Season 08/09 - December

Swansea v Cardiff : Large police presence puts stop to thugs - 01/12/2008

Source : South Wales Evening Post

A HUGE police operation at yesterday's Swansea Cardiff clash involving more than 500 officers has been hailed a success.
Missiles were repeatedly thrown at police by a minority of persistent troublemakers, who seemed determined to make their presence felt nearly an hour after the final whistle.
But they were largely contained in two separate groups by rows of officers with dogs, horses, and batons.
It was, however, a tense stand-off, with both fans and police surging forward and then retreating again.
The police have confirmed there were six arrests in total, with two of their officers suffering injuries.
Remarkably, a small group of fans inside the stadium had come to blows in the West Stand during the gripping 2-2 draw.
Two of them sported bloodied faces, cutting sorry figures as the thousands of supporters filed out of the ground after the final whistle.
While the majority of the sell-out crowd headed home to ponder the match's many talking points, a couple of hundred or so remained along the old Neath Road.
A large police presence kept them from crossing Ffordd Cwm Tawe to the away supporters' compound, where the 1,670 Cardiff fans were being herded onto buses prior to being escorted north out of the city and onto the M4.
As the buses prepared to leave, officers moved in, sweeping the home fans from the viaduct area towards Cwm Level Road.
A separate group of fans were boxed in on Siloh Road.
With Ffordd Cwm Tawe closed to normal traffic, the Cardiff convoy then raced up the "wrong" way of the road towards the junction 45 of the M4, with a police helicopter scanning for any trouble ahead.
It was then that bottles, stones and pieces of wood were hurled at police by the group on Siloh Road.
Police reinforcements arrived, surging up the narrow road and sending the group of 70 or so fans back-pedalling.
But the police held back from going in and making arrests, and after retreating themselves the group of fans advanced again, with one bare-chested man with a tattooed right forearm out in front.
It was a sort of bizarre tango, with neither side wishing to take the lead.
But there was tension in the air and it was now nearly 2pm, more than two hours after Swans midfielder Darren Pratley had sent the Liberty faithful wild with his 19th minute strike.
As the minutes passed the lingerers began to thin in number and the police headed to their own convoy of vans.
The danger was over.
Earlier, Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias had said lessons had been learned from the events after September's Carling Cup tie between the two arch-rivals, when a number of rioting fans were arrested.
Swansea City director David Morgan said he didn't want to comment on the police operation until the club had been briefed by senior officers.
But he said he'd been told that two Cardiff fans had been arrested for breaking seats inside the ground.
However, police have congratulated both sets of fans on their behaviour at the Coca Cola Championship match.
Match commander Mark Mathias said: "The manner in which a vast majority of both the Swansea and Cardiff fans conducted themselves was exemplary. There was a different atmosphere altogether from the last game.
"However, there was still a small element that were intent on causing trouble, there was one area of disorder after the game which resulted in my officers coming under attack from around fifty individuals.
"Two officers were injured but not seriously."
Mr Mathias continued: "There were a total of six arrests, and as a result of the incident more arrests will follow.
"I must emphasise though that the policing operation was a success and this is down to the police, the clubs and the genuine supporters working together and I would like to thank all those concerned."

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Cops trawl CCTV for match yobs

POLICE are searching CCTV coverage of the Swans against Cardiff game to identify troublemakers.
Violence flared after Sunday's derby when a minority of Swansea fans threw stones, bottles and pieces of wood at officers.
Six arrests were made on the day, with two officers sustaining injuries.
A police spokesman said: "Police are continuing to review the CCTV footage and assessing the next stage.
"We would appeal to any member of the public who has information in respect of the public order incidents to come forward."
The policing of the match has been hailed a success by senior officers, and police have also praised the behaviour of the vast majority of fans from both clubs who attended the game.
The previous clash between the clubs saw serious public disorder, prompting police to launch Operation Cybil to track down the yobs responsible — more than 30 people have been arrested so far in connection with the game.
Pictures of suspected troublemakers were printed in the Evening Post and published online.
Reports of the weekend trouble prompted scores of readers to leave comments on our website — most of them condemning the troublemakers.
Andy, from Mumbles, wrote: "Why are our police so soft with these morons?
"Any other country in the world and they'd have gone steaming in with the batons and split a few thick heads — that's the trouble with the UK, we're too soft with thugs and criminals."
Cathy Davies, from Landore, emailed to say: "Why don't these football thugs grow up?
"They are so immature. Why do they get great satisfaction from throwing bottles at policemen who are keeping the fans, especially young children, safe?
"I wonder how they'll feel — maybe in 10 years' time — when they have to take their own family to see a football match."
While Rhiane from Swansea wrote: "It's such a shame these idiots ruin the reputation of Swansea. We should be proud of our players and what we achieve in our sporting city's future."
Chief Superintendent Mark Mathias said lessons had been learned from the previous match between the two clubs, and that the weekend police operation had gone well.

