Season 07/08 - April

Ukraine: Ivanov Frankivsk vs Dnepr - ??/04/2008

Source: youtube.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pdIBSo-ewg

St Patrick's Athletic - Linfield - Cup - 15/04/2008

Source : BBC News

Trouble flares at Linfield match

Six people have been arrested at Linfield's match in Dublin against St Pat's Athletic following a number of crowd trouble incidents.

Gardai said the arrests were connected to isolated incidents at the Setanta Cup match, which Linfield lost 2-0.

Four of those arrested come from Northern Ireland while two are from the Republic. Gardai said minor scuffles broke out at the ground in Inchicore.

Dog units, mounted officers and gardai brought the trouble under control.

Linfield chairman Jim Kerr said he "utterly condemned" the behaviour and added that "the name of Linfield Football Club had been dragged through the gutter".

"Some fans with far too much to drink had tickets that were not sold to them and I don't know where they got those tickets and whether they were forged or genuine.

"Alcohol was the problem and there were people here who were spoiling for a fight.

"Some people whom I have never seen at Windsor Park were being aggressive towards fellow supporters, safety officers and the Garda.

"Should we continue in the Setanta Cup next season, we will have to look at transporting our supporters from Windsor Park and make sure they get to the ground without incident. There will be no unorganised travel.

"Everything will be organised by the club but we will have to look seriously at whether we will continue in the Setanta Cup because I don't want the name of Linfield being dragged through the gutter as it has been tonight."

The Setanta Cup is an All-Ireland football tournament, which is contested by four clubs from both sides of the border.

It is in its fourth year and Linfield have played in the competition on each occasion, winning the event in its inaugural year and losing in the final last year.



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Source : Belfast Newsletter

Linfield fans clash with Dublin police

LINFIELD has threatened to withdraw from the all-Ireland Setanta Sports football cup after violence erupted in Dublin last night between Blues fans and gardai.
Six people were arrested in several disturbances during the match between Linfield and St Pat's Athletic at the Richmond Park stadium in Inchicore.

Four of those held are from Northern Ireland while two are from the Republic, gardai confirmed.

One man suffered a bloody nose during a scuffle, but no one was
seriously injured or had to be taken to hospital.

Linfield club chairman Jim Kerr insisted those arrested were drunken hooligans who had tagged themselves on to true Blues supporters.

He added the team is now considering its future in the competition to avoid the team's name being dragged through the mud by yobs.

The club chief said: "The biggest problem was people fuelled by alcohol and people spoiling for a fight.

"I saw people at the grounds I have never seen before in my life being aggressive to security staff. I condemn it utterly.

"Should we continue in Setanta next season then we have to look at busing supporters from Windsor Park... but we will have to look at whether we are going to continue.

"There is no place in football for these people – totally uncalled for."
He added that violence was also sparked by those holding bogus
tickets.

"We insisted members had to have their season tickets with the match tickets. Where these people got these tickets I don't know," he said.

Around 800 Linfield fans descended on Dublin to support the Irish League champions yesterday, and riot officers had put a ring of steel around the ground.

There were dozens of mounted gardai and dog units at the match, which saw Linfield defeated 2-0.

This is the fourth year of the Setanta Cup, with Linfield beating Shelbourne in Dublin to lift the trophy in the first contest.

The Garda dismissed the crowd trouble incidents as "minor public order disturbances", and said they were brought under control very quickly.

A Garda source added: "It is not clear who started the different incidents of fighting, but they were separate incidents controlled very quickly."

An eyewitness told the News Letter he felt the first clash was sparked by heavy-handed policing which involved stripping supporters of scarves and Union Flags.

He said: "There was one fight outside the ground as supporters were being frisked at security cordons.

"I didn't think there had been that much drink taken - there was nothing to write home about.

"But gardai were a bit over-zealous, and when they shoved one supporter through the cordon where there were no other fans, that's when the fighting kicked off."

The onlooker added he saw several Press photographers hit in the skirmish between the fans and gardai because they were "easy targets".

A Garda spokesman denied there was policy to take flags and scarves from fans, and said the officers who dealt with the fighting were even-handed.


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Source: http://sports.setanta.com

Several arrests made at Richmond Park

St Patrick Athletic’s 2-0 win over Linfield in Tuesday evening’s Setanta Sports Cup Group Two game was marred slightly by a number of arrests ahead of the game.

