Season 08/09 - January

Manchester: HOOLIGANS STICK RIOT PICS ON NET - 08/01/2009

Source: Daily Star

MANCHESTER United thugs face a police probe after they posted videos of themselves trashing a ground on YouTube.

Mobile phone clips show them chanting and throwing waste bins and beer bottles at rival Stoke’s Britannia Stadium.

The footage was sent to police after it was revealed around 100 seats had been ripped up during the Boxing Day clash.

Superintendent Andy Franks, who was match commander on the day, warned his officers would be going through the footage to try to identify those responsible.

One three-and-a-half-minute video, titled United At Stoke Half-time Sing Song And Riots, is even described by a YouTube user as being “one of the best half-times EVER”.

But Bryan Shaw, chairman of Stoke City Supporters’ Club, was not impressed.

He fumed: “It would be nice if United coughed up and paid for the damage. But I doubt they will.

“If Stoke did this kind of thing at Old Trafford and ripped up 100 seats we would be highlighted as the biggest thugs in the country.

“But – just like their football team – United fans get away with everything.”

No-one at Manchester United or the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Association was available for comment.

Blackburn Rovers fan avoids banning order after disturbance with Burnley fans - 04/01/2009

Source: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

A BLACKBURN Rovers fan has avoided a banning order despite being caught up in a disturbance with Burnley supporters on a train.

Blackburn Magistrates heard a group of 70 Rovers fans travelling under police escort back from a game against Wigan became enraged when three Burnley fans got on the train in Blackburn.

The court was told the Blackburn supporters shouted abuse and threw beer cans at the Burnley trio.

Mark Andrew Gorton, 19, of Worston Close, Accrington, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour He was fined £85 with £65 costs but the magistrates declined to make a football banning order after hearing that he had no previous convictions.

British Transport Police arrested five men for public disorder offences after the incident, which happened at about 7pm on December 13.

They said at the time that there had been a fight on the train, which then flooded onto the platform.

A spokesman for the police said that it had been “a very unpleasant incident” and “drunken behaviour of this kind is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated”.

The Clarets had been celebrating a 3-2 home victory against Southampton while Rovers fans had been commiserating their 11th successive Premier League game without a win, following their 3-0 defeat by Wigan.

Earlier this season Rovers fans ripped metal work from a train carriage, dented the roof and smashed the window following their 0-0 draw at Bolton.

England: Football hooligans locked up for affray - 08/01/2009

Source: http://www.loughboroughecho.net

FOOTBALL hooligans from Loughborough, Mountsorrel and Whitwick have been given jail sentences for taking part in a violent street battle which terrorised a Coventry suburb.

Leicester City fans Jeremy Fletcher, 35, of Marsh Road in Mountsorrel, Adrian Smith, 42, of Milton Court in Loughborough, and Ian Horrobin, 39, of Thomas Road in Whitwick, all pleaded guilty to affray after 100 rival football fans clashed in the streets of Earlsdon in February last year.

Two of the hooligans were sent to prison while the third’s sentence was suspended for 18 months. All three were banned from football grounds around the country.

Police from the West Midlands worked with Leicestershire Constabulary officers to investigate what was believed to have been a pre-arranged clash, hours ahead of the two rival teams’ Championship match on February 23.

Following a police investigation a number of culprits were identified through CCTV footage and arrested in a series of raids.

As a result both Fletcher and Horrobin were sentenced to six months and handed an eight-year football banning order at Coventry Crown Court, meaning they cannot enter any football league ground or fly abroad while England are playing away.

Smith was given a six-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and to pay £350 costs and was given a five-year football banning order.

Noel Gallagher hung around with football hooligans - 06/01/2009

Source: The Sun

NOEL GALLAGHER has revealed he used to kick about with footie hooligans when he was on the dole in Manchester.

The diehard Man City fan confessed that he often found himself at away games with the feared Mayne Line Crew, Under-5s and Young Guvnors in the Eighties.

He said: “I knew all that lot and I still see a few of them today. They were quite mad times. Half of us were on the dole. The grounds we used to go to 20 years ago were dangerous, especially night games at Leeds and places like that, and wondering whether or not you’d make it home in one piece.”

But Noel reckons the experience might have played a part in his decision to become a rock ’n’ roll star.

He said: “I did start a song in the Kippax (a stand at City’s old Maine Road ground) when I’d had a drink. Probably something like, ‘Everywhere we go’ or similar and everyone joined in.