Udinese - Dinamo Zagreb - 03/12/2008

Source: https://www.youtube.com

http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Z9JhYCHtw

Source: Daily Mail

The UEFA Cup clash between Italian side Udinese and Dinamo at the Friuli stadium was halted, and the players taken to the dressing rooms, when flares were thrown on the pitch.

"I don't have words (to explain it) ... at the time we were doing well," Dinamo coach Marijan Vlak told reporters.

Udinese, whose Serie A form has deserted them in recent weeks, the early-season pacesetters have slipped to ninth after four consecutive defeats, were leading 1-0 at the time thanks to an early goal from Italy forward Fabio Quagliarella.

After the game was restarted, Nigerian Christian Obodo added a second for Udinese in the 79th minute before Igor Biscan pulled a goal back in stoppage time.




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Source : Jevno.hr

Two Dinamo Fans in Hospital, 12 Deported

Dinamo fans who caused riots in Udine last night were escorted back to Croatia, but their whereabouts are still unknown.

The fans of Zagreb’s Dinamo football club once again out shame on themselves in front of the entire world. But in the end the Italian police were quite lenient towards them. Those who threw flares on the football field did not get charged, the Croatian consulate in Trieste confirmed.

- Officially we have no information, but unofficial sources tell us that 12 fans were arrested yesterday. They have been escorted back to Croatia. While they were held by the Italian police, they did not request contact with the Croatian consulate. We do not know what punishment they can expect, but they will probably be banned from matches and possibly from Italy – the office of the spokesman of the Croatian Foreign Ministry said.

Apart from the arrested fans, two ended up in hospital with serious injuries. One fell from a six-metres high stand while another fell down the stairs. The foreign ministry does not know the extent of their injuries or their current condition.

The fans brought shame once again not only on themselves, but also on the club and the country.

Standard Liège - Sampdoria Genes - 03/12/2008

Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

Prior to the game, a fight opposed about 30 italian ultras to the same amount of locals, at the advtange of these last ones, who continued to charge Italians who retreated.



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Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

As usual we met at our pub in the afternoon.
We received a call from some of our lads who had a look around the stadium with the confirmation there were Sampdoria hools present.
So we went down there and have a look.
We (30) fronted a large group off Italians with batons, sticks, umbrellas and belts (75). Immediatly a fight errupted, but everytime an Italian was hit he went down! After a good short fight (7guys floored by us) the Italians ran for it and we moved back to our pub.
Rest of the night, nothing.

Manchester City - Paris SG - 03/12/2008

Source: french press + The Sun + mail (thanks to the sender)

The City Stadium of Manchester was marred by troubles caused by Parisian supporters who ripped off a thousand of seats.
A policeman and a local steward were slightly injured.

Moderator note: For this game PSg announced a large mob of PSG lads as they expected more men than their previous game against Schalke.







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PSG fans fought each other in Manchester

Source : Scotsman

POLICE have revealed that Paris Saint-Germain supporters fought amongst themselves during Wednesday's Uefa Cup match against Manchester City at Eastlands. One officer suffered a minor injury when trouble broke out during the game, which finished in a 0-0 draw.

There was also an incident following the match in the city centre in which a French fan was arrested and then released. Match commander, Superintendent Steve Nibloe of Greater Manchester Police, said: "During and after the game there were some minor disturbances which chiefly involved PSG supporters fighting among themselves.

