Season 09/10 - August

Police appeal for readers' help to trace hooligans - 01/08/2009

Source : Express & Echo

CCTV images of suspected hooligans believed to have been involved in a mass brawl with rival football supporters have been released by police.

British Transport Police are asking for the help of Echo readers in identifying the men.

Several arrests have already been made in connection with the incident involving rival followers of Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle football teams at Exeter's St Thomas railway station in June.

More than 40 officers visited various addresses in the Exeter and Plymouth areas to arrest most of those thought to have been involved. As part of their investigation, BTP detectives trawled through CCTV footage from a pub close to the station.

They have now released images of the men, who are all in their 20s, in the hope that they can be identified.

Jim Atkinson, BTP Inspector for Devon and Cornwall, said: "We have released the CCTV images of a group of Exeter City fans as we believe they had some part in the disorder which took place at St Thomas station in June."

The 10 men previously arrested were interviewed at police stations in both cities before being released on police bail until September.

The brawl, which happened at around 7.45pm on Saturday, June 27, was witnessed by members of the public waiting at the station, railway staff and local residents. It broke out between a group of men on a train which was arriving from Newton Abbot and others waiting on the station platform.

One man needed to be taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital with head injuries.

Trains were halted on the main line into and out of Exeter while city police were authorised to use taser stun guns to break up the violence.

Insp Atkinson said BTP believed the brawl had been pre-arranged.

"We believe we have got evidence that shows the incident was pre-arranged," he said.

"The incident happened a long time away from the beginning of the football season.

"We were very concerned about the fact it took place at a railway station and we want to put out a very strong message that we will not stand for such behaviour."

Neuchâtel Xamax - FC Sion - 01/08/2009

Source : TSR.ch

One week after a Grasshopper player received a glass threwn by a Luzern supporters, this time the linesman of this derby game also received a missile when he leaved the pitch.

Genoa - OGC Nice - Friendly gama played in Cuneo (IT) - 01/08/2009

Source : Foot01 + ilsecoloxix.ilsole24ore.com + targatocn.it + Mail (thanks to the sender)

The friendly game which opposed Nice to Genoa started with 30 minutes of delay due to riots which opposed both sides of supporters near the stadium.










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Riots broke out before and during this friendly game between Genoa and Nice.

Corriere dello Sport newspaper have written supporters from both sides fought together outside the stadium.

Police tried to calm down these troublemakers.
When inside the stadium, one Torino fan, who were with Nice friends, threw flares and a fire started inside a house in front of the stadium.

It seems 6 people were slightly injured and 30 fans were arrested.








Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNiOgp138jA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvMpq31sYcQ
http://www.nicematin.com/rub/video

Levski Sofia - Litex Lovech - Bulgarian Supercup Final played in Sofia - 01/08/2009

Source : Novinite.com

Football Hooligans Attack Police Cars in Bulgaria Capital

A group of about 100 football hooligans attack police cars in the Bulgarian capital Sofia shortly before midnight on Saturday.

The news was announced in a special statement of the Interior Ministry Sunday night.

About two hours after the end of the Bulgarian Supercup Final in Sofia between the teams of Levski Sofia and Litex Lovech that was won by Levski 1:0.

Around 11 pm the group of hooligans went to the General Parensov Street near the Inteiror Ministry building and damaged the Interior Ministry cars parked there by popping their tires and spraying offensive words and swastikas.

Swastikas were also drawn on the façade of the Satirical Theater. Some of the private cars parked in the nearby cars were also damaged.

The police have gathered evidence from all video cameras located in the area, and are staging and investigation.

ukrainia : FC Kryvbass Krivoï-Rog - FC Dynamo Kiev - 01/08/2009

Source : Mail (YouTube)

80-90 Krivoj Rog vs 45 Dynamo Kiev

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YXZcmwo_1k

Neuchâtel Xamax - FC Sion - 01/08/2009

Source : World Radio Switzerland

Suspected hooligans land in jail

Seven people landed behind bars over the weekend because of violence following a football match in Neuchâtel.

Police say supporters of the Neuchâtel team started trouble with the fans from Valais at the end of the match. When police arrived, the hooligans started throwing bottles and stones at police. No one was injured.

Police say the seven people arrested will be given fines and banned from the stadium for a year. Police are looking into who else was involved.

Police to arrest Millwall fans after Hull stadium violence - 03/08/2009

Source : thisishullandeastriding.co.uk

POLICE are preparing to swoop on more than 20 men suspected of being involved in violent disruption at Hull's KC Stadium.

It comes after a major appeal led to the individuals being identified to the authorities – in some cases by relatives and friends.