Four fans from Northern Ireland and two from south of the border were arrested by The Gardai after minor scuffles ahead of the clash between the Dublin and Belfast sides at Richmond Park.

With several hundred fans making it down for the tie, trouble flared and garda dog units and mounted officers were brought in to quell the tension.

The offenders, one of whom had a bloody nose, were ejected form the ground amid the trouble. They were arrested and are expected to be held overnight.

Goals from Mark Quigley and Gary O’Neill ensured a deserved win for St Pat’s, though it was only the Dublin side’s first win of their campaign. Linfield are still top of Group Two despite the defeat.

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Source : Mail

Serbian FA issues anti-hooliganism appeal - 16/04/2008

Source : Reuters

The Serbian Football Association (FSS) begged fans not to fight ahead of Wednesday's Cup semi-finals after a man was killed in football-related violence earlier this week.

"We hereby implore all fans to show respect for each other and the teams involved in the two FA Cup semi-finals and to always do so in the future," the FSS said.

"The tragic death of a fan in a pre-arranged fight shows that a tidal wave of hooliganism has swept Serbia's football and we need to put and end to this evil swiftly," it said on its Web site (fss.org.yu).

A 27-year-old man was shot dead by a firearm and a 17-year-old boy seriously wounded on Monday when rivals fans clashed at Futog train station near the northern city of Novi Sad.

The clash appeared to have been agreed in advance by Vojvodina Novi Sad and Partizan Belgrade fans who fought in Novi Sad two days earlier ahead of an incident-free league match.

Four people were injured and 30 arrested after running battles in the city centre and one was treated for stab wounds.

Wednesday's semi-final between Cup holders Red Star Belgrade and bitter city foes Partizan is expected to be played amid tight security as the fixture has a history of crowd trouble.

The FSS said fans needed to adopt a "code of conduct" to help win "a crucial battle against hooliganism."

"We need real football fans to set an example and distance themselves from the hooligans whose mindless rage is a threat to sport and society in general," it said.

"These people are not committed to the well-being of sport or basic human values and we can only feel complete contempt for such individuals."

Newcastle United v Sunderland : Police bid to trace man after last derby game - photo - 16/04/2008

Police have made a fresh appeal for help in tracing a man in connection to "a number of incidents" from the Sunderland versus Newcastle match on Wearside.
Ahead of this Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby at St James's Park, Northumbria Police released a photograph of a man they want to speak to after last November's game.

Officers also warned potential troublemakers to stay away from this weekend's return leg.

Police said there had been a good response to several images put out in an appeal after the game, which led to three men being arrested, but they are still trying to trace another man who was pictured.

He is described as of stocky build, between 30 and 35 years old, bald and wearing a dark bomber-type jacket.

Detective Constable Iain Saville said: "We released several images of men we wished to trace in connection with offences at the last derby match.

"I am grateful to the public's response to our appeal which resulted in three men being identified and arrested.

"I would ask the public to look at the remaining image on our website and, if anyone should recognise him, to call us at Sunderland CID on 08456 043043 ext 66445 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."

He added: "To all those intent on creating problems this weekend – we will be out in force on Sunday and will not tolerate any bad behaviour."

Three thousand Sunderland fans are expected to travel to St James's Park for the derby game.

Police will be putting on extra patrols and have warned troublemakers to stay away or they could end up with a criminal record and lifetime football ban.

Officers have been working with both clubs, as well as pubs and off licences ahead of the game.

Black Cats' fans are being urged by police to travel in the free coaches organised by Sunderland AFC and are urged to contact the club as soon as possible to secure a seat.

Chief Superintendent Neil Mackay, head of the force's operations department, said: "I would urge Sunderland fans to take up their club's excellent offer of free transport to ensure they arrive safely and on time.

"Newcastle and Sunderland fans love football with a passion and the overwhelming majority are there to enjoy the game and not cause trouble.

"In the run-up to the derby we have been working closely with pubs and off-licences and the two clubs to ensure all fans can enjoy the game in a safe, trouble-free environment.

"However, while we're not expecting problems, we're putting extra police officers on patrol and taking steps to identify troublemakers, and ensure they do not enter the ground or cause disruption in the city centre."

He added: "For the very small minority who are intent on causing trouble, I have a warning. They will be arrested and could not only find themselves with a criminal record but also banned for life from future matches.

"My advice to them is to stay away."

