Season 09/10 - August

Germany : Regensburg - Burghausen - 08/08/2009

Source : Mail


Burghausen mob

Blooming (Bolivia) - River Plate de Montevideo (Uruguay) - Copa Sudamericana - 11/08/2009

Source : Goal.com

River Plate - Blooming Clash Suspended After Fan Attacks Henry Gimenez

Peruvian referee Victor Hugo Carrillo decided to suspend the Copa Sudamericana first-leg match between Blooming of Bolivia and River Plate of Uruguay due to security concerns.

The match at the Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera stadium in Santa Cruz was halted in the 65th minute, with River Plate winning 1-0, after a Blooming supporter entered the field and attacked Henry Gimenez, of the Uruguayan outfit. He lunged over at the player and knocked him on to the ground with great force.

After the game the local press announced that the individual was arrested by police, and that he was carrying a knife.

River Plate's goal was converted by Federico Puppo in the 61st minute, after taking full advantage of an error from Blooming goalkeeper Andres Jemio.

After the decision of the referee to suspend the match, several Blooming fans protested by launching objects and flares onto the field.

Although it is unknown whether River will advance directly to the next round, the second leg had been scheduled for August 27 at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.





Video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4I9HSg2N3I

Hunt for Hibs hooligans after riot in Bolton shopping park - 12/08/2009

Source : Scotsman

POLICE are hunting Hibs casuals who were involved in ugly scenes following the pre-season friendly with Bolton, smashing shop windows and fighting with rival supporters.
Violence erupted after fans were ejected from Bolton's Reebok Stadium during the 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon. It is believed hooligans attached to English clubs had organised to fight with those attached to Hibs and Celtic before the game.

Riot police were called in after scores of supporters began fighting in a retail park next to the stadium, smashing store-fronts and forcing three shops to lock their doors with frightened shoppers inside.

Greater Manchester Police are now working with Scottish police to identify those responsible and have said they will seek football banning orders for the culprits.

Around 30 or 40 Bolton fans were said to have been involved in the disorder, many of whom were wearing England replica shirts.

Staff at the Middlebrook retail park claimed a mob of angry Hibs casuals punched a man in the back of the head and chased another man who tried to help him.

Elsewhere in the city, a group of 40 Hibs fans were returning to their minibus when fighting broke out. Eyewitnesses said the Hibs fans' minibus was vandalised to stop them escaping. Two people were later arrested at the scene.

Lee Charlton, landlord of the Hare and Hounds pub, said about 100 people arrived in black taxis to attack the Hibs fans.

He said: "We've been washing blood off the walls outside, but we never saw anyone get hit. We locked the doors and went upstairs and watched out the window.

"I'm told it was all pre-arranged – organised firms from Oldham, Bolton and Manchester to come and fight Hibs and Celtic fans."

Celtic and St Mirren were also playing in the north-west of England at the weekend.

Police had reportedly been tipped-off that trouble was planned. Two officers from Lothian and Borders Police travelled to Bolton to help with policing.

The trouble started during the second half of Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's testimonial game after sectarian chanting led police to escort dozens of fans from the stadium.

Chief Superintendent George Fawcett, the match commander, said: "Football intelligence officers are reviewing CCTV footage from both the stadium and from the evidence-gathering teams who were at the scene."

After the match, fans wrote about the trouble on online message boards. One Hibs supporter said: "To the 98 per cent of Hibs fans – well done, you did your club proud. To the other two per cent – you're idiots and belong back in the 1980s."

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: "If Greater Manchester Police require our assistance, we will duly oblige."

A Hibs spokeswoman said: "As always, we will co-operate fully with any police inquiries. However, we would stress that the majority of the 2,500 supporters who travelled behaved well and were a credit to the club."

Four arrested over attacks on Aberdeen FC fans - 11/08/2009

Source : Aberdeen Evening Express

Czech police probe tear gas incident

FOUR men have been arrested in connection with alleged attacks on Aberdeen FC fans in the Czech Republic.

Aberdeen FC supporters were targeted by gangs of men in Olomouc last week before the Europa League clash with Czech side Sigma.