“So maybe the first seeds of my songwriting career were sown at the back of the Kippax.”

Noel also holds his hands up for forgetting the date of the first game he saw.

He said: “I’d got it in my head it was 1971 when we beat Newcastle 5-1 at Maine Road but I’ve recently looked that game up and it was actually 1975.”

Back when telly was in black and white.

Police in crackdown on East Leeds hooligans - 05/01/2009

Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

HOOLIGANISM and antisocial behaviour in east Leeds is to be targeted by police armed with a new Dispersal Order.
The powers to break up groups of problem youths have been granted in a concerted effort to improve life for residents, business people and visitors to the East End Park, Burmantofts and Osmondthorpe areas.

They were have been obtained by north east Leeds Police.

The decision to take the special powers follows the success earlier in the year of a similar order obtained to address such problems in the Gipton district of east Leeds.

The three-month disperal order starts today. It runs until the beginning of April when it will be reviewed by police and council officials who helped obtain the powers.

Under the order, police officers and Police Community Support Officers have powers to order people out of the designated area, if they believe they could be going to indulge in anti-social behaviour.

Anyone ordered out of the area is banned from returning for a period of 24 hours.

People refusing to leave the area or not following the rules of the order will be arrested with a maximum penalty of three months' imprisonment and/or a fine of £5,000. Also under the measure, young people aged under 16 are prohibited from public spaces within the area of the dispersal order from 9pm through to 6am unless they are accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult over 18.

Insp Jackie Hawkes, who leads the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill neighbourhood policing team, said: "We applied for a dispersal order to increase our ability to combat the nuisance type of behaviour that can often lead on to more serious incidents of anti-social behaviour. This is a preventative measure that allows us to stop anti-social behaviour before it starts."

To raise awareness of the new dispersal order, posters will be on display in local shops, businesses and street furniture in the areas designated as forming part of the new measures.

Insp Hawkes added: "We are aware of recent incidents close to the Iceland and B &M stores in Torre Lane and this type of legislation allows us to actively target and remove potential troublemakers from the area quickly and effectively. Members of the public, local businesses and visitors to the area have the right to enjoy the area without being unduly affected or intimidated by groups of young people.

"This order gives us additional powers to prevent this from happening," said Insp Hawkes. "Earlier this year a dispersal order was put in place in the nearby Gipton area that led to a significant reduction in antisocial behaviour. I remain confident that we will be able to follow that example and continue to reduce these type of anti-social incidents across north east Leeds."

Some funding for the dispersal order was secured from the Leeds crime reduction partnership Safer Leeds.

People requiring further information on the dispersal order can contact the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill neighbourhood policing team on 0113 2413270.

Xerez CF - Tenerife - 11/01/2008

Source: TV (thanks to the sender)

The game was suspended for 5 minutes after 20 minutes of playing due to the fact a man entered the pitch with a banner and white roses, requesting justice for his boy who was killed.
Police escorted back the man who was praised by all the stadium.

Slovakia: HC ZVVZ Milevsko - IHC Písek - Hockey - 10/01/2009

Source: https://www.youtube.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot4iXFsEsKc

England: Police using mobile fingerprint scanners to identify football hooligans - 11/01/2009

Source: Sunday Mercury

POLICE are using mobile fingerprint scanners to identify football hooligans trying to evade stadium banning orders.

West Midlands officers have used the hand-held devices 3,000 times on people in the street, including outside soccer grounds, to root out potential trouble-makers.

The force was one of the first in the country to be given mobile fingerprint devices in 2006 as part of a limited trial called Project Lantern.

They were initially deployed in police cars using automatic number recognition technology to stop vehicles that were logged as stolen, or had no insurance or MOT. Fingerprint checks often showed they were carrying falsified documents.

But the devices are now being used by officers working on a variety of different operations from targeting football hooligans to identifying dead bodies.

The force insists prints taken by the scanners have not been stored or added to databases. And having the checks carried out is voluntary, although people who refuse could risk being arrested.

Problems

While police say the technology can help tackle hooligans, the national Football Supporters’ Federation fears its use may cause problems for law-abiding fans. A spokesman said: “As far as we’re concerned, football fans should be policed on their behaviour, not their reputation. We as an organisation remember when Stoke City in the past had an away ID scheme. To be able to buy tickets supporters had to be officially registered, undergo police checks, etc.