The Sunderland AFC coaches will meet up at the Stadium of Light between 10.30am and 11am, after which they will be escorted to Newcastle in good time for the 1.30pm kick-off.

Police say that to take advantage of the free offer, fans must get to the stadium with plenty of time to spare as the coach convoy will leave at 11am prompt.

They said that other coach operators must notify them of their travel plans by contacting Northumbria Police Football Unit, tel: 01661 868148, especially if they are planning an alternative rendezvous point along the route.

Police said that any supporters' coach that fails to attend a rendezvous or misses the convoy will be turned back by traffic patrols.

Linfield fans charged in connection with Setanta match trouble - 16/04/2008

Source : Ireland Online

Three Linfield football fans appeared in court today charged over trouble which flared at a cross-border cup match.

The game between the Belfast club and St Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin’s Inchicore was marred by ugly scenes before kick-off after scuffles broke out as stewards and gardai searched supporters.

The trio, who appeared at Kilmainham District Court, were charged with a series of public order offences and freed on bail.

Robert Ervin, aged 38, from Glencairn Pass, Belfast, 30-year-old William Rankin, from Alexander Park, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim were charged with being drunk and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Stephen Smith, aged 35, from Carnhill Walk, also Carrickfergus, faced three public order charges including using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and failing to comply with garda orders.

The three were remanded on bail to reappear at the Kilmainham Court on May 14.

The minor disturbances, which left one Linfield supporter nursing a bloodied nose, broke out as several hundred fans made their way into the ground and gardaí carried out searches.

The three men had been removed from the Richmond Park football ground before kick-off and kept overnight in garda custody after the minor scuffles broke out.

A fourth man, who was also refused entry to the match and later arrested, had charges against him dismissed under the Probation Act.

The men had travelled to Dublin for the Setanta Sports Cup match with along with several hundred other Linfield fans.

Despite high hopes for the in-form Blues, St Pat’s secured a relatively easy 2-0 win.

A heavy security presence had been in place on the streets around Richmond Park amid fears groups not attending the match would attempt to spark violence among the fans.

The garda operation was intensified at full time with the riot squad, dog handlers and mounted officers maintaining a cordon outside the Inchicore club blocking fans from mingling and ensuring buses packed with Linfield supporters left within minutes of the final whistle.

St Pat’s fans had been ordered by gardai to stay in the ground for 10 minutes after full time to limit the risk of further trouble.

The trouble follows horrific street fights in Belfast city centre following a match between Linfield and Cliftonville at the end of March.

Up to 40 men attempted to storm a bar and in attacks which followed one man had his throat slashed.

Steaua Bucuresti - "U" Cluj - 14/04/2008

Source : Mail

Steaua fan view

Nothing special before the match because "U" fans came to the stadium in the second half. With one day or in the match day, they call the police and told them the rute and ask police to escort them to the stadium.

In the stadium, Steaua fans show the flag who was win in one fight some months ago.

After the match, near the stadium, about 20 Steaua fans (young) attack the bus with Cluj + Dinamo ultras. Police made an intervention and local fans need to run away.
About 30-35 fans of Steaua (Sud) looking for Dinamo fans after the match but bad organization, police escort and short road made by bus with Dinamo fans inside make not possible this fight.

Hammarby IF - AIK Solna - 14/04/2008

Source : www.thelocal.se

Crowd trouble mars Stockholm derby

Hammarby and AIK played out a 1-1 draw in this season's first Stockholm derby on Monday night in a match that was marred by crowd trouble.

Referee Stefan Johanesson ordered both teams into the dressing rooms in the 74th minute after Hammarby player Louay Chanko was struck by objects thrown onto the pitch by AIK supporters as he prepared to take a corner.

In the aftermath of the incident, AIK coach Richard Norling issued a plea for calm via the Råsunda stadium loudspeaker system.

Hammarby had taken the lead six minutes before the stoppage following a perfectly placed free kick by Chanko.

After a fifteen minute break the referee eventually allowed the game to continue.

Jorge Ortiz equalized for AIK with an injury time penalty.



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Swedish football at a crossroads

His first visit to a Swedish football match left David Bartram wondering what Sweden needs to do to stamp out its problems with hooliganism.

For someone raised on the rough and tumble of the English lower leagues, I was still surprised by the intensity of my first Swedish football match – the Stockholm derby between Hammarby and AIK.

The game was marred by violence when Hammarby’s Louay Chanko was struck by an object thrown from AIK supporters as he prepared to take a corner. What followed was a 15 minute interval as referee Stefan Johanesson ordered the players off the pitch.

