Season 08/09 - April

Bosnia: Zeljeznicar - Slavija - 11/04/2009

Source: mail (thanks to the sender)

The inter fight among Maniacs

Hillsborough's tragic legacy leaves home comforts 20 years on - 10/04/2009

Source : guardian.co.uk

The deaths of 96 people in 1989 improved stadium standards but the game still needs to remain on guard



On Wednesday it will be 20 years since Britain's worst sporting disaster. Ninety-six people died because they went to a football match – the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on 15 April 1989. Before the tragedy Hillsborough had been regarded as a safe ground, although Liverpool fans had complained about overcrowding when the teams met at the same venue in the semi-finals the previous season. But on that day in 1989 something went terribly wrong.

An inquiry into the disaster by Lord Justice Taylor blamed it on a failure of police control that saw Liverpool supporters herded into two packed pens at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium instead of being directed into the less crowded areas of terracing on either side. Ninety-four fans died on the day, a 14-year-old boy died four days later and a further victim died after being in a coma for nearly four years. A total of 766 people were injured.

Hillsborough and its consequences changed for ever the way supporters watched football in England. Taylor's report condemned the primitive conditions in which spectators were expected to watch their teams. The result was a dramatic switch to all-seat stadiums and the abolition of perimeter fences which, as Hillsborough demonstrated, could turn grounds into death traps when people had no means of escape.

Today's spectators can stroll to their seats a few minutes before kick-off and enjoy a perfect view of the action unimpeded by fencing. If there is an emergency they can make their way to numerous exits via adequate gangways. As a last resort they can get on to the field of play. Another Hillsborough surely cannot happen.

The modern mindset of those responsible for crowd control has to be different from that fateful April afternoon. People died at Hillsborough because for a few minutes a safety problem was misread as a security problem. Hooliganism was not to blame on the day, yet more than 20 years of crowd violence had produced the steel fences that now found Liverpool supporters trying to escape being crushed to death, while the police thought they were dealing pitch invasions.

The casual acceptance of the acute discomfort in which many people watched football before Hillsborough seems extraordinary now. English football took far too long to realise that while the game was still an entertainment for the masses the practice of squeezing spectators into cages to minimise the possibility of violence was severely at odds with the way fans were being treated elsewhere.

Had they but known it, those football reporters who wandered up to Ibrox to follow Rangers in Europe when English teams were banned following Heysel in 1985 were being given a preview of the path the game south of the border was destined to follow. It was more like an evening at the theatre than a football match. Ibrox was rebuilt in the wake of its own disaster in January 1971 when 66 people were trampled to death as they fell down Stairway 13 shortly before the end of an Old Firm game. The tragedy forced government action in the shape of the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975, which laid down rules for safer terraces, entrances and exits but did not go remotely as far as Taylor did post-Hillsborough.

Today's football is accompanied by the same extreme emotions of joy and despair from the stands and still nobody likes the referee. But the sense of intimidation is no longer there. The worst elements have been priced out and policed out and now write books that recall the good old days of terrace punch-ups with an affection not widely shared at the time.

Yet the game needs to remain on its guard. Last October there was a pitch invasion at Sunderland at the end of their game with Newcastle and only last weekend a referee, Mike Dean, suffered a gashed forehead when he was struck by a coin at Cardiff. The 22 people who died when ticketless fans stormed an entrance to the stadium during a recent World Cup qualifier between Ivory Coast and Malawi were an awful reminder of what can happen if there is no crowd control.

Hillsborough had crowd controllers in 1989, but those controlling the controllers did not do their jobs properly. It was an awful way to bring spectator safety and comfort up to date and the pain of that day lingers on even at 20 years' distance.

Malaysia: Kelantan - Negri Sembilan - FA Cup - 07/04/2009

Source: http://thestar.com.my

Football fans arrested over riot

KOTA BARU: A teacher with illegal firecrackers in his pockets and two students were arrested by Kelantan police for allegedly rioting after Kelantan’s defeat by Negri Sem­bilan in a Malaysian FA Cup football match at Stadium Sultan Mohamad IV here on Tuesday.