“Such schemes had the opposite effect of making other clubs around the country wary of fans who’d been checked. The thinking was: ‘Their fans must be really awful if they need police checks’.

“The sight of fans having their fingerprints taken will simply reinforce the stereotype of fans going out there to cause trouble. If it’s a voluntary thing then I doubt genuine supporters trying to flaunt banning orders will agree to having their fingerprints checked. And if those who refuse face the risk of being arrested and taken to a custody suite, then it’s hardly a voluntary thing.”

The electronic searches, encrypted and sent over public networks, are usually returned to the mobile devices within two minutes with the name, age and gender of the suspect if there is a match.

In October it was reported that hand-held fingerprint scanners were to be given to police forces across Britain to carry out identity checks. Senior police chiefs claim the move will rapidly improve reaction times and hasten the speed of criminal investigations.

But critics warn the device is yet another step towards a Big Brother state, controlled by mass surveillance and random checks on innocent citizens.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “West Midlands Police has had Lantern on trial for over two years. The trial is due to finish at the end of 2009.”

Fan hooliganism costly for Croatian football clubs - 10/01/2009

Source: http://www.croatiantimes.com

Croatian football clubs have paid 750,000 Euros in fines for fan hooliganism.

That amount does not include the 200,000 Euros that UEFA has fined Dinamo because of its fans’ use of torches during the 3 December game with Udinese since the fine has not yet become final.

Deputy Prime Minister Djurdja Adlesic announced the total during the meeting of government ministers, who approved a bill on football hooliganism that will be presented to the Croatian Parliament.

The bill gives the police as well as judges the right to stop football matches when hooligans are causing chaos in a stadium.

The bill also gives police the right to test fans suspected of having drunk too much alcohol and to expel them from stadiums if they have done so.

In addition, the bill requires hooligans who have been banned from attending Croatian matches abroad to surrender their passports to the Croatian police before such games occur.

Prime Minister Ivo Sanader welcomed the bill’s provisions as a step forward. He invited Croatian fans to support their team rather than to lash out against its opponents.

Sanader condemned the salute "Za dom spremni" (Ready for the Country), which was used by the "Ustase" or Croatian Revolutionary Movement years ago and has been used by some hooligans during matches.

Sanader called for better education of young people who were unaware of what had happened 60 years ago.

Riots in Breda - 11/01/2009

Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

Nac Breda organised a footballtournament for lads..
teams who were playing : Nac Breda , PSV , Twente , Fortuna Sittard , RKC Waalwijk en Lokeren.
Every team were allowed to bring 50 lads for safety reasons..
When Twente played vs Fortuna some Twentelads were annoying the Sittardlads who were playing..
A sittard lad had a argument with a Twente lad about that but they played on..then Twente did the same and A old Nac lad screamed something and then a fight erupted for half an hour between all the firms against eachother..

Twente even brought a sportbag full with iron bats .. I also saw a PSV lad with a knife , and the rest of the weapons were brought by Twente.. When some idiot was spraying teargas it continued outside the sporthall till ob showed up..

Man U - Stoke: Police apologise to football fans - 15/01/2009

Source: http://news.uk.msn.com

Police issued an apology after around 80 football supporters were prevented from attending a match at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.
The Stoke City fans, who had travelled from Staffordshire to attend the away game in November, were sent back home after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received intelligence about planned violence between hooligan groups.
Following complaints from a number of Stoke City fans, and criticism from the Football Supporters' Federation and the human rights group Liberty, the GMP has apologised to six of the supporters who it now acknowledges did not pose any threat.
Assistant Chief Constable Justine Curran said: "On the day in question we were faced with intelligence that around 80 fans were intent on causing trouble and we had a duty to keep public order.
"Subsequent detailed inquiries have shown that a small proportion of those people were not part of the group causing the problems. As a result we have apologised to them individually and will reimburse them for the cost of their match tickets."
Police went to the Railway Inn in Irlam, Greater Manchester, on Saturday November 15 and told the assembled band of Stoke fans that they would not be attending the match. The fans were issued with Section 27 orders - which allow police to move people on who pose a risk of alcohol-related disorder - and sent back to Staffordshire on two coaches.
The assistant chief constable said that the GMP would be reviewing its use of Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act.
She said: "Having listened to concerns that have been raised in relation to this incident I have also commissioned a review of our use of Section 27 direction to leave in order to ensure that we utilise it only when it is necessary and appropriate."
Michael Brunskill from the Football Supporters' Federation said: "We're pleased that the GMP have acknowledged that their use of Section 27 was unjust and we hope that they compensate the fans and wipe clean any records they have on the matter." He continued: "The Stoke fans we've spoken to were not going to cause any trouble whatsoever - the pub landlord has said he was happy with their behaviour and he would welcome them back."
Mr Brunskill added that his organisation was hoping to take the matter to judicial review.