"At half-time a small number of French supporters fought among themselves in the stadium concourse. During this disturbance an officer was struck on the back with a metal bin thrown by a supporter. He suffered a minor injury and received first aid at the stadium. Order was rapidly restored and the match remained incident-free.

"After the game there was another small disturbance in the city centre in which a French fan was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace. He was later released."




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Source: Daily Mail

City steward and police officer injured as French hooligans run riot at Eastlands

Manchester City have condemned French yobs who went on the rampage during Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash at Eastlands.

Police called in reinforcements as Paris St Germain supporters fought each other inside the stadium.

One police officer and a steward were injured during the violence, while 100 seats were ripped up and toilets daubed with graffiti.

The game finished 0-0.





VIDEOS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJLs8eMXdMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooBqyrteiUE

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/k1Wtu3iU3OwSMARF6R

https://www.dailymotion.com/tournicoticota/video/x7ls9l_citypsg_sport

Pub attacked in England - 01/12/2008

Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

Pub attacked by 30-40 zulu youth on 30 villa youth
win for zulus 2-3 times on the night

Wolfsburg - Portsmouth - 04/12/2008

Source : Portsmouth News

Fans arrested after two hurt in brawl at German pub

Eight Pompey fans were arrested and two were injured after a brawl in a German pub involving 30 people.
Hanover police said glasses of beer, chairs and other bits of furniture were thrown about as a fight broke out between Portsmouth fans in the Jack the Ripper London Tavern in Hanover. Ella Krebs, manager of the English-themed pub, said the fight kicked off without warning.

'There was a big fight. They pretty much did the place over,' she said.

'They did a good job of wrecking the pub. They broke hundreds of glasses, threw bar stools around and even smashed all the bottles of vinegar and ketchup on the tables.

'One moment everything seemed well and the next it just went off.

'There was about 20 or 30 lads and a good few more who didn't manage to get out of the way soon enough.'

Ms Krebs said all the people involved were Portsmouth fans: 'There were some who said they were from Gosport and others from Portsmouth,' she said. 'It appears that it started off between those two groups but I don't know who started it. I never want to see anything like that ever again. We have had loads of football fans in here over the years and never had any problem.

'We had a good reputation in the town until last night and now it's ruined so I'm taking it quite personally. It just seemed to be two large groups of lads that have ruined it for everyone else because the people that have come here drinking today have been great and really well behaved.'

A statement from Hanover police said they arrested eight men after being called to the pub about 10pm on Wednesday. The police responded quickly and discovered that the fighting was already over, and took the particulars of the suspected participants,' the statement said.

'Witness reports spoke of beer glasses, chairs and other objects being thrown at opponents.

'The first reports concentrated on eight British citizens aged between 17 and 45, who were alleged to have started the fighting. Since all of them were clearly drunk, they were taken into police custody overnight and released in the morning.'

Two men, aged 19 and 26, were treated for minor injuries but did not have to go to hospital, police said.

One Pompey fan who was in the bar earlier in the evening said: 'I didn't see it but I could tell it was going to kick off.

'It was the kind of place where something was going to happen, there was tension in the air and there were too many people in there.

'It was strange because walking through the town there was no hint of trouble anywhere else except there.'

Rhyl football hooligans await sentence - 04/12/2008

Source : Daily Post

A FOOTBALL hooligan is facing a possible third prison sentence after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer.

Now magistrates are to consider imposing another football banning order on David Peters, 37, who is already banned until 2010.

Similar orders are to be sought against Carl Prescott, 20, who is also subject of such an order at present, and James Simmons, 22.

All three were arrested on June 28 when Rhyl Football Club were entertaining Irish side Bohemians in an Inter-Toto Cup second-leg tie.

Prescott, of The Laurels, Acton, Wrexham, pleaded guilty to a public order offence outside the Liverpool Arms in Wellington Road.

Simmons, of Pont Wen, Wrexham, who had no previous convictions, admitted possessing a bladed article, a small lock-knife attached to his belt.