About 300 Aberdeen FC fans travelled to watch the second leg of the Europa League qualifying tie, which Aberdeen FC lost 3-0.

About 40 Aberdeen FC supporters were in a bar in Olomouc when tear gas canisters were thrown in.

Others were injured as they made their way to the match. Some supporters were also robbed during the attacks.

Four Czech men – aged between 19 and 22 – have now been charged. Police believe they assaulted a group of Aberdeen FC fans in Olomouc.

A stadium announcer made a public apology for the violence on behalf of the Czech club before kick-off.

An Aberdeen FC spokesman welcomed news of the arrests.

He said: “We appealed for our fans to get in contact with us with information as we have been liaising with both Grampian Police and the police force in Olomouc.

“The police in Olomouc have been genuinely keen to minimise the trouble and root out the troublemakers.”

Meanwhile, Aberdeen FC has identified two Aberdeen fans who were seen lighting flares in the Czech stadium.

The club had posted pictures of supporters responsible for last week’s Olomouc incident on its website.

The Aberdeen FC spokesman said the supporters involved had been spoken to but details of any discussions would not be released.

QPR football yobs jailed for railway station riot - 12/08/2009

Source : East Anglian Daily Times

HE may look like a harmless old man, but ageing football yob John Spear has been jailed after smashing up an Essex railway station buffet.

Along with Paul Colman, the 57-year-old was among a gang of around 15 Queens Park Rangers fans who attacked customers and vandalised the bar at Manningtree station.

Spear has been jailed for 21 months by Chelmsford Crown Court after being convicted of violent disorder, while Colman, 50, was given an 18-month prison sentence for the same offence.

Both took part in the terrifying attack which happened after Ipswich Town's home game against QPR on March 29 last year.

The pair, who have a history of football-related offences, have also been hit with six-year football banning orders.

Their attempts to destroy Manningtree station buffet were finally thwarted by manageress Charlotte Sankey, who managed to fight off the rioting yobs by wielding a broom.

Following Colman and Spear's trial the 22-year-old was praised for her bravery by British Transport Police.

Detective Constable Alan Reed said: “Bottles and glasses were thrown and customers were injured.

“While it was going on Charlotte appeared from behind the bar waving a broom and got the hooligans out before closing the door on them.

“She was extremely brave. Without her bravery there is no doubt other people would have been injured and further damage done. If it were not for her the injuries would have been much more serious.”

Shortly after the hooligans stormed the buffet shouting “We are QPR”, Miss Sankey emerged from the cellar.

She said: “I came running upstairs and saw mayhem going on. There were probably seven or eight of them in the bar and others were trying to get in.

“I picked up a broom and ran into the middle of the bar and tried to hit anyone who came in. It's my dad's business so I wanted to protect the people in here.”

Spear, of Hillingdon, has previous convictions for threatening behaviour at a QPR v Celtic game and battery on a female steward at a match with Southampton.

Colman, of Watford, has earlier convictions were for invading the pitch at a QPR v Port Vale game and threatening behaviour at a match against Plymouth.

Pc Alvin Soomary, football intelligence officer from British Transport Police, said: “This was a serious incident of violent disorder.

“In this case the courts have imposed restrictive six-year banning orders that will severely curtail their ability to travel. I hope this sends out a strong message that behaviour of this kind will not be tolerated.”


John Spear


Paul Colman

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

Source : Watford Observer

Six year football banning orders and jail for two QPR fans

Two football hooligans – including one from Watford – have been slapped with six-year-banning orders and prison sentences for their involvement in a mass brawl.

Queens Park Rangers fans Paul Colman, 50, of Romilly Drive, Carpenders Park, and John Spear, 57, from Uxbridge both received the banning orders preventing them from attending football games, starting with immediate effect.

In addition, Colman received an 18 month jail sentence, while Spear was sentenced to 21 months for their involvement in a violent fight, which saw bottles thrown and innocent bystanders injured, including a pensioner, in Manningtree Station ‘s bar in Essex.

The troubled flared after a group of QPR fans entered the bar shouting after an away game against Ipswich Town.

PC Alvin Soomary, from British Transport Police who successfully applied for the football banning orders, said: “This was a serious incident of violent disorder that saw law-abiding members of the public fearing for their own personal safety.