Football fan banned after Nazi salute on way to QPR - 15/01/2009

Source: London Informer

A football fan on his way to a QPR match who gave Nazi salutes at a Shepherd's Bush station has been banned from matches for three years.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers secured a football banning order against Barrie Jones, 48, of Glamorgan, Wales, at West London Magistrates’ Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment.

The Cardiff City fan had been travelling to Loftus Road for a Queen's Park Rangers match last November when shoved a police officer and gave the well-known Heil Hitler salute while walking through Wood Lane tube.

He was arrested, and spent the match in the cells. While languishing in the lock-up, his team lost 1-0 to QPR.

The ban means that Jones cannot attend any football match in London or the rest of England and Wales until January 2012.

Under the terms of the order, Jones is also prohibited from entering any stadium in England or Wales where a football match is taking place. He can also be required to surrender his passport when Cardiff City or the Welsh national team are playing abroad.

PC TJ Treacy, of BTP’s Football Intelligence Unit, said: "The majority of football fans are law-abiding citizens but there is, however, nearly always a minority who seem determined to spoil a good day of sport and who by virtue of their behaviour bring the game and the notion of being a supporter into disrepute.

"Our message to football fans is to enjoy yourself but be respectful of others because we will not tolerate abusive or violent behaviour on the railway.

"If people choose to behave this way they will be proactively dealt with and we will work with football clubs to seek football banning orders."

If Jones is found in breach of his order he faces up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of £5,000.

Five Bolton football hooligans banned for 3 years - 15/01/2009

Source: http://niche-productions.co.uk

Five Bolton Wanderer football fans have been issued with three year football banning orders after being arrested following a Liverpool verses Bolton Wanderers match on Friday, 26 December,2008 at Anfield

Four of the men; Damien Hamblett, 22, Jacub Hardman, 17, Ben Power, 23, and Colin Hamblett, 46, all from the Manchester area, were arrested for drunk and disorderly following a disturbance after the match at the away coaches on Arkles Lane.

All four men pleaded guilty today at the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre and were fined £100, £65 costs and each received a 3 year football banning order.

David Ainsworth, 47, also from Manchester was arrested for racially aggravated public order. He pleaded guilty and was fined £400 and £65 cost.He was also given a football banning order for three years. All five men were also given an exclusion zone around the Reebok Stadium and Bolton Town Centre.

Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis said: “Merseyside Police works in partnership with football clubs across country to ensure that the behaviour of a small number of individuals does not affect the enjoyment of genuine fans attending matches, and to ensure that the level of behaviour in grounds is acceptable and within the regulations.

“We are aware of an emerging group of people who are purposefully going out to these games to cause trouble and I hope that these orders send out a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated. We will continue with our efforts to deal with the individuals who commit these offences, in particular, with the continued use of football-banning orders.”

Australia: Middleby Ambushed In Car Park Attack - 15/01/2009

Source: http://au.fourfourtwo.com

ROBBIE Middleby was ambushed by an angry fan in Sydney Football Stadium's car park after the match against Wellington Phoenix on Sunday night, it's been revealed.
Middleby was making his way back to his car when two fans - wearing Sydney scarves over their faces - leapt out and surprised him.

Before hitting Middleby - due to join North Queensland Fury next season - one said: "'You're f***ing leaving us, are you Middleby?"

The attacker then launched a flurry of punches, knees and kicks at the Sydney FC midfielder before the pair ran off when Middleby's wife intervened.

"His mate just stood there, and he kneed me and starting throwing punches," Middleby told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"I thought he was going to attack her, so I threw a punch or two, and then my mate, who was also at the car, came over as well.

"That's when the two of them ran off."

He added: "Never in my career have I experienced anything like this. It's a disgrace."

Sydney FC today confirmed the attack and launched a probe to find the culprits. They hope security camera footage at the ground may be able to pick up the attackers.

"Middleby was unhurt, but was left shaken by the incident and Sydney FC have been taking all possible steps to identify the men involved since the incident on Sunday night," said a statement from the club.