State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the teacher had at least eight illegal firecrackers in his pockets.

The three have been remanded for two days for investigations and may face court action.

Police expect to make more arrests after viewing video footage of the rioting, and Abdul Rahim advised those involved to surrender themselves.

In the incident, two constables were injured, a police four-wheel-drive vehicle torched and several cars damaged.

Abdul Rahim said he would meet Kelantan Football Associa­tion (Kafa) president Tan Sri Anuar Musa to discuss the possibility of holding the next football match scheduled here at a neutral venue.

Abdul Rahim said Kelantan goalkeeper Halim Napi had punched and kicked Negri player Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak after the match, prompting home fans to throw mineral water bottles, stones, and firecrackers at the Negri players.

Police escorted the visiting team to safety but had to contend with 20,000 fanatic football fans outside the stadium.

Abdul Halim said Kota Baru OCPD Asst Comm Zahruddin Abdullah ordered the fans more than five times to disperse but they began attacking the police instead.

“Since the stadium is situated within populated areas, we used mild force to disperse the crowd, firing 20 tear gas canisters,” he said.

“We only had 300 personnel members on duty and I am proud to say that they did well to quell the rioting and prevent it from getting out of hand.”

If Kafa decides to hold the next match (against Selangor on Satur­day) here, the police will be ready.

“This time around we will not be nice guys,” ACP Zahruddin warned.

Drunken fans made journey a nightmare - 11/04/2009

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

A TRAIN passenger has spoken of her disgust after sharing a carriage with drunken football supporters.

Marilyn Longstaff said she felt “very frightened” during a journey from King’s Cross, in London, to Darlington on Saturday evening.

She and a friend were returning from a holiday in France when they were joined on the train by Sunderland supporters who had been watching their team play West Ham.

She said: “It was awash with very drunk and belligerent supporters.

“It can’t be right that two women in their 50s are not able to feel safe on public transport and can’t get to the buffet for a cuppa.”

A ban on alcohol meant the women were told they had to drink or throwaway two bottles of wine they were bringing home for friends before boarding the train. Although staff relented and allowed the pair to stash the bottles in their luggage, Mrs Longstaff, 58, from Darlington, described the policy as a “joke”.

The retired teacher said: “The supporters had smuggled on all sorts and were already out of their skulls from drinking since 7am.

“At Peterborough, hoards of police boarded the train and there was a charge down the aisle near us as a policeman wrestled a man to the floor and handcuffed him.”

Mrs Longstaff said some of the fans apologised after sobering up, but the incident still left a bitter taste in the mouth.

“It seems that the policy of declaring trains ‘alcohol-free’ is not working,” she added. “It seems that trouble on Saturday evening trains is expected.

“Are we saying that it is not possible for ordinary citizens to travel after a certain time on a Saturday?”

British Transport Police said the trouble at Peterborough involved Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Sunderland supporters which had come together at the station.

Seven men aged between 17 and 48 were arrested following the disorder.

A National Express East Coast spokesman said, “The banning of alcohol on trains is a standard practice when any of the big three North- East football clubs are playing in London.

“While the vast majority of football fans are well-behaved when travelling on our services, a small minority are still intent on causing trouble.”

Anyone with information is asked to call British Transport Police free on 0800-40-50- 40 quoting incident 616 of 4/4/09.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

FC Basel - Neuchatel Xamax - 09/04/2009

Source : TSR.ch

Police attacked in Basel

In Basel, local supporters, some masked, attacked police.
Police used flash-balls to disperse supporters.
Troubles started at the end of the game, win by local team 3-0.
Two people were arrested.