“Those who think they can behave in such a way, and ruin other people’s days out in the process, should know that they will be dealt with robustly.”

The two men must not enter any premises where football is being played until the orders have expired nor must they loiter within a three-mile radius of any stadium where a QPR away game is taking place.

During England home matches, the two men must not enter the British railway or London Underground network without the permission of police authorities.

PC Soomary concluded: "QPR fans, like the majority of supporters across the country, are well behaved people who enjoy following their team,”

“It should be clear that it is the behaviour of a small minority, such as Colman and Spear, who bring the game into disrepute.”

Holland - England - 12/08/2009

Source : guardian.co.uk

Police arrest 15 before England match in Holland

• Foreign office says no English fans were involved
• Dutch FA says fighting was "not that serious"

Riot police arrested 15 people after fights broke out in Amsterdam city centre before last night's international between Holland and England but the Foreign Office said it understood no England fans had been involved.

"No English fans have been arrested," said a spokesman. "It has not been confirmed but it is believed to have involved Dutch fans only."

An eyewitness said police on horseback contained fans in the city's central Dam square, close to the red light district. There were no reports of serious injuries.

About 7,000 tickets for the game were sold to England fans. A British police delegation was in Amsterdam, including officers spotting known hooligans and officers liaising with their Dutch counterparts.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Netherlands Football Association said: "I am aware 15 people were arrested before the game." She said reports had suggested the clashes were "not that serious". "The police were there at the very beginning so they stopped it quickly," she added.







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

Dutch riot police called in as football fans clash in central Amsterdam

• Mounted police contain group of England fans
• 15 people arrested but no serious injuries reported

Dutch riot police arrested 15 people after football fans clashed in Amsterdam's city centre ahead of England's friendly with Holland, it was reported tonight.

The Foreign Office said it was investigating reports that police intervened to stop a fight between English and Dutch supporters. An eyewitness said police on horseback contained a group of English fans on Amsterdam's central Dam square, close to the red light district where the fighting occurred. There were no reports of serious injuries.

Amsterdam's acting mayor Lodewijk Asscher told local television there was a threat that supporters of Ajax – the city's team – wanted to fight English fans.

"In addition, a hardcore of other clubs in the Netherlands, Belgium and England are planning to come to Amsterdam to misbehave," he said, but it was not immediately clear whether the fighting was between Dutch and English supporters or rival Dutch clubs.

Before the match began the city centre was quiet, but with a heavy police presence. A British police delegation is in Amsterdam including officers spotting known hooligans and officers liaising with their Dutch counterparts.

The Football Association sold its allocation of 7,000 tickets for the game. A Home Office spokesman said: "The vast majority of England supporters attending this fixture will be genuine bona fide members of the official supporters club and as such will pose no risk to the safety and security of this fixture.

"There is no intelligence to suggest any of the 3,129 individuals subject to banning orders will attempt to travel to the fixture. An extensive, intelligence-led, police ports operation is under way to prevent anyone who poses a risk from travelling."

A spokeswoman for the Royal Netherlands Football Association said: "I am aware 15 people were arrested before the game. I am not sure if they are Dutch people or English." She said reports in the Netherlands had suggested the clashes were "not that serious". "The police were there at the very beginning so they stopped it quickly," she added.







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

Source : NRC International + local press

41 arrests

The friendly match between England and the Netherlands on Wednesday ended in a 2-2 draw. In Amsterdam's city centre dozens of hooligans were arrested for causing trouble.

Several groups of football hooligans got into fights ahead of Wednesday evening's friendly match between the Netherlands and England at Amsterdam's Arena stadium.
The hooligans apparently used the internet to arrange fights, but the police got word of their plans and kept the rival groups apart as much as possible.

41 people were arrested in all, a police spokesperson said on Thursday morning, mostly Dutch fans of Amsterdam's Ajax club and FC Twente. As a precaution, around 120 Ajax fans were transported in buses under police guard away from the city centre.

Several small fights broke out in the city centre after the game, but a massive police presence kept the disturbances to a minimum.

