mean only locals can enter the home section.

But travel agents running the unofficial trips insist the club are wrong and fans will be allowed in although punters still fear being locked out and even arrested.

Celtic have an official allocation of 4500 but double that amount are expected in the Italian city.

The club believe fans trying to gain entry to the wrong section will be asked for photographic ID to prove they live locally.

A Celtic spokesman said: "As usual, we would advise anyone not to travel unless they have a Celtic ticket bought through the official channels.

"AC Milan have told us they will not allow entry to the home areas of the stadium for non-local support."

Many fans have bought packages through Glasgow travel agent John Semple and Garry Ash of Flight Options - the company who put the package together for Semple - insists AC Milan will allow fans in. But he couldn't give a cast-iron guarantee.

He said: "AC Milan are not saying fans will not get in. It is probably better to have this interview after the game.

"Even the official Celtic tickets don't have a name on them, so how they can check the ID, I'm not sure.

"No law in Italy says you need a passport to get into a football game and we are quite happy with the position we are in.

"We've had these stories before for European Championships and World Cups. Let's just see what happens."

When it was put to Mr Ash that Celtic were extremely clear about the security measures he said: "Are they as clear about it as when the Press ran a similar story about Stuttgart a few years ago?

"It was written then that fans would not get into the game and Celtic had 5000 official tickets.

"And after the game everyone went around talking about the 15,000 Celtic fans who got in.

"There was nothing about how the story was wrong."

Blatter angry about fencing at Lens - 28/02/2007

Source : IN THE NEWS

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has slammed the decision taken by Uefa officials to play Manchester United's Champion's League game against Lille at Lens' Felix-Bollaert stadium.

United fans were caught in a crush during the match last week and Blatter feels that fencing which separates the crowd from the pitch heightened the danger to supporters.

Blatter said: "I cannot understand that those who organise the Champions League accept a stadium like Lens to play such a match.

"In Lens, there are fences still, and it should not be permitted to play Champions League matches in such a stadium."

Lille have claimed that an increased amount of supporters gained entry to the away end due to the circulation of forged tickets and that this was to blame for the incident.

United are thought to believe that the poor quality of tickets was to blame for the amount of forgeries.

However, Blatter thinks that some of Europe's clubs could learn from the way in which British stadiums have evolved in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

"It should be an example for everywhere else in the world. There is comfort and security in the stadia where everyone is seated and you have no fences," he said.

"If this were applied to all the other big leagues, some would not face the problems they are facing now."

The Red Devils will face Lille in the second leg next Wednesday with a 1-0 advantage heading into the tie.

Teen arrested for Italian soccer death - 28/02/2007

Source : UPI

A teenager was arrested Wednesday after officials used video footage to link him to the death of an Italian police officer during a soccer riot this month.

The arrest of the unidentified suspect comes after the Feb. 2 killing of Filippo Raciti prompted a crackdown on soccer violence throughout Italy, including the forced temporary closure of four Serie A clubs, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

The incident also led to the closure of the soccer stadium in Catania for the entire season, as it was the location for the deadly riot.

Film footage of the soccer riot obtained by police shows a hooligan repeatedly hitting Raciti with a piece of metal piping, giving him injuries from which he would later die at an area hospital.

The 38-year-old officer is survived by a wife and two children.

ANSA said that the riot during the Serie A match between Catania and Palermo included several instances of rowdy fans attacking police officers with firecrackers and metal bars.

Real Betis - Sevilla FC - Cup - 28/02/2007

Source : Reuters + AFP

Seville Cup tie halted after coach hit by object

The King's Cup quarter-final second leg between city rivals Real Betis and Sevilla was halted on Wednesday when Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was hit by an object thrown from the crowd after his side scored a goal.

Ramos was carried off the pitch unconscious on a stretcher shortly after Sevilla took the lead 1-0 on aggregate when striker Frederic Kanoute fired home 12 minutes into the second half.

Early reports said that the Sevilla coach had been hit by a coin thrown from the crowd, but later reports said it had been a plastic bottle.

Betis medical staff told reporters that Ramos regained consciousness as he was put into an ambulance.

The build-up to the Seville derby was dominated by arguments between the two clubs over whether or not Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido would be allowed in the VIP box at the Betis stadium.

After mediation by the Andalucian regional government, Betis finally allowed Del Nido to attend the match although a number of fans threw objects at him as he took his seat.

There was further controversy because Betis had placed a bronze bust of Del Nido's arch-rival, Betis owner Manuel Ruiz de Lopera in a seat just behind the Sevilla president.

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VIOLENCE marred the Spanish Cup quarter-finals today (AEDT), as the second-leg between Real Betis and city rival Seville was suspended then abandoned due to crowd violence after a coach was hit by a bottle.
Seville, held to a goalless draw in the first game, was leading thanks to a Frederic Kanoute goal when the referee called a halt.

Kanoute had netted nine minutes into the second half to give Seville the lead, but moments later coach Juande Ramos was carried unconscious from the dugout on a stretcher after being hit by a bottle thrown from the stands. About half-an-hour after the incident referee Undiano Mallenco called the match off.

The website of sports newspaper AS also reported trouble outside the ground, sparked by some 200-300 Seville supporters unable to gain entry.

Television showed dozens of supporters setting fire to dustbins in frustration, having strewn the large containers across an access road leading to the stadium.

Train football riot probed - 26/02/2007

Source: Journal Live

British Transport Police are appealing for information after rioting football fans caused havoc on a train to the North-East.

Disorder broke out between 30-50 football supporters on the 18.35 Kings Cross to Edingburgh service on February 3. The trouble happened as the train neared York, but it was going on to Newcastle, Durham and Darlington.

Two men sustained serious injuries including a fractured cheekbone and badily cut tongue. Beer was thrown around the carriage which was also heavily splattered with blood.