Pictures of 32 Millwall fans, thought to be responsible for the violent scenes at the ground when Hull City played the London club on January 24, were posted on the Crimestoppers website last month.

It was the latest stage of an operation to bring to justice the yobs who ripped up seats and threw bottles at the FA Cup game.

And now the Mail can reveal 24 of the 32 wanted suspects have been "positively identified", some even by parents, siblings and friends.
Click here for more

Officers from the Metropolitan Police will make the arrests over the next week, and, if charged, the men will then be bailed to a court in Hull to be dealt with.

During the last fortnight, Crimestoppers has received more than 100 telephone calls from people claiming to know the men in the pictures since the national appeal was launched.

Some of the men have been named as the same person by up to four different people, leading police to believe the identification for most of those wanted is correct.

Chief inspector Darren Downs from Humberside Police, who was in charge of the operation at the KC Stadium, said officers are pleased with the information received and are confident more people will be named.

He said: "We have identified 24 of the 32 people and are confident these are positive identifications.

"People who know these men well, for example their parents and brothers and friends, have been ringing us to tell us who they are.

"We will process them all, they are going to be arrested and dealt with and hopefully charged to court."

The Crimestoppers appeal is the first time wanted football hooligans have been posted on the website.

Colombia : Deportes Quindio - Atletico Nacional - 02/08/2009

Source : Latin American Herald Tribune + adnmundo.com

Three Police Injured, 30 People Arrested in Colombia Football Violence

Three police officers were injured and 30 people arrested in disturbances during the fourth-round match in Colombia’s end of season tournament between Deportes Quindio and Atletico Nacional in the city of Armenia, a police spokesman said.

“We have three police officers injured and it was necessary to evacuate some people who fainted but did not have any injuries,” Quindio police spokesman Col. Jose Manuel Sarmiento said.

“We also have 30 people under arrest, some since yesterday, because we had problems with the Atletico Nacional fans who arrived early in Armenia,” Sarmiento said Saturday night.

“Thanks to the professionalism of police and the prudence that officers had despite the aggression they were subjected to, things did not get any worse,” the colonel said.

Following Atletico Nacional’s 1-0 win, fans vandalized sections of Centenario Stadium, especially the fence surrounding the south side of the field, police said.






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Source: http://www.colombianews.tv

VIDEO:

http://www.colombianews.tv/news/8209-nacional-quindio-soccer-riot-injures-14

RSC Charleroi - FC Bruges - 02/08/2009

Source: mail (thanks to the sender) - Charleroi

An off was taken one week before with Bruges lads.
At 2.30pm, 30 local lads mobbed up. We heard Bruges were in the city so we took the road of their pub of the day.
In front of it, we requested them to go out (we cannot see their number). One of their youth went out and refused any off due to their number (9).
He announced 25 lads during following 10 minutes...
We waited there for 1 hour but no others arrived so we came back to our pub.
We proposed a 20 vs 20 outside the city, but Bruges Elite refused.
We were very disappointed. They said Charleroi was fair.

Ministry to Slovaks: Best to Avoid Split Football Stadium on Thursday - 03/08/2009

Source : TASR

Slovakia's Foreign Affairs Ministry is recommending that Slovak citizens think twice before attending Thursday's football match in Split, Croatia between Hajduk Split and MSK Zilina, Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told TASR on Monday.

"This (recommendation) only concerns attending the stadium or the city centre on match day, not a holiday in Croatia as such," explained Stano.

He also stated that the Croatian authorities and police are constantly in touch with employees of the Slovak Embassy in Zagreb and the Consulate in Split. "The Croatian Government repeatedly assured Slovak citizens that Croatia is a safe place for a holiday," said Stano.

Croatian Foreign Affairs Minister Jandrokovic in a telephone call with his Slovak counterpart Miroslav Lajcak on Friday apologised for the rowdy behaviour of the Hajduk Split fans in Zilina during the first leg. The police detained 230 people during the biggest crackdown by security forces in the history of Slovak football. The disturbances took place prior to the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third preliminary-round match. The Croat fans, who had been banned from attending the match by UEFA, were involved in skirmishes in the centre of the town, threatening local people and attacking police officers, before smashing up everything they could get their hands on en route to the football stadium.

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Source : Slovak Spectator

Croatian police are protecting Slovak tourists

CROATIA, traditionally one of Slovaks’ favourite seaside holiday resorts, has reinforced police patrols in areas with a high density of Slovak holidaymakers. The measure was taken to prevent any incidents in response to the Slovak police action against overzealous Hajduk Split football fans before the UEFA Cup third qualifying round in Žilina, Slovakia on July 30.

Miroslav Lajčák, the Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister, asked his Croatian counterpart Gordan Jandrokovic to do everything possible to ensure a problem-free holiday stay for Slovak tourists, said the spokesperson for the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Stano, as reported by the SITA newswire.