Extraordinarily, AIK coach Richard Norling even appealed to his club’s fans over the loudspeaker system as passions threatened to boil over at the Råsunda stadium.

Meanwhile Hammarby supporters patiently waited for the game to resume, and one regretfully told me: “I have seen this happen before, but they should be out again soon.”

On the pitch the game was open but often lacked quality, especially in the final third. It was not helped by a whistle-happy referee who would not let the game flow.

Louay Chanko’s delightful free kick - clipped over the wall into the top corner from 25 yards - was a rare moment of class. It would have been worthy of winning any game, and almost did until a soft penalty deep into stoppage time gave substitute Jorge Ortiz the chance to equalize.

There was an irony that this of all games should be stopped because of violence. Before the match both Hammarby and AIK fans united in holding white sheets of paper aloft before kick-off in protest against new rules ordering away teams to cover costs surrounding the security of their own fans. Flyers were left around the stadium with the headline: “Stop the threat to Swedish football!”

But it seems that a minority of supporters were determined to ignore the plea.

Perhaps the most striking difference between Swedish and English football is the crowd. Since the advent of the Premiership in 1992, English crowds have become both older and richer. The terraces have been replaced by corporate boxes and football is as much a business as it is a sport.

But in Sweden this change is yet to happen. Young men dominate the stadium, often drunk, and often in large groups. This makes for an electrifying atmosphere. Flares and fireworks are periodically released. Fans chant relentlessly for the whole match. Huge banners are unfurled around the ground.

And with this comes the threat of violence like that seen on Monday evening.

The Swedish game remains closer to its working class roots than its English counterpart. One proud Hammarby supporter proclaimed his team ‘Stockholm’s true club’ because its fans are not as wealthy as those of AIK.

But if violence is to be curtailed, the game in Sweden will likely need some serious investment - much like what happened in England during the early 1990s. With the vast sums of money ploughed into the Premiership by satellite television came a crack down on the hooliganism and violence which had plagued the sport during the previous decade.

But as a result a lot of clubs lost the sort of passionate support so clearly on display at the Råsunda stadium. Back in 2000, Roy Keane attacked Manchester United’s ‘prawn sandwich’ fans, claiming some sections: “Can’t even spell football let alone understand it.”

There is no doubt that the majority want to see an end to crowd trouble in Swedish football, but this cannot be at the expense of the unique atmosphere its supporters create.

Swedish football finds itself at a crossroads, and it must act decisively to curb the threat of the hooligans. But if it is serious about removing violence from the game, the sport could also lose part of its appeal.

Zemun - OFK Boegrad - Cup - 16/04/2008

Source : Forum

ADIEU TO FOOTBALL GLORY IN PARIS? - 17/04/2008

Source : SPIEGEL

With only five weeks left in the season, Paris may soon become the only major European capital without a top flight soccer team. The natives are getting restless. (...)

The result has been a capital city, known the world over for its elegance, with a decidedly un-elegant group of disgruntled football fans. And with PSG backed by some of the most unpleasant hooligans in European football, the mixture of dismay and predilection toward violence has become combustible.

Hooliganism has been a growing problem in Paris in recent years -- despite there not being another team in Paris where PSG fans to focus their rage. Instead, the team's followers often beat each other up, and have developed one of the worst reputations for fan violence in European football. There are, in fact, around 10,000 self-proclaimed "ultras" -- hardcore violent fans -- one of whom was implicated in a 2002 assassination attempt on President Jacques Chirac.

Among the ultras are two rival gangs -- the Boulogne Boys made up of largely racist whites, and the Tigris Mystic, comprising more of Paris' immigrant community.

But ironically, the PSG stadium (the Parc des Princes, the country's national stadium until the Stade de France was built to host the 1998 World Cup) is in one of the capital's swankiest neighborhoods, located just on the fringe of the plush 16th arrondissement in the west just next to the Bois de Boulogne.

And the 30,000-seat stadium has seen plenty of action this season -- most of it, however, has not taken place on the field. Before Christmas, fans went "on strike," arriving en masse 15 minutes late for the start of game in protest at their team's poor performance. A December match against fellow relegation candidates Toulouse kicked off five hours earlier than scheduled out of fear of drunken fan violence. Nevertheless, PSG fans set fire to their own seating, so dismayed were they by their team's loss.