Peters, of The Willows, Acton, Wrexham, was found guilty of assaulting Detective Constable Andrew Hulson, one of two plain-clothes officers who tried to stop a gang of 15 to 20 football fans entering the White Rose Centre in Rhyl after they had broken away while being escorted towards the football ground.

He was cleared of assaulting Inspector Richard Jones, who cut his hand as he struggled to arrest him.

All cases were adjourned until January 8 for pre-sentence reports. All three were granted conditional bail.

SYDENHAM: Crystal Palace football hooligans jailed for train violence - 05/12/2008

Source : The Wharf,

THE last of the 16 football hooligans involved in mass derby day violence on a train have been jailed.

A gang of Crystal Palace supporters boarded a train at Sydenham station at 2.20pm on September 1 last year and began to randomly attack passengers in two carriages.

They were travelling to their side’s match at home to Charlton Athletic.

A 24-year-old suffered a broken nose while other passengers were head-butted, punched and verbally abused.

CCTV footage showed parents shielding their children and alcoholic drinks being thrown at women.

Five of the 16 men involved were today (December 5) caged for up to four years at Southwark Crown Court.

Andrew Spicer, aged 38, from Ashford, had pleaded guilty and was given a 30 month jail sentence.

Ashley White, aged 21, from Purley, was convicted by a jury and given a 48 month jail sentence.

Carl Thomas, aged 40, from Thornton Heath, was convicted by a jury and given a 38 month jail sentence.

Clive Taylor, aged 35, from Thornton Heath, was convicted by a jury and given a 48 month jail sentence.

Darren Bush, aged 39, from South Norwood, was convicted by a jury and given a 36 month jail sentence.

All 16 men, with the exception of a 16-year-old who was given a community service order, have now been handed prison terms of between 24 and 48 months for violent disorder.

Judge Stephen Robbins described the violence as “mob conduct at its worst”.

They have all been banned from attending matches or travelling on the railways for up to 10 years on match days.

Marseille Ultra Santos Jailed For Three And A Half Years - 05/12/2008

Source : Goal.com

Marseille ultra Santos Mirasierra has today been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for his involvement in the crowd trouble during the Atlético Madrid match.

On-field events between Atlético Madrid and Marseille might have finished over two months ago but the off the field affairs are still continuing, with the latest news today being the sentencing of a prominent French ultra.

Santos Misasierra, who admitted earlier this week that he was an ultra, but not a criminal, was today found guilty of four charges of assault with wounding, but acquitted of four charges of public disorder, according to Marca.

The latter acquittal spared him of a sentence that could have been more like eight years but the three and a half year jail spell still seems hefty for his crimes.

The sentence was also reduced from four years to three and a half because he was found not guilty of assaulting a police officer, when he could not be proven to have thrown a chair in the stadium.

Santos will have to pay a fine for his actions, but the defence have confirmed that they will be appealing the sentencing.

The incidents in question took place on the night of October 1, when Marseille travelled to play Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.

Football hooligans banned - 06/12/2008

Source : Manchester Online

TWO City fans have been banned from going to matches after they were involved in a mass brawl outside the Blues ground.

Nicholas Travers, 38, and Craig Ward, 28, were filmed by police throwing punches at Birmingham City fans outside the City of Manchester Stadium in October last year.

Manchester Crown Court heard there had been trouble in the ground during the match.

It ended in a fight outside the ground which terrified many fans including children, said prosecutor Alex Leach.

Baton-wielding police, helped by officers with dogs and on horses, struggled to contain the trouble.

The two City supporters and three Birmingham fans were handed suspended prison sentences or community sentences as well as three-year football banning orders after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

The banning orders mean they can't attend any games or go in or near their clubs' ground on match days. They must also hand in their passports before their clubs, or England, play abroad.

Judge Gibson told them: "This was a disgraceful episode of football-related violence."

Travers, a delivery driver, of Lingfield Avenue, Sale, was handed a 26-week suspended jail sentence and 100 hours community work.

Ward, of The Waterfront, Beswick, was given a 22 week suspended prison sentence and 100 hours community work.

Charles James, 22, of Birmingham, was given an 18-week suspended jail sentence and a two-year supervision order.