“In the context of the latest events linked with the incident involving Croatian football fans in the Slovak Republic we emphasize that police patrols have been reinforced in places where Slovak holidaymakers are staying. We believe there will be no more provocations,” reads the statement issued by the Croatian government after the phone call between the two ministers.

The Hajduk Split fan club, also known as Torcida, also issued a statement on its website calling on all Hajduk fans to be moderate in their behaviour towards Slovak tourists in Croatia. They claim the citizens of Žilina were very friendly and sympathetic and many of the Hajduk fans actually escaped from the hands of the police thanks to Žilina citizens who helped them to hide in their homes.

“The only ones to be blamed for all the events are the Stalinist police units with whom the ordinary Slovaks have nothing in common, just like us with the criminals from our police,” Torcida wrote in the statement, as quoted by the TASR newswire.

Jandrokovic had already called Lajčák a day after the incident, on July 31, to apologise for the behaviour of the Hajduk Split fans in Žilina who –according to the fan club – had nothing to do “with the discriminating and racist action of the Slovak police and the match organizer”, TASR wrote.

The Croats caused injuries to 52 police officers by throwing large stones at them. The rioters were also breaking windows of shops and cars and destroying the property and equipment of cafes in the centre of Žilina.

According to the police department’s vice president, Stanislav Jankovič, the police detained 230 fans of the Hajduk club, including three Austrians, five Slovenians and one Belgian national as well as the Croats. The disturbances took place before the UEFA Europa League third preliminary-round match between home team MŠK Žilina and Hajduk. The Croat fans who had been banned from attending the match by UEFA, were involved in skirmishes in the centre of the town, threatening local people and attacking police officers, before smashing everything they could get their hands on en-route to the football stadium, the police vice-president said.

The MŠK Žilina fan club has also issued a statement in which they condemned the intervention of the Slovak police against Hajduk Split fans.

“The intervention of the police in Žilina against the Hajduk fans shows that the brutality of the Slovak police intensifies against the fans of any local or foreign football club who visit a match on the challenger’s soil,” the statement reads, as published by SITA. The MŠK fans also claimed in their statement that the power, aggressiveness and violence used by the police during the intervention were inappropriate. They also appealed to the Hajduk fans to not link the behaviour of the Slovak police with the fans of MŠK Žilina when they come to Split to cheer for their team.

Tunisia : Stade Tunisien - Espérance - 02/08/2009

Source : Mail

Police kick off operation for England friendly in Holland - 04/08/2009

Source : Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Police kick off well-rehearsed plans as England travel to Holland for a friendly international next week.

They will team up with Bristol International Airport to mount a ports operation in order to prevent potential troublemakers from travelling to the game on Wednesday August 12 in Amsterdam. In the past there have been problems when the teams have played.

During the past month there were isolated incidents when Ajax visited Bristol City for a pre-season friendly game, which resulted in some arrests and football banning orders, in respect of three Dutch fans.

The police will roll out well-rehearsed plans ahead of the international game to ensure that potential troublemakers are prevented from leaving the UK.

The 59 holders of football banning orders in Avon and Somerset force area will be required to surrender their passports by Friday August 7 or Saturday August 8. They will also be required to report to their local police station on the day of the match.

In the days leading up to the game the police will be running a special "beat-the-hooligan" operation at the airport to ensure that no potential trouble-makers are allowed to leave the country. Anyone failing to surrender their passport will be identified and arrested by police – under the conditions of their banning orders.

During the past 12 months the police have held a series of successful operations, which have resulted in compliance from those holding FBOs in the force area to hand in their passports, or receive authorisation for exemption. A small minority have failed to comply and have been subject to arrest and heavy fines at court.

Additionally, a handful of fans have been intercepted at the airport and either questioned or arrested and placed before the court after being identified for football-related anti social behaviour incidents.

A FBO prevents attendance at any regulated match for a period of between three and five years – if the individual is not subjected to a custodial sentence. For those who are imprisoned, the banning order extends to a period of between six and 10 years. Other conditions requested on a FBO may include exclusion zones around stadia before and after home fixtures, plus a day-long ban on travel to towns and cities, where away matches are being played.

Police in Avon and Somerset work in close partnership with other forces, the Home Office and the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit, who publish lists of those with FBOs, who have failed to surrender their passports and who may try to fly out of the UK using an airport outside the area in which they live, or to travel via a seaport.

Force Football Officer Roger Thayer confirmed: "We have in place well-rehearsed plans and operations, which we roll out for England's away matches. This has a two-fold purpose – helping to provide reassurance to genuine fans travelling to support their national team, as well as others flying from the airport and secondly, to ensure that any potential troublemakers are stopped before flying out from Bristol.