Police were aware that groups of Dutch hooligans had been planning to use the friendly match to settle various scores.

Tensions ran particularly high between supporters of Ajax (Amsterdam) and Feyenoord (Rotterdam). Two armed Ajax supporters allegedly provoked a group of Feyenoord fans in Rotterdam on Friday, and Feyenoord supporters were looking for revenge, with supporters of other Dutch clubs taking sides.

There was no trouble in or around Amsterdam's Arena stadium where the international match was played.




Video :
http://www.nos.nl/jeugdjournaal/artikelen/2009/8/13/politiepaktrelschoppersop.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7YKCYW6kqo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS-_82y_LWQ

Former football hooligans regroup in far-Right Casuals United - 13/08/2009

Source : Times Online

They see themselves as the vanguard in a battle for the soul of Britain against extremist Islamist forces — the “enemy within” bent on imposing Sharia. Casuals United announced their arrival on Saturday when a small army of shirt-sleeved, middle-aged men with beer bellies clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks with young Asians in Birmingham city centre.

The group, which is closely affiliated with the far-right English Defence League, insists that it is a peaceful movement representing ordinary working people angered by the sight of Muslims hurling insults at British soldiers on homecoming parades. But if the chants of “England, England” and the aggressive posturing appear familiar, it is because they are.

The members of Casuals United are largely former football hooligans drawn from the terraces and, according to their critics, are essentially the BNP and National Front repackaged. The groupings have attracted the support of BNP activists including Chris Renton, who created the English Defence League website.

Jeff Marsh, the leader of Casuals United, told The Times that the organisation was a “mixed-race group of English people, from businessmen and women, to football hooligans”.

He said: “I came up with the idea to unite football fans to forget their petty rivalries and come together in a national movement. There are a lot of people in their forties and fifties who used to be hooligans but went on to settle down. A lot of young football fans want to get involved.”

Mr Marsh, who holds a degree in criminal justice, claims to have support among serving soldiers and points to the activities of army wives on the website Armchair Warriors. “Their men can’t be seen to be supporting us directly,” he said.

The new beast on the far Right came to prominence when its members clashed with anti-fascist protesters in Birmingham on Saturday. Police made 30 arrests and are still studying closed-circuit television footage.

According to the anti-fascist group Searchlight, Casuals United was created after the trouble in March when Islamists demonstrated against troops returning from Afghanistan to Luton. Two months later, members of Casuals United marched through the town and last month they picketed an Islamic roadshow in North London.

Mr Marsh, 44, whose book The Trouble with Taffies is an account of football violence in South Wales, confirmed that the Luton parade had been the catalyst. He said that a generation of former football hooligans were stirred to action by the sight of Muslim extremists abusing the men of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

After the group was outnumbered by United Against Fascism in Birmingham on Saturday, Mr Marsh pledged that it would return to the city on August 30. The group is also planning a protest in Manchester in October.

The Casuals make full use of modern communications, using social networking websites, notably Facebook, where there are about 40 branches, many of which declare allegiance to various football clubs. The Arsenal branch sums up the group’s manifesto, saying that it was formed to “protest peacefully against the Government allowing Islamic Hatemongers to live in our country while raising money for terror abroad, cursing our soldiers and trying to force Sharia law on us”.

Gerry Gable, of Searchlight, said: “We predicted real trouble in Birmingham. They are not a non-violent group. They have been involved in trouble in Luton. There are connections between people who run far-right websites and we know the BNP were actively offering to find them people for both Birmingham and for [a demonstration] in Luton on August Bank Holiday”.

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of the United Against Fascism group, said: “Nobody should be taken in by the pretence that these marches and rallies are not aimed at whipping up race hatred against Muslims and Asians. They are racist demos and we should not allow them to take place.”


Jeff Marsh, organiser and recruiter for Casuals United

Mexico - USA - 12/08/2009

Source: AP

Troubles erupted at the end of the game.