"The cowardly confrontation is completely unacceptable and the club will continue to working closely with SFS management and the FFA to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

"The club will ensure that every avenue of investigation is pursued to identify the culprits, and the strongest possible penalty will be applied once they are found, with the pair facing life bans from all Sydney FC matches and possible legal action."

The statement added: "Sydney FC enjoy a great relationship with their supporters, and will continue to do so into the future despite the behaviour of two individuals who have forfeited the right to call themselves Sydney FC fans.

"Sydney thank their fans for their ongoing support and are urging anyone with any information about the incident to contact the club and assist with the investigation."

Birmingham City - Wolverhampton Wanderers - FA Cup - 13/01/2009

Source : Birminghammail.net

Attack on cops at Birmingham City v Wolves clash

POLICE came under a barrage of bricks and bottles as soccer thugs again brought shame to Midlands football with violence which following the FA Cup derby clash between Blues and Wolves.

West Midlands Police said officers faced “spontaneous disorder” before and after last night’s third round tie. Rival thugs clashed with each other and police in Digbeth High Street, Birmingham.

The force helicopter was called in to assist officers on the ground with crowd control.

Meanwhile, a number of seats were damaged inside the ground during the match.

A total of 14 people were arrested, mainly for public order offences, and later released on police bail pending further inquiries into the trouble surrounding the tie which Wolves won 2-0.

Detectives from Stechford were today beginning to sift through footage from CCTV in the ground and also taken by police surveillance teams to identify troublemakers.

A police spokesman said the vast majority of the crowd at the game, which included 4,000 Wolves fans, were well behaved.

“But a small minority of troublemakers triggered instances of spontaneous disorder,” the spokesman said.

“Some seats were damaged at St Andrew’s and there was some disorder before and after the match in Digbeth High Street, during which bricks and bottles were thrown at police.

“There were no reported injuries.

“The force helicopter was used to assist officers on the ground with crowd control.

“Those arrested have been bailed pending further enquires and police are studying CCTV footage to see whether any other offences are disclosed and to identify potential offenders.”

Policeman to be tried for fan death - 16/01/2009

Source : Ansa

A policeman who shot an Italian soccer fan dead in November 2007 has been sent to trial for murder.

A preliminary hearings judge rejected the agent's plea for fast-track proceedings and ordered him to receive a full trial for murder, beginning on March 20.

Agent Luigi Spaccarotella, 36, was not present at Friday's hearings and the the relatives of Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri accused him of ''not having the courage to look us in the face''.

The policeman's lawyers said he did not attend because he wanted to avoid the media scrum.

After Friday's hearing, Sandri's father Giorgio said: ''I hope he turns up next time...I want to look my son's killer in the face''. Spaccatorella's attorney assured reporters his client would come in court.

''He didn't come today because he wouldn't have been required to make any statement. It wasn't because he was trying to hide from fans,'' the lawyer said.

Spaccarotella has denied shooting to kill Rome DJ and Lazio fan Sandri, 26, after a scuffle between two small groups of Lazio and Juventus fans at a Tuscan motorway service station on November 11, 2007.

But after a preliminary investigation into the death, prosecutors sought murder charges.

In his final questioning session, the agent confirmed his claim that the shot that killed Sandri went off accidentally as he was running to get a better view of the incident on the other side of the motorway.

A lawyer acting for Sandri's family said the officer's claim contradicted testimony from two eye witnesses who said they saw Spaccarotella firing at head height with both hands on his gun.

Sandri's death sparked the worst Italian soccer riots in years and led to the suspension of play for a day.

Spaccarotella apparently acted in the belief that Sandri and his friends were speeding off after robbing the petrol station - when in fact they were driving away after a scuffle with the rival fans.

Police have speculated that Spaccarotella may have been aiming at the car's tyres.

''But if he was doing so he was taking an enormous risk,'' Arezzo Police Chief Vincenzo Giacobbe said.

Giacobbe said a police-issue bullet was found in the body of Sandri, a rising Rome DJ who was travelling to see Lazio play Inter in Milan.

Sandri and three companions had just jumped back into their car after a scuffle with Juventus fans and were heading out of the service station when the bullet entered the rear-side window of the vehicle and hit Sandri in the neck.

On the evening of Sandri's death, some 40 policemen were injured in a night of street violence around Rome's Olympic Stadium.