"We currently have 59 FBOs operating in the police force area and all those in receipt of them will be expected to surrender their passports - if held - to their local police station by 10pm at the latest on Saturday (August , ahead of the match in Holland on the following Wednesday.

"For this operation, we will also be checking passengers who may be travelling from outside the force area en-route to the England match," confirmed Roger Thayer.

Football yob who doesn’t go to games - 04/08/2009

Source : ChronicleLive

FOOTBALL yob Paul Dees is banned from matches and city pubs after a double derby day attack on police and fans.

The lout was caught hurling bottles at officers and Sunderland fans at the last two Tyne-Wear derby clashes at St James’s Park.

Dees, 18, has spent his teenage years in and out of homeless hostels and could not afford to attend either of the games, despite professing to be a staunch Toon fan.

But it didn’t stop him joining a rabble of wayward supporters who, on both occasions, hurled missiles at Sunderland fans as they were being escorted from the ground.

Tony Cornberg, prosecuting at the city’s magistrates’ court, said: “At kicking out time, for the Sunderland fans’ own safety, they were escorted by police back to Central Station.

“Mr Dees was filmed by police as he threw a traffic cone and bottles at police officers.

“In the corresponding fixture the previous season Mr Dees behaved in a similar fashion. He was seen to throw an object at police. He was seen to throw a second object at police.”

The yob was arrested at the matches in February 2008 and February 2009, the court heard.

Tensions were running particularly high at this year’s match, when the visitors went one-nil up before Newcastle equalised.

Dees first appeared in court last year and received a three-year match ban, but this was extended to four years after magistrates heard details of his second arrest.

But, in a legal twist, because Dees has since moved from a hostel in Byker to one in Westgate Road, the ban meant he was effectively not allowed to be in his own home during matches.

Police have instead come up with a clause that bans him from attending licensed premises within a five-mile radius of St James’s Park on match days.

Mr Cornberg had asked JPs for the ban to be extended to five years, but Lewis Pearson, mitigating, called for leniency.

He said: “The concern I have is this lad doesn’t have two beans to rub together. He suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He can’t go to a football match – he can’t afford to. So all that happens is he’s been wrapped up in this disorder that occurs in the street.”

Football club Schalke target of Muslim anger over song - 04/08/2009

Source : Le Parisien

Football is religion for most Schalke 04 fans and the late Pope John Paul II was even an honorary club member, but some Muslims now feel offended by the official anthem of the Bundesliga club. Many German Muslims, including some Schalke fans, have voiced their protest and threatened the club over the third stanza of the "Blue and White, how I love you" anthem which, refers to the prophet Mohammed.

Schalke's home strip is blue and white.

The incident was reported by some Turkish media a week ago, and by now threats have been expressed on various internet forums and prompted Schalke to work together with the police and other authorities.

Germany has some 4 million Muslim inhabitants, most of whom have a Turkish background.

The passage the Muslims consider insulting translates as following into English: "Mohammed was a prophet / who understood nothing about football / but from all the blaze of colour / he picked the blue and white."

According to the German folk song archive, the anthem is based on a hunting tune from 1797 which says "Mohammed is my patron! He knew real beauty. He, for whom only green was holy from all the colours."

The Schalke version was created in 1924 and the wording edited in 1963. It is sung ahead of every home game.

A club spokesman said that the club has received "around 350 emails," adding: "We are taking the situation very seriously and are in contact with police and state protection institutions."

Burhan Kesici, general secretary of the Islamic Council in Germany, called for restraint in the articulation of the protests but also urged Schalke to take action.

"It is not right that the prophet is mentioned in a club anthem. I would wish that out of respect for the Muslims in this country the Mohammed-stanza is not sung," Kesici told the Turkish-language service of the German Press Agency dpa.

The general secretary of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Aiman Mazyek, said: "We will not call for the song to be outlawed, but we want information about the its background. We owe that to the many Turkish fans and the players of Schalke."

While no one took offence of the third stanza up to now, Muslims in Germany have seemingly become more sensitive after the July 1 killing of Egyptian woman Marwa el-Shirbini by a right-wing extremist in a Dresden courtroom.

The incident set off a fierce round of accusations from the Muslim world that Germany was a racist, Islam-hating nation. Mazyek said that "many Muslims don't feel secure any more" after the incident.

The head of Schalke's honorary council, Protestant priest Hans- Joachim Holm, is not taking the incident light-heartedly, but also warned of a hasty reaction from the club.

Holm told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily that simply scrapping the controversial lines will lead to "a strong emotional backlash" from other Schalke fans.