One PSG player was even put under police protection after he tossed a note back into the crowd from fans outlining their grievances -- hardly a wise move considering the club's "ultras." Last season was even worse with a fan being shot dead by police -- in an apparent accident -- during rioting outside the stadium after a visit by Israeli team Hapeol Tel Aviv.

Even as the team last week managed, against all odds, to win the League Cup at the new national stadium, the Stade de France, the fans were hardly on their best behavior -- and managed to embarrass French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was in the crowd with his son Louis.

Fans unfurled a 25-meter-long banner proclaiming "Welcome to the Pedophiles, Welfare-Scroungers and Inbreds." It was, of course, not a reference to Sarkozy but to the opposing team Lens from France's economically depressed north.

Sarkozy immediately ordered his security team to remove the banner, but the damage was done. More may be on the way.


Paris Saint Germain has found success in its past. But this season, the Paris team is looking relegation square in the face. It's fans, including the "Boulogne Boys," are getting nervous.


Paris has only one team in the country's top league. But that hasn't prevented hooligan violence. Fan club "Boulogne Boys" has often battled it out with another fan club that represents the city's immigrant population.



Given the violence that often accompanies home matches at the Parc des Prince stadium, security has been ramped up.


Further embarrassment was caused during the League Cup championship game, attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Saint Germain fans unfurled a banner calling the visiting team "pedophiles" and "inbreds."

Exeter City - Aldershot Town - 15/04/2008

Source : Express & Echo

POLICE WARN HOOLIGANS AFTER STREET VIOLENCE

Hooligans who try to ruin Exeter City matches will not be tolerated, the city's top cop has said.

Chief Inspector Adrian Brigden made the comments following outbreaks of violence near St James's Park on Tuesday night.

About 30 officers were deployed to cover the streets surrounding the ground as City played Aldershot.

Despite high visibility patrols, officers were called to break up two fights.

At just after 7pm, 50 troublemakers were dispersed outside the Horse and Dray pub, in Blackboy Road.

The group was separated and moved on. No arrests were made.

Following the final whistle, the police helicopter was scrambled to disperse another fight near Belmont Park.

Chief Insp Brigden said: "Overall, I think the operation went quite well. There were some outbreaks of disorder that were dealt with quickly by officers.

"Unfortunately, there were a few mindless hooligans who tried to spoil it for everybody else. The vast majority simply enjoyed the match and there was no trouble in the ground itself.

"The police helicopter was used to identify those involved in the Belmont Park incident.

"We used the night sun facility to light up the area, so officers could be directed to trouble spots, and information was relayed back to me as to where people were.

"We recorded the incident on video and further investigations will be made."

Chief Insp Brigden said officers served a banning order on one man, prohibiting him from attending any football match for the next three years.

"Banning orders are very effective for two reasons," said Chief Insp Brigden. "First, they ban those persons that cause problem from going to matches, both home and abroad. Second, they act as a deterrent to other supporters.

"I would like to pay tribute to the club. We do have a close working relationship with it and we work together to exclude those few, so- called Exeter City fans, from bringing a bad name to the the majority of City fans."

Frances Farley, operations manager of Exeter City FC, said: "The police and stewards were excellent and there was no trouble in the ground. The club has a zero tolerance policy on hooliganism and we are well aware who the trouble makers from old are, so if they come close to the ground they are spotted quickly.

"The genuine football supporter was allowed to enjoy the game without any trouble."

French government orders fans groups at PSG, Metz to be disbanded - 17/04/2008

Source : The Associated Press

The French government has ordered two football fans groups at Paris Saint-Germain and Metz to be disbanded.

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie says the far-right fans were involved in several racist incidents at the clubs' stadiums. The groups are the Boulogne Boys at PSG and The Faction at the eastern city of Metz.

A commission recommended the move Thursday to help prevent violence at sports venues.

The Boulogne Boys drew headlines after a March 29 match when a prominent banner insulted people from northern France.

Faction fans at Metz shouted racial insults at a Moroccan player from Valenciennes in February.

Fans face prison after being found guilty of Croydon violence - 17/04/2008

Source : FansOnLine.net

Brawling fans sentenced for Croydon bar violence

Six football hooligans who brawled at a Croydon nightclub have been jailed after indulging in 'nasty, brutish and drunken violence'. Rival Crystal Palace and Charlton fans were "all up for it" when they fought both inside and outside the High Street bar Reflex, Croydon Crown Court was told.