The most seriously injured was a police officer hit by a metal bar in an assault on a police station near the stadium.

Several right-wing hooligans, mostly Lazio fans, were convicted of orchestrating the riots in which an estimated 500 fans attacked three police stations and the headquarters of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Damage to various buildings and vehicles was said to have been ''incalculable''.

Incidents also took place in Bergamo, Milan and other Italian cities.

Experts said hooligans had been regrouping after being curbed by government measures and therefore seized on Sandri's death to renew their assault on the police.

Rangers pair jailed for Lennon attack - 17/01/2009

Source : Scotsman

TWO Rangers fans were jailed for two years yesterday after being convicted of attacking the Celtic coach Neil Lennon and knocking him unconscious.

A jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court found David Whitelaw and Jeffrey Carrigan guilty of punching the star to the ground and then repeatedly kicking him in the head and body as he lay unconscious.

They claimed Lennon started the fight by pushing Carrigan and grabbing him by the throat, but witnesses told the court that Whitelaw threw the first punch.

The attack started after the men tried to taunt the 37-year-old about Rangers' 4-2 win over Celtic earlier that day.

After they were convicted, the court heard that Whitelaw was jailed for six years in 1993 for drug offences.

He also had other offences including assault and possession of an axe, and was convicted of breach of the peace just weeks before the attack. Carrigan was also jailed for five years for drug dealing in 2003.

Sheriff Martin Jones told the pair: "You have been convicted of a vicious, brutal and cowardly attack on an innocent member of the public who was making his way home in the early hours of the morning.

"Ashton Lane is an area popular with the public for its bars and restaurants and the public are entitled to feel safe there.

"After being punched to the ground and lying defenceless, you repeatedly kicked the complainer about the head and body and at some point he was rendered unconscious. You showed no concern for your victim and no appreciation of the consequences of your actions.

"The complainer was indeed fortunate that he didn't receive more serious injuries given the nature and ferocity of the assault."

Whitelaw and Carrigan smirked to members of their family in court as they were led to the cells.

The jury took around three hours to convict Whitelaw, 47, and Carrigan, 43, both from Knightswood, Glasgow, of assaulting Mr Lennon to his severe injury on 1 September, 2008.

The pair were originally charged with carrying out the attack due to religious prejudice, but this was removed from the charge.

The court earlier heard that the two men were out celebrating their team's success when they saw Mr Lennon standing in Ashton Lane in Glasgow's West End.

Carrigan said to the former footballer: "Did you like the score today, Lennon?" The coach gestured with his middle finger at the men.

Liam Cameron, a bar worker, told the court that he heard the men shout back "ya ginger c***", and onlooker Louise Bradley claimed that she heard someone shout: "Fenian b******."

The court heard Mr Lennon then shouted and marched towards the pair. James Dick, bar manager of the Ubiquitous Chip, told the court that he saw Mr Lennon push Carrigan on the chest before Whitelaw punched the former footballer.

Mr Cameron, who was walking just behind Mr Dick, said that Mr Lennon was arguing with Carrigan when Whitelaw threw a punch and knocked him to the ground.

The barman said:

"Mr Lennon then went down backwards and hit his head on the cobbles. He ended up on the ground on his back and his shoe came off. He was then kicked in the head more than three times by both men."

Lennon, who suffered cuts above his eye and lip, told the court that he could not remember anything about the attack. The former team captain later picked out Whitelaw in a police identity parade, but could not tell officers how he knew him.

Whitelaw and Carrigan were also identified by medical students Jonathan Bone, 21, and Louise Bradley, 26, who had seen the two men in a bar called Nude before the attack took place, then saw the incident unfold in Ashton Lane.

Banning order for Darlington teen who took part in brawl - 16/01/2009

Source : Northern Echo

A TEENAGER has become the first person to be sentenced for an incident following a pre-season football match.

The 17-year-old boy from Darlington, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been given a three-year football banning order for his part in a mass brawl.

The boy pleaded guilty to causing affray on August 2 after a game between Darlington and St Mirren.

Prosecutor Derek Walton told Darlington Youth Court yesterday the fight started at 5pm after the match had finished.

CCTV evidence was shown to the court which showed up to 50 fans from the two teams fighting in Darlington market place.

Mr Walton said: "Instead of walking away or standing there, the boy moves towards the direction of the fighting.

"The boy kicks one man and is seen to either punch or push another."