John Mallett, 23, of Birmingham, was given an 18 week suspended sentence and 100 hours unpaid work. Bret Walton, 18, of Birmingham, was given a 12-month community order and 100 hours community work.

2 fans charged with racially abusing Middlesbrough's Egyptian striker Mido - 06/12/2008

Source: MSN

Two men have been charged with racist chanting after Middlesbrough's Egyptian striker, Ahmed Mido, was abused by Newcastle fans during Saturday's 0-0 draw in the Premier League.

Middlesbrough police said Thursday that two fans aged 49 and 23 had been arrested and would appear in court on Dec. 9.

Mido called on the Football Association to take action after he was targeted by Magpies supporters for the second year in a row at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium and the FA said the problem was singling out individuals.

The FA said, "We condemn any racist or Islamophobic behavior and are committed to working with our clubs and the police to stamp it out."

Germany: VfB Lübeck II - KSV Holstein Kiel II - 03/12/2008

Source : ln-online.de

Thousand of policemen made an intervention in Eutin train station, where 50 Kiel hooligans provoked troubles.
35 of them were arrested.

Germany: Jahn Regensburg - Dynamo Dresden - 06/12/2008

Source : mittelbayerische.de

Dynamo supporters provoked several troubles with police forces as they played away in Regensburg.

2000 supporters made the trip to Regensburg.
Troubles started at the train station and on the road to the stadium where damages were caused at vehicles and 10 policemen injured as supporters threw firecrackers at them.
A dozen of fans was arrested.



VIDEO:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=EbWza_ZKlYg




Traduction Underground Fans

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Source : BUltras

Germany: SSV Reutlingen - 1FC Nurnberg II - 05/12/2008

Source: http://www.ssv-markus.de

Nurnberg supporters (60) caused troubles, attacking 30 locals, invading main stand then throwing firecrackers.
Police tried to restore order.

Sibenik - Hajduk Split - 05/12/2008

Source: http://www.index.hr (thanks to the sender)


REPORT WELCOME

VIDEO:

http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/video-na-subicevcu-izbila-masovna-tucnjava-izmedju-navijaca-hajduka-i-sibenika/412662.aspx

KV Oostende - RFC Liège - 05/12/2008

Source: forum

A toe to toe opposed 9 Liège lads to about 20 locals, who finally retreated.

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Source : Mail

locals retreated when about 80-100 guys, not all lads,(that's what a rfcl supporter says) came to help their lads.

Vojvodina Novi Sad - Partizan Beograd - 10/12/2008

Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

Fight in Novi Sad between Vojvodina and Partizan when fans of Vojvodina attacked few cafe's with Grobar's in the center of city, it was few hundred fans from both sides, intervention of police was quickly; around 10 fans are arrested...

Video : http://b92.blip.tv/file/1560828/

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Source : Reuters UK

Partizan go into winter break on top after fans clash

Fighting broke out among fans in Serbia's northern city Novi Sad ahead of Partizan Belgrade's match against title rivals Vojvodina on Wednesday and riot police arrested about a dozen supporters, local media reported.

http://www.pressonline.rs/page/stories/sr.html?view=story&id=53216&sectionId=44

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Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

The brawl started few hours before the kick-off, it is said by the media that FC Vojvodina firm attacked Grobari (FC Partizan fans) in center of Novi Sad while one part of Grobari was sitting in local caffe. The brawl started for several minutes, minor damage was caused in the vicinity and 10 fans where arrested.

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Source: B92

Two arrests over abusive chanting - 10/12/2008

Source : BBC News

Police have arrested two of 16 Tottenham fans they wanted to trace over indecent and homophobic chanting directed at Portsmouth's Sol Campbell.

The investigation follows abuse aimed at the former Arsenal and England defender during a game with Spurs at Fratton Park on 28 September.

A 28-year-old man from Ringwood and a 36-year-old man from Wokingham, Berkshire, have been arrested.

Officers have asked the public to help them trace the remaining 14 men.

They were captured on film during the match and police said they have received "a steady stream of information and names" since the pictures were released.