The jury heard beer bottles were smashed in the bar and punches and kicks thrown.

Eagles fan Kevin Spooner was left with a fracture of the skull and suffered a brain injury.

Judge Simon Pratt said: "The springboard of the violence, apart from drink, appears to have been the chanting from the respective supporters.

"Trouble started in the club and those involved were either ejected or left .

"This town is well-known for its nightlife, but the other side of the coin is that the courts must do all they can to prevent the area from becoming the victim of drunken yobbish behaviour and that can only be done by imposing significant sentences on those who indulge themselves in it.

"The public would rightly expect no less."

Joseph Goedhart, 22, of Rembrandt Road, Lewisham, who was seen kicking Mr Spooner while he was on the ground, admitted a charge of GBH and was jailed for 27 months. He has a previous conviction for GBH.

Daniel Clarke, 30, from New Eltham, who was found guilty of violent disorder, also received 27 months. He was spotted kicking Mr Spooner as well, something Judge Pratt described as "a cowardly action".

Russell Crockford, 23, of Welling, was given 18 months after a jury found him guilty of violent disorder.

Charlie Bevan, 21, from Southwark, who admitted violent disorder, was given 15 months.

Ashley White, 20, of Higher Drive, Purley, who pleaded guilty to the same charge, was sent to detention for 21 months. Judge Pratt said he had been deeply involved in the street battle.

Alex Herat, 20. of Lyndhurst Road, Coulsdon, described by Judge Pratt as a prime mover in the initial trouble inside the club was also jailed for 21 months. He admitted a charge of violent disorder.

Cleared by a jury of violent disorder were Adam Atkins, 23, from Dartford and Daniel Boylett, 27 and Gary Hirst, 27, both from Eltham.

Crystal Palace supporter Malcolm Whiteley, 42, of Egerton Road, South Norwood, was cleared last week of the same joint charge on the directions of the judge.

Litex - Botev Plovdiv - 16/04/2008

Source : sport1.bg

ARREST AFTER GRONINGEN TROUBLE - 17/04/2008

Source : Sportinglife

Police in Groningen have arrested their first suspect in relation to the crowd disturbances which led to Sunday's match against Ajax being abandoned without a ball being kicked.

A 19-year-old man has been remanded into custody after being arrested outside the Euroborg stadium on Wednesday when the rescheduled game was played.

The match was initially called off after home fans set fire to rolls of toilet paper in the stands, shrouding the Euroborg in smoke.

Police expect to make more arrests in the next few days.

City fans have bail extended - 18/04/2008

Source : Norwich Evening News

Nineteen Norwich City fans arrested after serious trouble broke out following a clash with Leicester City in February have been back in the Midlands responding to police bail.

Following the match on February 16, which ended in a 4-0 defeat for Norwich, police were called to reports of fighting between rival groups of up to 30 supporters at Loseby Lane, a short distance from the Walkers Stadium.

Buildings were vandalised and some people suffered minor injuries following the trouble which was described by eye witnesses as “scary” and “like something from a film”.

A spokeswoman for Leicestershire police said: “The 19 Norwich fans are all expected to respond to police bail, and will be bailed again to another date later this month.”

About 3,000 Canaries' followers travelled to Leicester to see the match, which was the Canaries' biggest away turnout since the team lost 6-0 at Fulham in May 2005 to seal relegation from the Premiership.

Police believe some fans left the ground early and went into the city centre. There was a large police presence in the stadium and there were verbal exchanges between the two sets of fans, but no serious signs of trouble and the main disturbances were outside the ground.

The investigation is being led by Leicestershire Constabulary, assisted by Norfolk officers, with the help of Norwich City Football Club.

Newcastle United v Sunderland : Beye is painted picture of the derby - 16/04/2008

Source : Northern Echo

HABIB Beye has only been playing in the Premier League since August. He has been given help to realise the extent of the hatred which exists between Newcastle United and Sunderland supporters by a couple of painters.

But, despite knowing the importance and intensity of Sunday's fixture, the Senegalese defender feels he was given the perfect rehearsal for a Tyne- Wear derby during his days playing in France.

He spent four years with Marseille when he made numerous appearances against Paris St Germain.

Local pride may never have been at stake against PSG, although the rivalry which exists between two of Le Championnat's biggest clubs is one of the most volatile in Europe.