Honduras - Costa Rica - 12/08/2009

Source : AP

Hungary - Romania - 12/08/2009

Source : hu-lala.org + nb1.hu

Poland : Dolcan Zabki - LKS Lodz - 08/08/2009

Source : Mail

Romania: FC Baia Mare - UTA - 15/08/2009

Source : sport365.ro

Toulouse FC - AS Saint-Etienne - 15/08/2009

Source : Furiana-Photos.fr


ASSE Mob

Minyor Pernik - Levski Sofia - 15/08/2009

Source : Mail

Ten fans were arrested in Pernik. One fan was shot by a riot gun in his head.


Levski Mob

VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9aQYGTOwEE

Linfield fans in disorderly fine - 14/08/2009

Source : BBC News

Two Linfield fans have been fined £200 each for aggressive behaviour at a cup game at the Brandywell in 2008.

Undercover police officers travelling with Linfield fans saw Jamie Stirling, 20, and Warren Coard, 20, both from Carrickfergus behaving disorderly.

The pair were trying to climb onto a segregation barrier and shouting sectarian slogans at Derry City fans, Londonderry Magistrates court heard.

They were arrested after the match at Crescent Link on the Waterside.

Portadown - Glentoran - 15/08/2009

Source : UTV News

Youth charged after match trouble

A 17-year-old youth has been charged with disorderly behaviour following crowd trouble at a match between champions Glentoran and Portadown at Shamrock Park.

Glentoran manager Alan McDonald alleged that Gary Hamilton had been struck by a spectator from the side of the ground housing the Portadown fans.

Mayhem broke out and there were a number of altercations between rival supporters as the Glentoran players and McDonald tried to calm things down.

The boy was charged with disorderly behaviour and is due to appear before Craigavon Youth Court on August 25, a PSNI spokeswoman said.

Police are examining CCTV footage of the trouble.

Teenagers given football banning orders - 15/08/2009

Source : Derby Evening Telegraph

TWO teenagers who police say were part of a gang of young football hooligans have been banned from matches for three years.

Football intelligence officers claim that Callum Roberts and Paul Beresford were members of the Derby Youth Connection, which follows Derby County.

Orders handed to the pair by Southern Derbyshire magistrates will mean they cannot attend any football league match in the country.

They will also be forced to surrender their passports when the England national team play abroad and check in with a police officer during games.

Following the hearing, PC Allan Guy, who is part of a police unit set up to deal with the county's hooligans, said young gangs had been responsible for attacking people at games.

He said: "During games, we can get a group of up to 40 lads who are part of the Derby Youth Connection, the DYC. For more high-profile games, there can be more lads.

"Their behaviour is unpredictable. Members of the group have been responsible for attacking people just because of the football shirt they are wearing.

"We know they are involved in fighting other youth groups and they are generally involved in causing disorder between themselves."

During two separate hearings for the duo, Derbyshire police solicitor Caroline Clarke told the court that Roberts, 18, and Beresford, 19, had both been involved in football-related disorder. Both were members of the Derby Youth Connection, which tries to provoke football fans.

During the hearing for Roberts, of Abbey Lane, Darley Abbey, PC Guy said he [Roberts] was in the area of violent scenes in Derby on April 23 last year.

He said: "It was St George's Day, an event that always has a large presence of people in the city centre. During an incident, bottles and chairs were being thrown."

PC Guy told the court that Roberts had also used "abusive language" in another incident in the Ashbourne Road area of Derby on November 21.

Miss Clarke told the court that Beresford, of Perth Street, Chaddesden, was also associated with the Derby Youth Connection. He had previously received a fixed penalty notice for disorderly conduct.

The order passed by magistrates will see the pair banned from attending any matches in England or Wales and from following the England national team for three years.

After the hearing, PC Guy said: "I think the verdict is perfectly justified for both. The banning order makes a big impact.

"It would be our hope that the orders send a message that we will come down hard on anyone involved in this kind of disorder."

Worst Football Riots - Part I - 15/08/2009

Source : Goal.com

This weekend here at Goal.com we are running a two part special series on some of the worst football riots the beautiful game has ever seen. In this, the first part, Subhankar Mondal looks at such 10 such cases.....

1. Catania v Palermo 2007 (Italy)

The Sicilian derby between Catania and Palermo on February 2,2007 brought football in Italy to a halt. Palermo supporters were allowed into the stadium only after the second half of the game had begun because of organizational problems. Smoke bombs and firecrackers started to be thrown after that and were replied by policemen throwing tear-gas canisters towards the 'Ultras'.