Both men arrested are being held on suspicion of indecent or racial chanting at a designated football match, after attending a police station in Portsmouth.

The FA said it would ban for life any fans it could prove were involved.

'Robust action'

Supt Neil Sherrington from Hampshire police said: "As part of our investigation into indecent chanting at Fratton Park, we have identified 16 people we would like to speak to.

"Our inquiry is aimed at identifying and putting before the court those individuals who engaged in unacceptable behaviour at this public event.

"Their abuse caused distress to some supporters and was targeted at an individual.

"We want to send a clear message that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated and that we are taking robust action.

"I'd urge anyone who recognises these people to contact us as soon as possible."

Campbell, who left Tottenham on a free transfer to north London rivals Arsenal in 2001, joining Portsmouth in 2006, was subjected to prolonged abuse during the game.

Complaints from Portsmouth fans were made to Hampshire police, who initially said they could not take action because of the number of Tottenham fans involved.

Real Madrid - Zenit St Pertersburg - 10/12/2008

source: mail (thanks to the sender)





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A flag would have been stolen from some Zenit fans by Madrid Ultras. The Russians tried to get it back, which caused a fight in a bar close from the stadium.



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Source: mail (thanks to the sender)




Source: http://bleachreport.com

Gers fans’ life ban over songs on Subway - 11/12/2008

Source : Glasgow Evening Times

TWO Rangers fans have been banned for life from Ibrox over reports of sectarian singing at a Subway station.

George Sawden, 35, and Alan Lochore, 26, were arrested by British Transport Police just before kick-off at last month's SPL clash with Aberdeen.

Sawden was fined £200 at Glasgow Sheriff Court after the fan, from Dumfries, admitted a sectarian-related breach of the peace charge.

advertisementLochore, from Renfrew, pleaded not guilty to the same charge and is awaiting trial.

But the pair have now been banned "indefinitely" from matches at Ibrox.

It's understood both were held in connection with two separate incidents on the Subway on November 22.

A Rangers spokeswoman said: "We can confirm two people arrested on the day of the Rangers v Aberdeen match at Ibrox underground station have been banned from the ground."

The arrests follow a widely publicised crackdown on fans travelling on the Subway.

In July, two Rangers supporters were caught singing bigoted songs before the Champions League qualifier with Lithuanian side FC Kaunas.

The men, both understood to be season ticket-holders, were reported to Rangers, with BTP seeking banning orders.

Transport cops use mini-cameras and audio recorders to monitor crowd behaviour on match days.

Senior officials have also warned that plain-clothes officers may also be used to gather evidence.

Rangers security officials have agreed to share information with BTP as part of a new code of practice.

It was revealed last month Rangers fans involved in anti-social behaviour or disorder on the rail network or Subway would face football banning orders or have their season tickets confiscated.

UEFA fines Dinamo Zagreb for fans' hooliganism - 11/12/2008

Source : The Associated Press

UEFA fined Dinamo Zagreb €200,000 ($266,000) Thursday for acts of hooliganism by its supporters at two matches during the group stage of the UEFA Cup, causing Croatia's deputy prime minister to speak out against fan violence.

The Croatian champion was fined €150,000 for fans' violent behavior and missile-throwing during a Group D match on Nov. 27 at home to Spartak Moscow. A sum of €50,000 was deferred and must be paid if crowd trouble is repeated during a European game in the next three seasons.

Dinamo was also fined €50,000 after fans threw missiles on to the pitch during a subsequent group game on Dec. 3 at Italian club Udinese. The match was held up for five minutes in the second half while players were led to the locker rooms.

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Djurdja Adlesic said the fine is "one of the biggest in Croatian football history" and therefore "a signal for us in Croatia that it is high time that we decisively combat hooliganism."

Adlesic, who is advocating tougher legislation against hooliganism in sports, welcomed travel bans on troublesome Croatian fans.

"That will be a way to avoid further penalties and also save the face of Croatia, which is now seriously stained," she said.

Dinamo lost both matches and is out of the competition. It can appeal the rulings within three days.

Football fans are jailed for mass brawl at station - 11/12/2008

Source : Doncaster Today

A TRIO of football hooligans whose fight on a train spilled into a terrifying mass brawl on a station platform have been jailed.