And Beye's experiences of playing in such an encounter has left him confident that will be ready to perform to his best when Sunderland arrive at St James' Park on Sunday.

"When you've played in a Marseille v Paris Saint Germain game it's more intense," said the African right-back. "In France it's difficult because in England you don't have a problem with hooligans any more. In France you still have some.

"I remember one time two years ago when the Paris Saint Germain fans broke the windows of the Marseille team bus when we played there. None of the players were hurt, although the driver of the bus was hit on his head by a rock.

"It was very, very difficult.

Now it's OK because there's a lot of police at games. It's different in England because you can't do that. In France it's crazy."

Beye, however, realises there could also be trouble among supporters on Sunday. He has also learned of the friendly banter that can also exist among rival supporters in the region.

"I wouldn't say the football is a party, but it's a game here,"

said Beye. "You don't have fights between fans of Newcastle and Sunderland at the stadium, it's just football.

"Of course I know the fans hate each other here too. I bought a new house near Ponteland recently and the two men putting a touch of paint on it were work partners.

"One was a Newcastle fan, the other supported Sunderland.

The Newcastle fan was telling me, Don't lose the game on Sunday because I hate this guy! The rest of the time I love him but on Sunday I hate him!' It was good to hear.

"They were very good guys, very friendly with me. The Sunderland fan told me his team would beat us and I told him, No way.' It's good because football's a game. You always want to win against Sunderland, against all the teams, but it's just a game.

You can't have people fighting about football."

Switzerland: FC Bienne - FC Luzern - U21 - 14/04/2008

Source : Journal du Jura

In front of 466 spetactors, about 30 idiots from Luzern caused troubles in this under 21 game, played this Saturday in Gurzelen.

During the journey, these fans who arrived by train, took the road to the stadium by boaches.
Many of them entered the stadium without paying and they used many firecrackers.

Police forces restored order and about 30 of them were arrested.

Oud Heverlee Leuven - Royal Antwerp FC - 13/04/2008

Source : debalisnietrond.web-log.nl

Belgian police forces have arrested 22 Antwerp hooligans after their team played OH Leuven.
A group of about 50 hooligans took the road of the city center, provoking policemen and damaging a pub.

During the game Antwerp fans fought themselves.
About 1100 Antwerp supporters made the trip to Leuven.

Gimnasia de Jujuy - Boca Juniors - 13/04/2008

Source : La Gaceta Tucumán

Fights opposing supporters from both teams during the game.
Police immediately restored order.

Argentina : Tiro y Deportes - Huracán Las Heras - 14/04/2008

Source : MDZ

Huracan team finished the game with only 8 players and troubles occured inside the stands.

Deportivo de La Coruña - Athletic Bilbao - 13/04/2008

Source : Canarias 7

Police forces have arrested 28 Bilbao fans, all from the Herri Norte group as they had the idea they fronted local fans.

Police said these fans had many weapons with them.

All of them immediately received a 2 years ban and a 6.000 € fee.

Unión Deportiva Las Palmas - Club Deportivo Tenerife - 05/04/2008

Source : Canarias 7

Canaries islands' derby were marred by troubles.
Las Palmas club received a fee of 3.250 € and Tenerife 23.250 €.
Five supporters were also arrested and received a 1 year ban with a 4.000 € fee.
They all threw firecrackers.

Riots in Arnhem - 18/04/2008

Source: http://www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2008/04/tientallen_cambuursupporters_o.html#comments

Fans fought in Arnhem pub

Arnhem - The Bloopers pub, situated in Arnhem, was the theatre of a fight, opposing football fans from Cambuur Leeuwarden and Vitesse Arnhem.

Police said 65 fans were arrested.
A policeman and a supporter were also slightly injured.

Cambuur fans stopped in Arnhem but their team played in Maastricht.

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Source: De Gelderlander

ARNHEM - De politie heeft gisteravond zeker 65 voetbalsupporters van Cambuur aangehouden in de Arnhemse binnenstad. Een agent en een Cambuur-supporter raakten gewond.
De politie smoorde rond half negen een vechtpartij tussen Cambuur-supporters en Vitesse-aanhangers. Een werkelijke confrontatie kon worden voorkomen. Wel sneuvelden verschillende ruiten.
Het ongeloof is groot als bezoekers van de Korenmarkt in Arnhem horen dat tientallen supporters van voetbalclub FC Cambuur uit Leeuwarden deze vrijdagavond in het Arnhemse café Bloopers voor een geweldige chaos en paniek zorgen. "Wat doen die lui in godsnaam hier", reageren zij verbaasd.