The match had to be suspended for 40 minutes because of this. The game was eventually won by Palermo 2-1 and this prompted Catania supporters outside the stadium to pick up fights with the police, in which 40-year-old policeman Filippo Raciti was killed. The incident subsequently led to the cancellation of all football-related events in Italy.

2. Liverpool v Juventus 1985 (Belgium)

The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred on May 29,1985. It was the occasion of the European Cup final between English club Liverpool and Italian giants Juventus at the Belgian city of Brussels. Trouble started an hour before kickoff when Liverpool and Juventus supporters in sections Y and Z, just yards from each other, started throwing missiles at each other.

Soon a group of Liverpool supporters charged across the terraces, through and over the wire fence towards the Juventus supporters, who then retreated. This led to the collapse of the dividing wall and disaster struck. Juventus supporters at their end decided to hit back and tried to move towards the Liverpool supporters. Police intervened and a fight broke out.

The match eventually went through and Juventus won 1-0 but it was overshadowed by the death of 39 football fans, 32 of them being Juventus supporters.

3. Danubio v Nacional 2008 (Uruguay)

Famously described as 'the riot that stop a whole season', the violence that ensued at the Uruguayan Primera Division match between Danubio and Nacional in 2008 was one of its kind. Fans of either clubs invaded the pitch at the end of the final whistle and started fighting each other and continued doing so for 15 minutes. It was so bad that the Uruguayan FA decided to suspend the league for an indefinite period of time. Strangely, there were no injuries or arrests reported at the time.

4. Peru v Argentina 1964 (Peru)

On May 24,1964 Argentina defeated Peru in an Olympic qualifying match in Lima but it was crowd violence that is mostly associated with that match. Peruvian supporters became angry when a Peruvian goal was disallowed two minutes from time and the protests soon became more volatile and developed into a full-blown riot. Over 300 people were killed as the violence gathered momentum; there were around 500 spectators who were seriously injured.

5. Lupopo v Mazembe 2001 (DR Congo)

Lupopo and Mazembe were involved in a league match at the city of Lubumbashi in DR Congo on April 30,2001. There was a stampede at the stadium following crowd trouble and a total of 14 people were killed in the incident.

6. FC Basel v FC Zurich 2006 (Switzerland)

FC Basel and FC Zurich were involved in a championship decider at St. Jakob-Park on May 13,2006: Basel needed a point while Zurich had to win. Zurich won 2-1 thanks to an injury time goal, which meant they became the Swiss Super League champions.

Half a minute after the final whistle had been blown, Basel supporters invaded the pitch and started attacking the Zurich players and officials who were desperately trying to run away to their dressing room. Zurich supporters had also entered the pitch.

One of the Zurich players had a flare thrown at him but fortunately it missed him. Fights between the Basel hooligans and the police went on outside the stadium. Known as the "Disgrace of Basel", this incident is said to be one of the worst cases of football violence in Switzerland.

7. Rangers v Zenit St. Petersburg 2008 (England)

The UEFA Cup final between Rangers and Zenit St. Petersburg in Manchester was marred by crowd trouble both before and after the match. Rival supporters had already started to get physical before the match in the city of Manchester where the final was held that year and missile throwing too had begun.

Then a large screen set up at the Piccadilly Gardens to show the match to thousands of Rangers supporters unable to get tickets failed to function, leading to discontent among the fans, who then took matters in their own hands. Rangers fans clashed with policemen and there were reports of Zenit supporters getting on the receiving end of things too.

8. Kaizer Chiefs v Orlando Pirates 2001 (South Africa)

On April 11,2001 the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg witnessed the worst sporting disaster in South African history. No fewer than 43 people were killed in a stampede during a match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates that brought the entire footballing world to its feet. The stadium was packed with spectators and a reported 30,000 were outside. As the spectators rushed to their seats, a stampede ensued that saw 43 people crushed to death. The firing of tear gas at the fans aggravated the situation.