Huddersfield Town fans, Kalem Harkin, 20, James Maguire, 20, and Richard Heward, 24, were all caged for their roles in a vicious 15-man punch-up in Doncaster Station in March this year.

Doncaster Crown Court was told by prosecutors how the fight broke out on a National Express East Coast train from London's King's Cross Station as it approached the town shortly before 10pm.

The defendants had followed their team to the capital that morning, but rather than attend their game against London club, Leyton Orient, the trio had spent all day drinking strong lager in bars until catching the 8pm train.

Despite the presence of a large group of young children in the carriage, the defendants began to row with other passengers, believed to be race-goers returning to Doncaster.

A can was thrown and train staff had to intervene, ordering the group to calm down.

When the train arrived in Doncaster, a fight broke out on the platform between the defendants and their fellow passengers with up to 15 people becoming involved.

Harkin, from Crabtree Avenue, Heckmondwike in West Yorkshire, had initially denied kicking a stranger in the head, jumping on his head and kicking him in the chest but later admitted his part in the affray when witnesses came forward.

Maguire, a warehouse worker from Longfield Court, Heckmondwike, admitted a charge of affray for punching two men.

Self-employed builder Heward of Fieldhead Way, Heckmondwike, admitted affray for throwing one punch which hit his victim, a train passenger who had previously begged him to calm down, in the face.

The court was told that during the fight, Maguire had also dropped his phone on the tracks between the platform and the train and climbed down into the gap to retrieve it.

The train was delayed at the station until the fight was over.

After the fracas, Harkin climbed back on the train and struggled with police who then arrested all three at the scene.

Judge Jacqueline Davies told the defendants: "Everybody who witnessed this was frightened and distressed.

"This is a very serious incident. It is a very busy station and the actions of drunken youths like you have put people at risk of serious harm.

"People like you who commit these kinds of actions must understand the risks that they run."

Despite mitigation pleas from the lawyers for all three defendants calling for each to be spared jail, Harkin was given a 15 month prison sentence.

Heward was sentenced to nine months, and Maguire received nine months in a Young Offenders' Institute.

Brazil : Sao Paulo - Goias - 07/12/2008

Source : Latin American Herald Tribune

Fan Killed by Police Bullet

A fan of club Sao Paulo shot by police on the street outside a stadium on the last day of the Brazilian first division football season died Thursday in a hospital here.

Nilton Cesar de Jesus, 26, had traveled from the city of Sao Paulo to attend the game his team played last Sunday against Goias in the Brasilia suburb of Gama, but he never got into the stadium or saw his club win the championship for the third consecutive year.

In a confusing incident on the street as fans were heading toward the stadium, he was hit by a bullet in the back of the neck.

Authorities determined later that the shot was fired by police Sgt. Jose Luiz Carvalho Barreto, part of a unit charged with maintaining security around the stadium.

De Jesus was taken to a hospital in Brasilia, where he remained in a coma until Thursday, when doctors confirmed that he had died.

Sgt. Barreto remained under arrest until Monday, when judicial authorities decided to release him although he will still have to face trial.

Video : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=rP7Z8XN1CVo

Greece : Convictions handed down in hooligan-related homicide - 12/12/2008

Source : ANA

One of 27 defendants in a high-profile murder trial related to a deadly "rumble" between rival football club supporters that left a 25-year-old man stabbed to death, was found guilty on Friday of first degree murder and handed down a life sentence.

An Athens criminal appeals court issued its verdict after a lengthy trial, finding Christos Sakatis guilty without extenuating circumstances.

Two of the defendants, Nikos Vogiopoulos and Vassilis Psikakos, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for complicity to commit homicide.

Sentences between 3 and 6 months were handed down to eight defendants for illegal arms possession. The remaining defendants were found not guilty.

Several hooded individuals, who had gathered outside the courthouse, caused limited incidents after the ruling was issued, before being repelled by riot police.

Filopoulos, a Panathinaikos Athens supporter, was stabbed to death in March 2007 during the "rumble" between hooligans from Olympiakos Piraeus and Panathinaikos.