Sporting Lokeren - RSC Anderlecht - 05/04/2009

Source : La Dernière Heure

Anderlecht excluded supporters from away games

Internal brawls took place in Lokeren, opposing two mobs of Anderlecht fans; three stewards were wounded.

For the first time for a long time, incidents were to be regretted implying Anderlecht supporters. In Mechelen, a few weeks before, there were first brawls but in Lokeren, the troublemakers were again distinguished.

Stewards, who tried to intervene, also received punches. For the first time since they are active in Anderlecht, three stewards were wounded. A woman steward was hospitalized the following day.

There are several reasons to these troubles, especially the use of alcohol in coaches. But also especially there's a competition between clans. The old hard core of Brussels does not accept that young Flemings took the power, said police.

SSV Reutlingen - Eintracht Frankfurt II - 07/04/2009

Source : sport-news.ws

Police restored order as fans from both side tried to cause troubles at the end of the game.
About 80 Reutlingen fans enter the away fans coaches area, with the aim to attack them.
But a large police presence stopped this act.
Two policemen were injured.


Translation Underground Fans (c)

Nîmes - Montpellier - 10/04/2009

Source : Midi Libre + mail

One supporter arrested

A very large police presence was in the city this Friday night, for this high-risks game.
Police was in number, from the train station to the Costières stadium.
Due to avoid any troubles inside the stadium, there was an empty area.

Finally, only one Montpellier supporter was arrested.
Police also needed to intervene, using pepper sprays to calm down Nîmes fans who tried to reach their arch-rivals from Montpellier.

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Source : Armata website




Montpellier mob

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France: Vitréenne - FC Rouen - 11/04/2009

Source : Paris Normandie

FCR supporters arrested

Rouen supporters caused troubles near the stadium of La Vitréenne.

Troubles also occured inside the stadium: at half-time, about 40 Rouen youth, some drunken, damaged publicity pannels and 3 seats.

Police used pepper sprays and 3 young men were arrested.

Kickers Offenbach - Fortuna Düsseldorf - 11/04/2009

Source : presseportal.de

At 1.15pm, in Offenbach train station, police needed to intervene to separate about 80 supporters from both sides.
No one was injured but 45 people were arrested, including 42 from Dusseldorf.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Lazio Roma - AS Roma - 11/04/2009

Source : Mail




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Source : corrieredellosport.it

Troubles occured inside the stadium.
Two man were arrested.
Police also found 8 knives, 5 machetes and 13 firecrackers.





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Source : ilmessaggero.it







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Source : press






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Source : Daily Mail

Rome derby marred by Ultras as British tourist has buttocks slashed

A British tourist attending Saturday's Lazio-Roma derby was slashed across the buttocks in the classic Ultras calling card.

Allan Brown, 31, was visiting the city for the Easter break and took advantage of the game being on to visit the Olympic Stadium - venue for next month's Champions League final.

Mr Brown suffered wounds to the buttocks after being slashed by around ten knife wielding Roma fans and was rescued by a passing Italian TV personality.

Buttocks slashing ia a trademark of Roma's notorious Ultras and the wound is not lethal but extremly painful and embarassing.

It was the latest in a series of incidents that have marred matches involving Roma's hardcore Ultra fans and will again raise questions about the suitability and safety of the venue.

Four British teams are left in the Champions League - which resumes next week - and this season Arsenal fans who attended last month's quarter final against Roma were also targeted.

In 2007 Manchester United fans during a Champions League quarter final were also attacked and the previous year Middlesbrough fans were set upon in the city centre.

UEFA have already said they are happy with security at the Olympic Stadium and are not willing to move the showpiece final which takes place on 27 May.

Police said Mr Brown was attacked as he drank a beer in the Ponte Milvio area, a few minutes walk from the stadium, at the end of the match but it is not known if he was on his own.

The group ran off after Italian TV star Paolo Calabresi, who presents a satirical show called Le Iene (The Hyenas) ran towards the group with his camera crew and shouted at them.