Schalke fans have always been extremely devoted to their club which has fielded Turkish players in the past and present, including current squad member Halil Altintop.

There have also always been religious connotations. The fanzine is named "Our Schalke" and legendary right wing player Ruediger Ambramczik was affectionately named "God of the crosses."

When Jehova's Witnesses ran a poster campaign in the late 1960s in the club's home town of Gelsenkirchen under the slogan "No one can get past Jesus," some witty Schalke fans swiftly added "except Stan Libuda" in reference to another adored winger.

The late Pope John Paul II was made an honorary club member in 1987 after conducting an open air service in the club's former Park Stadium.

Colombian fans banned from showing colours at away games - 04/08/2009

Source : Reuters

Football fans in Colombia have been ordered not to wear or display team shirts, flags or colours to away matches in a measure aimed at curbing hooligan violence.

"From this date and until further notice access to stadiums is prohibited to people carrying anything making reference to the visiting team (shirts, flags, caps, etc.)," Colombia's league body Dimayor said in a statement.

Clubs staging home matches will be responsible for ensuring the order is complied with, added the statement signed by Dimayor president Ramon Jesurun.

"Home clubs are prohibited from selling block tickets of any category to the visiting club or their 'barras' (fan groups)," it said.

The Dimayor said it was tired of failed efforts to end crowd violence in stadiums and surrounding areas on most match days in Colombia and called on police and security authorities to restrict the movement of gangs of fans.

The latest trouble occurred last Saturday at the first division match in the city of Armenia between Quindio and Atletico Nacional.

Three police officers were injured and about 30 people arrested when visiting fans clashed with police and destroyed parts of the Centenario stadium, media reported.

Jesurun, quoted by Colombian media on Tuesday, called the violent fans "thugs who disguise themselves in football shirts" and said he was determined to "eradicate those football vandals who are trying to harm the biggest spectacle the country has".

However, Millonarios president Juan Carlos Lopez said, "The problem is not in the colours of the shirt, we must bring the few violent (fans) to justice."

The Dimayor called for a meeting of first division clubs on Aug. 13 to confirm or modify the new measures.

Bosnia and Hercegovina: NK Celik Zenica - FK Zeljeznicar - 01/08/2009

Source : Mail (thanks to the sender)

Celik fans Robijashi clashed with the police


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b24-fEpo1j0

Croatia: FC Shibenik - FC Osijek - 01/08/2009

Source: sport.dnevnik.hr + ezadar.hr + hrt.hr

In downtown Shibenik the fight broke out between fans of FC Osijek and FC Hajduk. Seven fans were injured and 44 arrested, HRT reports

The fight broke out 2 hours before the kick-off of FC Shibenik - FC Osijek game in local pizzeria "Forum", which was severely demolished.

Allegedly FC Hajduk fans - Torcida - prepared the revenge attack because FC Osijek fans - Kohorta - a week earlier stole Torcida flags during the FC Hajduk - FC Osijek game.



VIDEO: http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=44705&cHash=13a79d29a9

SK Sigma Olomouc - Aberdeen FC - UEFA - 06/08/2009

Source : BBC News

Dons fans in pub tear gas attack

Aberdeen fans in the Czech Republic for a Europa League tie have suffered a tear gas attack by football hooligans.

Witnesses told the BBC up to 40 fans were in a pub in the town of Olomouc when the gang arrived and threw tear gas canisters into the bar.

One fan suffered a minor facial injury, while police have detained two people previously known for football violence.

About 300 Dons fans are in the city for the match against Sigma Olomouc, which the Czech side lead 5-1.

There were minor skirmishes following the incident, which happened in the early hours of Thursday.

Aberdeen FC said they were aware of an incident but would not comment further.

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Source : STV

Two arrested after Aberdeen fans attacked with tear gas

Supporters hit by tear gas attack in Czech pub.

Two men have been arrested after Aberdeen fans were attacked with tear gas in a Czech pub.

The Dons supporters were on a night out in Olomouc ahead of the game against Sigma, when the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Around 70 people were inside an Irish pub, The Crack bar, when the devices were thrown through the front door and window.

Witnesses saw three men speeding off in a car after the attack, while Dons fans scrambled to evacuate the busy pub as it filled with toxic fumes.

Graham Campsie, who owns The Crack, said his bar will now be closed while the venue is cleaned from "top to bottom".

Graham, 43, from Edinburgh, said: "The fans were in all having a good time and a sing-a-long, there was no problems.

"Then some of these Sigma fans found out they were all congregating in this pub so they decided to cause havoc.

"They drove up in front and threw two canisters of tear gas, one through the window, one through the door, then havoc just broke loose and everyone made a mad rush for the door."