9. Socozaki v Nyuki System 2008 (DR Congo)

The derby between DR Congo clubs Socozaki and Nyuki System on September 14,2008 was marred by a ghastly crowd violence. It was sparked when one of the players was accused of using witchcraft. Nyuki goalkeeper was thought to have cast a spell to turnaround the 1-0 deficit they had at the time and this led to a fight between the players. The crowd too got agitated and security forces tried to stop the spectators by throwing tear gas at them and this led to a stampede in which a reported 13 people were killed and over 30 were injured.

10. Birmingham City v Leeds 1985 (England)

The St. Andrews stadium witnessed a horrific incident on May 11,1985 when a riot broke out during the game between Birmingham City and Leeds United. One young boy was killed when a wall collapsed on top of him.

‘Army’ made of former football hooligans - 16/08/2009

Source : walesonline.co.uk

FORMER football hooligans from Wales are being recruited by groups who have been involved in violent clashes with anti-fascist protesters.

Members of anti-Islamic fundamentalist groups the Welsh Defence League and Casuals United joined activists from the associated English Defence League in a protest against Muslim extremists in Birmingham last weekend.

Violence erupted at the protest, leading to a total of 34 arrests.

Former Cardiff City Soul Crew hooligan Jeff Marsh is one of the organisers of both groups.

He told Wales on Sunday that football hooligans are a “ready-made army” against Muslim fundamentalists.

Marsh, who has written two books about his exploits with the city’s infamous Soul Crew, said: “Hooligans from rivals clubs are uniting on this and it is like a ready-made army.”

But he denied that the group were intent on violence.

“It is not in our interests to go out and cause riots because we will get arrested and hit with Asbos,” he said.

“We do not look for violence but former football hooligans are able to defend themselves against trouble and are not afraid to protest when being pelted with missiles – like what happened in Birmingham.”

He said the groups have about 3,000 members across the UK and claimed that many come from Wales.

A Welsh Defence League page on the social networking site Facebook has more than 300 members.

Unite Against Fascism have widely condemned the groups as being made up of far-right sympathisers.

But Marsh, 44, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, denied that.

He said: “We are protesting against the preachers of hate who are actively encouraging young Muslims in this country to take part in a jihad against Britain.

“The UAF say we are racist but we have black members in the group and we have spoken with some Sikhs who want to join. Anyone can join our protest.”

Gerry Gable, publisher of the anti-fascism magazine Searchlight, said they had also found links between the EDL and other far-right groups. The August edition of Searchlight carries articles linking the EDL with known football hooligan groups.

Many of the anti-muslim groups were formed after muslim protesters harassed returning soldiers in Luton back in March.

Mr Gable is critical of both the way the police handled that incident and also of the role of Unite Against Fascism in Saturday’s trouble in Birmingham.

He said: “If the police had stepped in and arrested those eight Muslim protesters in Luton – which they had very good reason to for public order offences – it could have taken a lot of heat out of the situation.

“But we don’t think inciting people to burn the Union Jack, like the UAF did, is the right way to go about fighting racism. We want to fight it through a coalition of people from the community, working together to resolve issues.”

In response the news that Welsh hooligans were being recruited for such groups Mohammad Asghar, Plaid Assembly Member for South Wales East, called for greater understanding between people of different religions.

“Wales has a proud record of welcoming people from many different countries over the years,” he said.

“I deplore any attempt to whip up racial hatred and, as a keen sports fan, I deplore any racism connected to football and other sports.

“I attended the Assembly launch of the anti-racism film Islamophobia, which is part of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign. This campaign has top footballers, including Wales’ Ryan Giggs, helping to educate people against racism and I fully support it.”

Casuals United set for Bank Holiday return to Birmingham after violent riots - 16/08/2009

Source : Sunday Mercury

THE right-wing group which brought violence to the streets of Birmingham last weekend are planning a new Bank Holiday rally.

Casuals United, said to include suspected football hooligans, have lined-up August 30 for a potentially explosive follow-up march.

And a self-styled Aston Villa branch of the organisation said they are also planning to take to the streets on September 5.

Meanwhile, detectives at West Midlands Police have made a direct appeal to violent protesters to hand themselves in before they issue photographs of suspects.