Ondertussen vliegen de asbakken, bierglazen en bierflesjes door de ruiten van Bloopers. "Het ging er even heftig aan toe", zegt café-eigenaar Tim Stadegaard na afloop. Rond half zeven 's avonds strijken zestig tot zeventig aanhangers van Cambuur neer op terrasjes op de Korenmarkt. De grootste groep gaat naar Bloopers. "Wij hadden de indruk dat ze hier alleen kwamen om een biertje te drinken", zegt Stadegaard.

Paris prepares to fall – and the rest of France cheers - 19/04/2008

Source : Independent, UK

There is a mocking English football chant: "You're just a small town in London/Liverpool/Manchester". Paris, in football terms, may be about to become a small town in its own right.

If Fulham are relegated, London will be down to its last four Premier League teams. If Paris St-German are relegated, which looks increasingly likely, the French capital will have no teams at all in Ligue 1.

Paris, capital of the vice-champions of the world, will be the only major European capital with no club in the top flight of national football.

It has been a calamitous week and a calamitous season for PSG, a club who seem to lurch from humiliation to disgrace to crisis. On Friday, the French interior ministry ordered the dissolution of the largest of the club's official clans of supporters, Les Boulogne Boys.

If that happens, most French football fans will cheer. PSG, oddly for a club with only moderate success, is the most hated team in football on this side of the Channel. The PSG entry in the French language version of Wikipedia has special defences against verbal amendments or additions because of "frequent acts of vandalism".

PSG have always been a strange club, one created from a shotgun wedding between two smaller clubs, to occupy the Parc des Princes when it was rebuilt in the early 1970s. The club have had some success, winning the French championship twice (but not since 1994), the French cup seven times and the old European Cup-Winners' Cup (in 1996).

The Boulogne Boys distinguished themselves, not for the first time, by displaying a 30-metre banner at the League Cup final at the Stade de France last month. Their opponents were Lens, from the industrial north whose oft-mocked local language and culture – Ch'ti – stars in a film which has been a runaway success in the French cinema this spring: Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis.

The Boulogne Boys' enormous banner read: "Paedophiles, unemployed and inbred: Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis". President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to leave the stadium. Six fans have since been arrested. The "Boys" – who have official status, and their own club room at the Parc des Princes – are to be dissolved under a clause in a two-year-old anti-hooliganism law which has never been used before.

Good riddance. Except that nothing will stop the individual Boulogne Boys occupying the Boulogne-Billancourt end of the Parc and causing even more trouble than before.

The racist reputation of a large fringe of PSG fans cuts off the club from a huge reservoir of football-mad talent in the multiracial suburbs around Paris. The club tends to be supported by the Parisian middle class and the white working classes of the banlieues. When I collect my 14-year-old daughter each Friday from her athletics club at a small stadium in the inner Paris suburbs, teenage boys of several races are gathering for their football training. They wear replica shirts from all over Europe: Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Milan, Marseilles but never, never PSG.

There always seems to be a moral vacuum at PSG: as if this synthetic club, created to fill a stadium and repair the absence of a top club in the capital, has never truly found an identity or soul. Great clubs need roots but they also need committed hearts and brains. Just ask the disoriented fans of Liverpool.


PSG mob in London, 1994

Massive police presence for Millwall match - 19/04/2008

Source : News Shopper, UK

POLICE will be out in force this afternoon to make sure the Millwall match is safe and trouble free.

Officers from the Met, supported by the British Transport Police, will be at The Den and throughout London to reassure fans and the community.

They will be working to identify and target troublemakers.

The police do not believe any disorder has been planned but are committed to keep the ground in Zampa Road a safe place for all fans.

Anyone without a ticket is advised not to travel to the game because it will not be possible to buy one at the gate.

Superintendent BJ Harrington of Lewisham police said: "Our overall aim is to facilitate law-abiding fans' travel to and from the match and create a safe environment for them to enjoy the game itself.

"We've been working closely with Millwall and Leeds football clubs and other agencies involved to make sure this happens.

"We want to send a clear message to fans that we will police match day fairly but firmly to ensure the game passes without incident and allow true football fans to enjoy the day.

"Our message to people planning to attend is simple; if you're coming to enjoy the game safely and legally, we're here to help you do that; if you plan to cause trouble you will find your efforts thwarted."