Riot police were deployed to the scene and it is understood one Aberdeen man sustained minor injuries.

An Aberdeen FC spokesman stressed that the Scots had been in good spirits ahead of Thursday's Europa Cup second leg third round qualifier.

He said: "Our fans are completely innocent. They got a bit of a scare but no-one was hurt."

Around 300 Dons fans have travelled for Thursday's Europa League third qualifying round second leg with Sigma Olomouc, who lead the tie 5-1.

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Source : Scottish Daily Record

North-east fans in clashes in Czech Republic

North-east football fans were last night involved in a series of violent clashes in the Czech Republic just hours after a group were targeted in a tear gas attack.

Riot police were called to the main square of Olomouc to separate rival supporters who fought running battles in the run-up to Aberdeen’s Europa League qualifying match against local side Sigma.

Czech football hooligans are believed to have been involved in a number of confrontations with some of the 300 travelling Dons fans, as well as the tear gas attack in a busy pub in the early hours of yesterday.

The stadium announcer at Sigma made a public apology on behalf of the club.

He said: “We are very sorry about the incidents which happened before this match when our fans attacked some Aberdeen fans.

“These fans are not proper fans of Sigma, We hope the situation will be resolved and we will make sure these fans will never again set foot inside a football stadium in the Czech Republic.”

A statement on Aberdeen FC’s website last night urged any supporters who were involved in incidents to contact the club when they return from the Czech Republic so they can help local police with their inquiries.

One group of fans told the Press and Journal they were attacked and robbed by a group of about 20 men as they walked to the stadium about two hours before kick-off.

Lynn Massie, 30, of Copeman Avenue, Peterhead, said: “A guy turned around and hit my sister on the arm for no reason. All we were doing was walking to the stadium, which was about an hour away. None of us had been drinking.”

Stuart Campbell, 21, of Aberdeen’s Howburn Place, who had his Dons top stolen in the attack, said: “About 20 people set upon us.

“First of all they went for the girls of the group and pushed one to the ground. One man slapped me round the face.

Earlier a group of 40 supporters were enjoying a drink in the Crack Irish Bar when a gang released two tear gas canisters at around 1.30am yesterday.

Scotland : Police warn-off Hibs hooligans - 06/08/2009

Source : Scotsman

POLICE have warned potential troublemakers planning to travel to watch Hibs play Bolton Wanderers on Saturday to stay out of nearby Chorley.
Lancashire Police say they have organised an operation in Chorley – about 10 miles from Bolton – to combat antisocial behaviour and to target "known or potential troublemakers" travelling to the area.

Inspector Jo Keay, from Chorley Police, said: "We have intelligence indicating travelling hooligans are planning on heading to Chorley.

"I would like to send out a very clear message that we have plans in place to deal with them."

Partizan Belgrade - APOEL Nicosia - UEFA - 05/08/2009

Source : Cyprus Mail

Rival football fans cause mayhem in the capital

STONES and punches were hurled back and forth as fans of Nicosia’s arch rival football teams APOEL and Omonia clashed yet again in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The conflict caused absolute mayhem in the capital, resulting in damages to buildings and cars, both parked and moving ones.

The violent incidents happened after APOEL succeeded in progressing to the final UEFA Champions League qualifying round. The local team was defeated 1-0 away to Partizan Belgrade, but secured a place in the next round on a 2-1 aggregate win.

According to a police spokesman yesterday, damages were caused to the Omonia fan club in Pallouriotissa, as well as surrounding buildings and cars.

The incidents ended following an intervention by the police, who arrested a 23-year-old man on the spot.

A second youth was arrested yesterday following an evaluation of evidence, while a third was also expected to be arrested towards the end of the day.

“At around 11:40pm last night following the end of the match between Partizan and APOEL, around 200 APOEL fans gathered outside their fan club [in Nicosia] and celebrated their team’s success,” said the spokesman. “There were police in the area to ensure there was order. At the same time, a patrol car had been sent to the Omonia fan club to patrol the area.”

Around half an hour after midnight, he added, about 20 people, “possibly Omonia fans”, left their club on foot and headed towards Makarios Avenue, where according to witness reports, they caused damage to various cars by throwing stones.

“After an intervention by the police, they left the area and returned to their fan club. Then at around 1:30am, around 50 APOEL fans headed on foot towards the Omonia fan club, where the fans started throwing stones at each other.”

The policeman said there were around 150 fans of both teams. “The incidents ended when the police intervened. Damage was caused to parked cars and buildings in the area. In three specific cases, moving cars were hit by stones.”

He added that the extent of the damage has not yet been estimated

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Football hooligan suspect says police assaulted him

A 23-YEAR-OLD suspected football hooligan yesterday told the court he wanted to make a formal complaint against the police officer who allegedly assaulted him when he was arrested during the early hours.