Mitigating Helen Howard said the boy was not aware a game had been played that day. He had instead been shopping for a birthday present.

He was speaking to a friend outside a pub in the market place when the fight started.

Miss Howard said: "He is very much on the periphery of the incident. During the incident he is only seen in two parts. He is in no way a ring leader."

She also handed in references from employers and college tutors, who described his behaviour and attitude as admirable.

Chairman of the magistrates Claire Pringle said: "We feel that you were part of a very serious and unpleasant incident but on looking at the video evidence you were only on the fringe."

His banning order prevents him from going within 1.5 miles of Darlington's home ground for seven hours on match days, travelling to towns where Darlington are playing, and means he has to surrender his passport when England are playing away internationals.

He was also given a three-month referral order and ordered to pay £43 costs.

Omonoia - APOEL - 17/01/2008

Source : Famagusta Gazette + Gate 9 website

Police use tear gas to break up Cyprus football riot

Police have reported more violent incidents after last nights Apoel - Amonia football match, with supporters of both teams clashing with police.

Officers were forced to use tear gas to disperse the rioters.

Fourteen supporters and 19 policemen had to be treated for injuries at Nicosia Hospital. All those admitted to hospital were discharged later in the evening.

However, one rapid reaction force officer was admitted to the hospital for a serious leg injury, and will be operated on today.

At least 14 supporters were treated for minor injuries at the stadiums first aid station.

Police said that some 250 Amonia supporters succeeded in breaking the security cordon, which separated the opposing fans.

Amonia fans pelted the rival supporters and police vehicles with various objects.

Three men were arrested on the spot, whilst another two men were arrested before the game on suspicion of being involved in an earlier incident in Strovolos, where two traffic police had been injured.





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Source: http://www.brtk.cc

6 TURKISH CYPRIOT CARS SMASHED IN ATTACK BY APOEL SUPPORTERS

Turkish Cypriots were once again the victims of football hooliganism and Greek fanaticism in South Cyprus.

The racially motivated attacks, carried out frequently by various fanatic groups, are aimed at discouraging contact between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots as well as to disrupt ongoing talks to find a political settlement.

6 Turkish Cypriot number plated vehicles were stoned and attacked by Apoel football supporters in South Cyprus following a match between Ommonia-Apoel.

A Turkish Cypriot child was also injured in the attacks which took place in two separate locations.

According to a report issued by Turkish Cypriot police, 6 Turkish Cypriot vehicles were targeted in separate locations.

The first attack took place when one of the cars stopped at a red light next to the Apoel Sports Club.

Stones were thrown at the car by the thousand or so hooligans, who had gathered around the club premises.

The group then surrounded the car, kicking and smashing the vehicle.

Another attack was carried out by a group of 15 motorcyclists.

Once again, Turkish Cypriots, who were waiting at a red traffic light, had their windscreen smashed by the attackers.

A child traveling in the car was also injured in the attack.

Other minor attacks were also carried out on Turkish Cypriot vehicles in other parts of South Lefkosa.

Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot Administration’s spokesman Stefanos Stefanu has strongly condemned the attacks against Turkish Cypriots.

Stefanu said that such attacks carried out at a time when direct negotiations were being carried out to reunify the island were destroying and damaging confidence between Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Eurocup basketball : Turk Telekom (Turkey) - Bnei Hasharonthe (Israel) - 06/01/2009

Source : Reuters

The basketball game was suspended on Tuesday after Turkish fans erupted in protests against the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, Turkish media reported. A referee suspended the game between Turk Telekom and Bnei Hasharon, part of a European basketball championship, and ordered the players back to the dressing room after hundreds of Turkish fans began chanting "Israel, killers!" in an Ankara sports centre, SkyTurk broadcaster reported.

Iraklis - AEK Athens - 17/01/2009

Source: The Canadian Press + http://www.sport.gr

Spectator dies of a heart attack after Iraklis-AEK football game

A 61-year-old retired firefighter and former goalkeeper died of heart failure following the Iraklis-AEK match in the Greek football league Saturday night, according to police reports.

Sotiris Serafim, who was attending the match, collapsed immediately after it ended. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Serafim had a history of heart problems, Greek media reported.

Sources say Serafim's death appears to be unrelated to the violence that erupted after the match ended and which saw riot police intervening to separate the opposing teams' fans, hitting some of them with truncheons.

AEK won the match 1-0.