Signore Calabresi said: 'It all happened very quickly. I think he was on his own but I'm not sure. I saw that he was being attacked and kicked by a group of ten people.

'We ran at them and they ran off - two of them I saw get into a car. We picked him up off the floor and he said he was English and I saw that he was losing a lot of blood.

'It was really frightening. Then an ambulance crew arrived and took him to hospital. I hope he is OK.'

A spokesman at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome where Mr Brown was taken said: 'Mr Brown had wounds to his buttocks and had lost a lot of blood but his condition is not life threatening. Privacy laws forbid me from saying anything else.'

A Rome police spokesman said they could not rule out the possibility Mr Brown was targeted because he was English.

He added that police made five arrests during the bad tempered match which ended in a 4-2 win for Lazio.

Before the game police also seized a variety of weapons including knives, axes and smoke flares hidden by a bridge close to the Olympic Stadium.

Reggina - Udinese - 12/04/2009

Source : sportmediaset.it

Severe troubles erupted at the end of the game.
One supporter was arrested.

IFK Goteborg - Djurgårdens IF - 11/04/2009

Source: Eurosport.fr + gp.se + svt.se

Brawls in Gothenburg

Two people were hospitalized and four arrested Saturday in Gothenburg after brawls between supporters at the end of the match of Championship of Sweden between the IFK Gothenburg and Djurgarden, one of the clubs of Stockholm, according to the Swedish police force.

Supporters of the two clubs were found at the central station, where the supporters of Djurgarden were to take the train of the return, and of the brawls burst, indicated Stefan Gustafsson, of the police force of Gothenburg, the second city of the country, with radio Swedish.

















VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6PF1Bd1b6g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZefsLL44aKY

Spain: Marbella FC - Cadiz CF - 11/04/2009


Source: local press

Troubles occured, before the game, opposing Cadiz fans to local Frente Bokeron members.
A Cadiz fan was injured at his head during these troubles.
He was hospitalized.

Troubles started when about 30 local ultras, armed with firecrackers, iron bars and bricks tried to attack Cadiz supporters.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Spain: Eibar - Real Sociedad - 11/04/2009

Source: local press

Troubles opposed Sociedad supporters to local security.
Some Pena Mujika members were injured.

Germany: TSV Aindling - FC Kickers Würzburg - 12/04/2009

Source : augsburger-allgemeine.de

Thirty Wurzburg supporters provoked brawls following the defeat (3-2) of their loved ones.
Fights opposed supporters.
Finally, police escorted back supporters to the train station.


Translation Underground Fans (c)

Belgium: SK Lierse - SK Beveren - 10/04/2009

Source: forum + http://www.thalsfm.be/nieuws/lokaal/index.php?ge=5&tid=40184

Large local mob (100, including Vitesse Arnhem).
Coach of Beveren E-Side was attacked.

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Source : mail

We (Beverenlads) where suprised by the "attack" of the locals because of the friendship there was between some groups of both sides. So attacked by suprise, but no big things, only 2 windows of the coach were destroyed by the locals.

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Sourc:e mail - Lierse view

For this game there were no fans of vitesse arnhem with lierse. We do not know why everytime people mention vitesse.....

The reason we attacted beveren after the game was the fact they showed no respect. Started singing their songs in our pub is asking for problems.

No selfrespceting firm can accept this, so we made our move and attacted their coach and asked them to get out, but they refused.

Galatasaray - Fenerbahce - 12/04/2009

Source: AP + https://www.youtube.com + http://www.fanatik.co.tr









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl0AWrNHLBA

Swiss: FC Vaduz - Grasshoppers - 04/04/2009

Source : Reuters

Marseille - Grenoble - 12/04/2009

Source: mail (merci à l'expéditeur)

Slavia Prague - Sparta Prague - 13/04/2009

Source : foto.slavistickenoviny.cz

AC Horsens - Brondby IF - 12/04/2009

Source: The Copenhagen Post + onside.dk + tv2.dk + https://www.youtube.com

The Lions now lead in the standings by three points over rival Brøndby, who not only lost its match in Horsens 3-0 but also saw some of its fans cause mass chaos after Sunday’s game.