The suspect, who was remanded in custody for 24-hours, insisted on addressing the court despite his defence lawyer’s recommendation to say nothing.

“I want to accuse the policeman who hit me,” he said.

The judge told the student to do so through his lawyer.

The exchange took place during the 23-year-old’s remand hearing. Police had requested his remand for six days in connection with the incident that took place outside the Omonia clubhouse in Nicosia at around 1.30am.

A Minor Crimes Unit (MCU) officer said the student had been arrested during the clash between Omonia and APOEL fans following Wednesday night’s Champions League qualifier match between Partizan Belgrade and Apoel.

Standing in court in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt it was hard to ignore the Apoel fan’s markedly red chin and scrapes on both arms. Keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead a smirk escaped the 23-year-old when a policeman described his arrest.

The officer said the youth was under investigation for a series of offences including assault, public assault, causing a disturbance, involvement in an affray and resisting arrest.

He said the youth had been standing apart from the crowd and hence easier to arrest “because making an arrest during a commotion is not easy”. This was the officer’s argument when the 23-year-old’s defence lawyer queried why, despite the huge crowd, his client had been the only one arrested.

The 23-year-old had allegedly been bare-chested and was wearing a black t-shirt to hide his face while he pelted Omonia fans with stones, all the while swearing. When police tried to arrest him he allegedly made a run for it. He was chased down and immobilised where he fell to the ground and hurt his lips.

The policeman told the court the youth had tried to resist arrest by fighting off the two arresting officers with his hands. He was finally handcuffed and taken in for questioning where he “made some claims that are being investigated”.

During cross-examination the officer admitted the claims involved the 23-year-old’s alleged assault by another officer.

The MCU officer then tried, and failed, to convince the court that it was necessary to hold the student for six days while investigators gathered at least 30 statements from his family and friends. He said police wanted to determine to what extent the youth had indicated to anyone what his plans for after the game were and whether he had mentioned his intention to go to the Omonia clubhouse where the riot broke out.

He said investigators also wanted to talk to factions from Omonia and APOEL.

The same officer said 10 neighbouring residents had made complaints that their property had been damaged during the ruckus involving around 200 youths from both rival Nicosia teams.

District judge Stavros Stavrou said the fact that 10 neighbours had suffered damage to their property during the incident was completely unrelated to the youth’s charges. He said if the subsequent investigation linked the 23-year-old to the damaged property he could be charged again but that at this stage the two were separate issues. Stavrou also said it was “highly exaggerated” to suggest police needed six days to investigate the case when the charges mainly involved officers who had been present at the incident and therefore the investigation was most likely almost entirely at its conclusion. The judge also questioned what possible relevance there was in questioning factions of both teams regarding the specific charges allegedly committed by the suspect.

“A 24 hour period is sufficient to fully establish the facts,” said Stavrou.

Undercover police to tackle football thugs - 07/08/2009

Source : The Bolton News

UNDERCOVER police will be looking out for football hooligans after a tip-off about trouble planned for a testimonial match at the Reebok Stadium.

Teams of plainclothes “spotters” will be on hand tomorrow ahead of Jussi Jaaskelainen’s charity match following reports about potential trouble between Scottish and English supporters.

Police in Greater Manchester and Lancashire are warning fans travelling to the Wanderers-v-Hibernian friendly that police operations are being stepped up and that any disorder will not be tolerated.

Bolton football intelligence officer PC Adie Ollerton said there will be spotting teams hunting for known offenders in Bolton and in key areas — such as transport links — in Manchester and Lancashire.

He said: “It is a possibility. We are expecting quite a few of the Hibs fans to come down. Most of them will be good but it is our job to try and find the troublemakers and head off trouble before it starts.”

With fans from Celtic and St Mirren also heading to the region for games with Manchester City and Wigan respectively, In-spector Jo Keay, of Chorley police, said officers were expecting an influx of Scottish fans.

“The majority of people travelling will be law abiding, genuine supporters and we are determined to stop troublemakers from spoiling the enjoyment of genuine fans.”

She warned potential hooligans that they were ready for them, adding: “I would like to send out a very clear message that we have plans in place to deal with them. Any disorder will not be tolerated.”

Crowd favourites from down the years will turn out at the Reebok tomorrow to pay tribute to the goalkeeper when he celebrates 12 seasons with the Wanderers.

Organisers of the charity testimonial have signed up a stellar cast to play in the Legends Match that will serve as a curtain-raiser to the main event — the Wanderers-Hibernian friendly.