VIDEOS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJda_SC0Fo
http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=69&vid=19976
http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=69&vid=19975
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RdhhCPZpBA



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Source : Kathimerini

Fan’s death mars football games

The weekend’s football action, which saw Olympiakos maintain a big lead at the top of the Super League, was overshadowed by the death of an Iraklis fan amid crowd disturbances at the end of his team’s game against AEK in Thessaloniki on Saturday.

Police said that 57-year-old Sotiris Seraphim died of heart failure at the end of the match, when dozens of rival supporters rushed onto the running track next to the pitch.

There was no indication that the retired firefighter and former goalkeeper was involved in any violence. Authorities said that Seraphim had suffered heart problems in the past and that paramedics’ efforts to revive him on Saturday failed.

Iraklis issued a statement criticizing police for their poor presence at the match. With the final whistle, dozens of AEK fans rushed onto the track to congratulate the team, but home supporters went to confront them. Riot police were forced to separate the two groups of fans.

A 20-year-old was arrested before the match after attempting to enter the ground with 61 smoke bombs and nine flares.

Fan shot, 93 arrested at Uruguayan tournament - 18/01/2009

Source: The Associated Press + latercera.com

A football supporter was shot six times by a rival fan and 93 people were arrested as fighting broke out during a four-team tournament in Uruguay.

The wounded Nacional fan, whose name was not released by police Sunday, was in intensive care at a Montevideo hospital.

A Penarol supporter pulled out a revolver and shot him as two dozen fans clashed Saturday night after a Copa Bimbo game, won 2-1 by Nacional.

Police said they arrested 78 adults and 15 minors for other incidents.

Uruguay was forced to suspend the final week of last season in December because of a dispute between sports authorities and the Interior Ministry over security measures. That left Nacional tied with Danubio at the top of the standings, with the deciding game yet to be played.

Nacional will start next season with three points deducted because of an on-field brawl in November involving fans wielding sticks and pieces of metal. Three Nacional supporters and one Danubio fan were later indicted on criminal charges stemming from the brawl -- one of several fan clashes during the season.



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Source : Reuters

Fan shot in fight after Uruguayan match

A man was shot following a pre-season match between Penarol and Nacional in another bout of Uruguayan football violence, police said on Sunday.

The 33-year-old Nacional supporter was taken to hospital after being shot in the chest as rival fans clashed outside the Centenario stadium following Saturday evening's game, police said in a statement.

Media reports said the man, who has not been named, was in intensive care and that his condition was serious.

Police added that 93 people were arrested before, during and after the match between the country's two most popular clubs.

The Uruguayan championship was suspended for two weeks last November after around 200 supporters fought on the pitch following a match between Danubio and Nacional.

The tournament was again suspended last month on the eve of the final round of matches in the first stage after police declared Danubio's stadium unsuitable to host Penarol.

The matches are due to be played at the end of this month.

Middlesborough FC - Sunderland - 12/01/2009

Source: http://www.peterleemail.co.uk

Boro v Sunderland: 14 arrested

POLICE arrested 14 fans for public order offences during Sunderland's derby game with Middlesbrough.

Supporters of both teams were taken into custody.

Supt Steve Sugden told the BBC: "It was a lively football match, but on the whole fans were well-behaved."

"There was a little difficulty at the end of the match, when some away fans left the stadium through unauthorised exits and began to make their way to the coach parks," he added.

"However, officers policing the match managed to keep this situation under control and enable these fans to make their way from the stadium in a safe and orderly manner."

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of affray, 10 men face public order charges and three men were bailed pending further inquiries.

Haarlem FC - Cambuur Leeuwarden - 16/01/2009

Source: mail (thanks to the senders)

A fight opposed Haarlem youth to a Cambuur firm.
Cambuur was defeated.
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There were 20 youth of Cambuur.
Against a larger group of Haarlem including the elderly, and boys at Roda JC and Sparta.

Hansa Rostock - 1. FC Union Berlin - 18/01/2009

Source : sueddeutsche.de + unveu.de

During the game Union supporters showed up and burned a flag stolen to their rivals.
Local angry fans tried to approach the Berlin sector and stewards and police made an intervention.
Five minutes of troubles.











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Source : DPA

During 2nd half, Berlin supporters threw firecrackers on the pitch.
Referee stopped the game for 4 minutes.
200 policemen and an helicopter were on duty for this game.

Translation Underground Fans