At least 30 spectators – primarily Brøndby fans – were arrested by police for vandalism, with 14 now facing charges in connection with fires, roman candle shooting, pick-pocketing and violence that occurred after the match. One hooligan will also be charged with assault.

Hermann Haraldsson, Brøndby’s general manager, said he was ashamed of the incident.

‘Those aren’t our fans. What those people did was embarrassing and disgraceful,’ he told TV3+. ‘If we find out who they are, we’ll make sure they never see a Brøndby football match again.’

Emil Bakkendorf, the team’s head of security, said that the club may begin to copy FCK’s practice of registering all fans who purchase tickets to away games in an effort to keep tabs on potential hooligans.






VIDEO:

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

Barrow AFC - York City - 13/04/2009

Source : nwemail.co.uk

A MAN has been charged with disorderly conduct following yesterday’s game between Barrow AFC and York.

And four more men from the Barrow area are reporting back to the police station tonight after the incidents in Wilkie Road that followed the final whistle at Holker Street, where the teams drew 0-0.

Stephen McCormick, 47, of Howe Street, Barrow, has already been charged with disorderly conduct and released on bail to appear before magistrates on April 28.

A police spokesman said another four men were arrested after the game – one for an alleged assault on a police officer – and were bailed back to the police station tonight.

He added: “There were well over 200 York fans at the game and there was good natured banter before and during the game. The vast majority of fans behaved impeccably.”

UK: Aldershot 10 charged over attack on Bees fans - 14/04/2009

Source : Hounslow Chronicle

Ten suspected football hooligans arrested in dawn raids last month have been charged over an attempted attack on Brentford supporters.

British Transport Police (BTP) charged the men aged between 18 and 41, with a section four public order offence for threatening behaviour, following an incident which occurred after the game between Aldershot Town and Brentford at the EBB stadium in October 2008.

A group of thugs believed to be Aldershot supporters attempted to confront Brentford fans who were under police escort on a train at Ash Vale station.

The group were arrested in a series of dawn raids last month after 60 officers from BTP swooped on their homes in Aldershot, Farnborough, Fleet and Farnham. They have been bailed to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court on April 27.

Bail conditions include restrictions on travelling on the railway or London Underground network, four hours before and after any Aldershot Town football match.

They are also restricted from attending any Aldershot match either at home or away.

Alcohol ban for Everton fans travelling to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final match on coaches and minibuses - 16/04/2009

Source : Crosby Herald

EVERTON fans travelling to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Sunday will be banned from drinking alcohol on coaches and minibuses.

Merseyside police says they want to ensure that fans and coach operators have a memorable trip to the capital for footballing reasons and not for falling foul of the law.

Under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol) Act, 1985, the carrying of alcohol on-board any coach that is being used for taking people to a sporting event is illegal.

The Act makes it an offence for a coach operator, or any of its staff working onboard, to allow alcohol to be brought onto the coach or consumed on it.

Anyone found in possession of alcohol on-board the coach will also be committing an offence.

Inspector Karl Brennan, of Merseyside Police’s football operations unit, said: “We want football fans from Merseyside to have an enjoyable and memorable trip to Wembley and we are anticipating a far higher number of people to be travelling to the match compared to a normal away game.

“But we would urge fans not to try and take alcohol on-board the coaches as it is a criminal offence for which they can be arrested.

“We have also written to all coach companies involved in providing transport for this event to remind them of their responsibilities in ensuring that they and their staff do not also commit an offence by allowing alcohol on board.”

Coach operators are also advised to check on the venue’s official website - www.wembleystadium.com - for details about parking arrangements as spaces are expected to be extremely limited and need to be booked in advance.