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Source : La Presse Canadienne

Greek football fans riot over killing verdict

Police in Greece say football fans have rioted in central Athens following a court decision over the violent death of a fan last year.

The clashes broke out amid unrelated but ongoing violence staged by high school students and other protesters over the fatal police shooting of a teenage boy.

A court Friday sentenced one man to life in prison and two others to 10 years over the murder of a 25 year-old fan during major clashes last year between fans from rival football clubs Panathinaikos and Olympiakos.

Panathinaikos fans, angry at the acquittals, hurled rocks and a petrol bomb at the Greek Police headquarters. Police responded with tear gas.

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Source : Kathimerini

Three guilty in fan murder case

Riot police fired tear gas yesterday in a bid to restore order outside the criminal appeals court on Alexandras Avenue in central Athens after a ruling that found just three people guilty of the murder of Panathinaikos fan Michalis Filopoulos last year.

The verdict was greeted by a hail of petrol bombs from dozens of Panathinaikos supporters who had gathered outside the court, prompting riot police to respond.

A total of 27 people stood trial in connection with Filopoulos’s murder. Nine had been charged with actually killing him.

The three judges found 36-year-old drug addict Christos Sakatis guilty of stabbing Filopoulos to death and sentenced him to life in prison. Two other men, Nikos Vagiopoulos and Vassilis Psikakos, were found guilty as accomplices and were sentenced to 10 years in jail. Both appealed against the judgment.

The other six men charged with murdering 25-year-old Filopoulos were cleared after the court decided there was not enough evidence to link them with a clash between hooligans in Paeania, east of Athens, in March 2007.

However, eight more people were given jail sentences of between three and six months for misdemeanors, such as illegal use of a weapon, committed during the brawl. Another 10 people were cleared of all charges.

The prosecutor had recommended that 19 of the 27 people that stood trial be found guilty in connection with the fight between some 500 supporters of Panathinaikos and Olympiakos before a women’s volleyball game.

Hooligans from both sides had arranged to meet before the match for a fight, which led to Lavriou Avenue being closed as young men traded blows, smashed cars and chased each other.

Television footage showed Filopoulos lying in the middle of the road with a bloodied face as Olympiakos fans swore at him and threatened to kill him, before locals intervened to protect the dying man.

The incident led to the government banning team sports for 15 days and trying to introduce tougher laws on sports-related violence. Following an initial clampdown on supporters’ clubs, few measures to restore order at Greek sports grounds have taken root. Clashes between fans and police remain a regular feature of the country’s sporting scene.

Marseille fan jailed in Spain released on bail - 11/12/2008

Source : China Daily/Agencies

An Olympique Marseille fan sentenced to jail in Spain after assaulting police officers during a Champions League match at Atletico Madrid was released on bail on Tuesday, the French club said.

The fan, Santos Mirasierra, was released on bail after a Spanish court accepted an appeal lodged by one his lawyers, Marseille said on its website (www.om.net).

Mirasierra was sentenced to 3-1/2 years in prison last week after incidents during a game two months ago. The news of his release came hours before the return leg between Marseille and Atletico in Marseille.

"Santos Mirasierra, who was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on Friday, has been released on bail by a Spanish court just before the match between Marseille and Atletico," the Marseille statement read.

The court confirmed in a statement that Mirasierra had been released on bail of 6,000 euros ($7,724).

The case has been a source of rising tension ahead of Atletico's trip to Marseille for their final Group D match.

Marseille police said there were fears violence could mar the game, for which around 1,000 police will be on duty.

The Marseille fan group to which Mirasierra belongs asked their estimated 4,500 members to boycott the game and to demonstrate outside the stadium.

Atletico beat Marseille 2-1 at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Oct 1, but the game was marred by clashes between police and visiting fans before kickoff.

UEFA said failures in the home side's organization of the game led to the confrontations and it initially ordered Atletico to play their following two European games at least 300 km outside Madrid.

On appeal, the punishment was reduced by European soccer's governing body to one game behind closed doors, which they won 2-1 against PSV Eindhoven on Nov 26 to qualify for the last 16.