Jaaskelainen is donating the proceeds of his testimonial to three local charities: Birtenshaw, Paws for Kids and Miller’s Nook Disabled Riding School.

Steaua Bucharest handed stadium suspension - 07/08/2009

Source : BBC Sport

Steaua Bucharest have been ordered by Uefa to play their next two Europa League home games behind closed doors.

The Romanian team's fans draped insulting banners inside their stadium ahead of their second qualifying round tie against Hungary's Ujpest Budapest.

Steaua won the tie and went on to beat Motherwell in the next round.

The ban means that the first leg of Steaua's play-off game against Irish side St Patrick's Athletic on 20 August will be played in an empty ground.

Steaua chief Gigi Becali said that Uefa had also fined the club 30,000 euros (£25,500), but he feared the punishment would prove more expensive.

"With the fine, the loss of gate receipts and the expenses, the sanction could cost us around 700,000 euros (£600,000)," he claimed.

It is not the first time the club, who are former European Cup winners, have had their fans banned from their home ground.

In 2005, they became the first club in Europe to be given a one-match stadium ban by Uefa after racist abuse at players of Irish club Shelbourne in a Champions League qualifier.

Then in 2007, they were given a three-match stadium ban and fined 15,000 euros because of fan violence during league games.

Hajduk Split – MŠK Žilina - UEFA - 06/08/2009

Source : Croatian Times

Hajduk fan organisation reassures Slovak Zilina fans

Hajduk Split fans have assured Slovak Zilina fans they will be safe in Split for this evening’s (Thurs) rematch.

Hajduk fan organization "Torcida" said it was not true Hajduk fans were preparing to take revenge because of a clash with policemen before the Hajduk-Zilina game in Bratislava on 30 July. Around 200 Hajduk fans were arrested and 15 injured in that clash.

Torcida Secretary Stipe Lekic, who was injured in Bratislava, told the Slovak media that Hajduk fans had nothing against Slovaks but were only angry about the police.

Lekic said: "Slovak fans can feel totally safe and comfortable about the rematch with Slovak Zilina in a Europe League qualifier this evening in Split."

***********************************

Source : Mail (slobodnadalmacija.hr)

Troubles erupted at the end of the game.

Police close in on Tigers fan suspect - 08/08/2009

Source : thisishullandeastriding.co.uk

POLICE believe they have identified the last of the Hull City fans they wanted to track down as part of Operation Thunder – thanks to Mail readers.

Officers from Humberside Police say they received an "extremely positive" response after the Mail published an image of a male Hull City fan, taken from CCTV footage at the KC Stadium at the side's FA Cup clash against Millwall.

They want to speak to the fan about the violent disorder that erupted inside the ground on January 24.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Young said: "We would like to thank readers for the extremely positive response.

"We have received some really good pieces of information.

"Officers working on Operation Thunder are now following up a number of leads."

Following the game, officers working on Operation Thunder, which was launched to bring to justice all those who were involved in the violent clashes both inside the ground and outside The Eagle pub in Anlaby Road, west Hull, after the match, singled out 47 Millwall fans they wanted to identify and 17 Hull City fans.

They identified 16 of the 17 Hull fans leaving the remaining supporter whom they now believe they have a name for.

The Metropolitan Police was asked to identify the 47 Millwall fans. Of these, 11 have been identified.

As reported by the Mail, 11 Tigers fans were given 16-week prison sentences in one day at Hull Magistrates' Court this week. They were also banned from all football grounds in England for six years.

In contrast, there has not yet been any Millwall supporters jailed.

The images of the remaining wanted Millwall fans are currently being circulated via the Crimestoppers website.

Humberside Police have been told 24 of these men have now been "positively" identified, and will be arrested imminently by the Metropolitan Police.

DCI Scott Young said: "I'm confident the Metropolitan Police are conducting their inquiries as quickly as they can.

"I have spoken to the investigating team and they assure me they are working expeditiously.

"Their officers are in direct contact with the Operation Thunder investigation team at Humberside Police."

Humberside Police is now applying for a further 22 civil football banning orders – 15 against Hull fans and seven against Millwall fans.

If successful these fans will not face a criminal prosecution, but will be banned from all English football stadiums for a period of at least three years.

Chief Inspector Darren Downs, who was in charge of the operation on the match day, said: "Because we managed to identify the Hull fans quicker, people have a perception we have targeted Hull fans.

"However, if you look at the numbers, in total, including the civil banning orders, if we identify everyone we have singled out we will have dealt with 56 Millwall fans compared with 36 Hull fans.

"The overall aim of Operation Thunder now is to get every single one of these people dealt with."

Bulgaria : Pirin Blagoevgrad - Minior Pernik - 08/08/2009

Source : YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubPrpzqmq7Q