In all 35 people were arrested last Saturday evening when violence erupted after Casuals clashed in the city centre with rival demonstrators from Unite Against Fascism group (UAF).

Bottles, sticks and banners were thrown as police in riot gear struggled to prevent skirmishes in New Street and Corporation Street.

Photographers captured sickening scenes, including one man being kicked in the face by a thug.

Police were aware the Casuals had planned their protest through social networking sites like Facebook but said no formal request to march was submitted.

They had, however, been in talks with the UAF about its demonstration.

The rival groups had each held peaceful protests at different ends of the city centre before the trouble flared at around 7pm.

Last night, Labour MP Khalid Mahmood criticised both groups for terrorising city centre shoppers.

He said: In my eyes both of these groups are as bad as each other.

On the one hand the Casuals for clearly organising a march that they must have known would incite anger and then the UAF for whipping the anti-BNP protesters into a frenzy.

Both sides were very irresponsible but at the same time I understand both sides have a right to protest.

I would suggest that if they cannot protest peacefully they should hire a private hall and air their views there, rather than putting the safety of ordinary Brummies at risk.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: The Major Investigation Unit are leading the investigation into sporadic outbreaks of disorder.p

Their investigations commenced with the studying of CCTV from council cameras, city centre shops and evidence-gathering teams who were at both protests.

Officers are also examining closely videos which have been posted on line by those involved in the disorder.

Over 40 detectives and specially trained expert viewers are working on the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Bacon added: Our aim is to bring those people who used Saturday afternoons protests as an opportunity to commit crime and disorder to justice as soon as possible.

I would also say to those who were committing the disorder there are cameras across Birmingham city centre and we are starting a process of identification.p

Now would be a good time to consider handing yourself in before we start releasing pictures of those who we want to trace.

Poland : Widzew Łódź - ŁKS Łódź - 15/08/2009

Source : Mail +wiadomosci.onet.pl

Police intervened several times with the aim to avoid fights between both sides of supporters, during this Lodze city derby game.
Five policemen were injured and 5 supporters arrested.

Macedonia: Makedonija - Vardar Skpje - 16/08/2009

Source: Alsat-M

Four people were injured and taken to hospital in Skopje during the afternoon incidents between supporters of the football team in Skopje, «Vardar», and Albanian inhabitants of Skopje suburb in Nerezi at FYROM capital.

VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-piwBJgfl28

Undercover cops nab 'sectarian' Linfield fans - 17/08/2009

Source: http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Undercover-cops-nab-sectarian-Linfield.5559742.jp

Two Linfield Football Club supporters were each fined £200 at Derry Magistrate's Court when they admitted charges of disorderly behaviour in the Brandywell Stadium last October during a Setanta Cup game between Derry City and Linfield.

District Judge James McFarland was told on Friday that Warren Coard, (20), from Ballycarry, Carrickfergus and Jamie Stirling, (20), from Dromore Road also in Carrickfergus, were observed acting in a sectarian manner by two undercover police officers who had travelled to the game with a group of Linfield supporters.

A prosecution lawyer told the court that both men were seen attempting to climb over a segregation barrier in the stadium. The undercover police officers also heard the defendants shouting sectarian slogans at rival supporters. Both were arrested after the game at the Crescent Link in Derry to where the Linfield supporters had been escorted after the game.

The lawyer said that Stirling, who was 21 yesterday and just started a job as a machine operator, was also seen banging his fists on the barrier and lifting his shirt towards Derry City supporters. He was also heard shouting "Fenian b......s" and "Derry scum".
Chord, a storeman whose partner is expecting their first child, shouted similar sectarian slogans.

PolAND: Piłka Nożna resovia - Olimpia elblag - 15/08/2009

Source : miasta.gazeta.pl

Hooligans occured for this game, with hooligans from several teams.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Poland: Górnik Zabrze - GKS Katowice - 16/08/2009

Source : tvn24.pl

Hooligans without tickets tried to enter the stadium so police intervened to restore order. Five people (one policemen, one steward and 3 fans) were injured and 7 other people arrested.






Translation Underground Fans (c)