Season 09/10 - September

Poland : MKS Pogon Szczecin - GKS Górnik Leczna - 19/09/2009

Source : mmszczecin.pl

Nine Castellon football fans fined 6,000 euros, for shouting racist comments at game - 21/09/2009

Source: http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/nine_castellon_football_fans_fined_6000_euros_for_shouting_racist_comments_/

During the match, played on 13 August, several local supporters shouting racist comments every time one of the Atletico players touched the ball
Nine Castellon football fans fined 6,000 euros, for shouting racist comments at game

A court has fined nine Castellón fans 6,000 euros, and banned them from attending football matches for a year. The fines are a result of a prosecution brought by football officials following racist taughts that occurred during the preseason game against Atletico Madrid, Castalia.

During the match, played on 13 August, several local supporters shouting racist comments every time one of the Atletico players touched the ball, the referee stopped the match, while, over the PA, officials called for a cessation of the racist screams.

The security coordinator urged people to identify the perpetrators, and the implementation of the Protocol of Proceedings against racism, xenophobia and intolerance in football. The fans were identified during the match against Hercules and since then the club has cancelled their subscriptions and they were refused entry to the stadium of Castalia.

Port Vale - Bury FC - 19/09/2009

Source : mail (thanks to the sender)

CSKA Sofia - Levski Sofia - 20/09/2009

Source : novinite.com

150 Bulgaria Fans Arrested after Undying Football Derby

The Bulgarian police have arrested over 150 fans after the end of the undying football derby between Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia.

The supporters of the Levski Sofia football team were detained after committing some material damages to garbage cans and parked vehicles, officials from the Interior Ministry reported.

Accidents happened even before the beginning of the game. A knife was thrown against a police officer in downtown Sofia.

There was a mass fight near the stadium between supporters of moth teams shortly before the game began.

The police reported material damages caused to vehicles of the Sofia public transportation. Glasses of two busses, one trolley car, and one tram were broken. The drivers were not injured in the accidents.

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Source : FOCUS News Agency

30 detained after a football match

Injured FC Levski fans have been examined in Pirogov Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment and Emergency Aid after the derby vs. FC CSKA, press centre of the hospital informed. 28-year-old T.V. and 24-year-old M.M. have been transported to Pirogov at about 8.30pm yesterday. They have been injured in clashes at Vasil Levski National Stadium.
Another four football fans visited the emergency rooms in Pirogov hospital at 11.45pm.
Almost 30 Levski fans have been detained after yesterday’s match between FC CSKA and FC Levski, press centre of the Ministry of Interior informed FOCUS News Agency. They have been detained on Simeon Str. in the capital over vandal activities.
Five motor vehicles of Sofia city public transport have been damaged after yesterday’s football match between Levski and SCKA football clubs, press centre of centre for city mobility informed FOCUS News Agency.
A door and one of the window-glasses have been broken of two trolleybuses. Two buses have also been damaged and a tram. Drivers of the motor vehicles don’t suffer any injuries.

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54 Levski fans detained over vandalism before Levski-CSKA clash

54 fans of the Bulgarian football team Levski have been detained over vandalism before Levski-CSKA clash, the Ministry of Interior’s press office informed.
A group of about 150 fans have started overturning waste cans and hitting cars at about 11.00 pm after the match between Levski and CSKA. 31 of them were arrested for 24 hours.
Earlier, at about 5.00 pm a knife was thrown at a policeman. He was not injured.
A fight has started between football fans at about 6.30 pm at the crossing between the “Avlogi Georgiev Blvd and “Tsarigratsko shose” Blvd. 13 people were arrested. A policeman has been injured. He was taken to Pirogov hospital.
Another three men were arrested while breaking benches and waste cans around the Vasil Levski National Stadium.

Manchester United - Manchester City - 20/09/2009

Source : chorley-guardian.co.uk

Chorley fan charged over Bellamy incident

A Chorley football fan allegedly involved in a confrontation with Manchester City footballer Craig Bellamy has been charged by police.
Jake Clarke, 21, from Chorley, is said to have run on to the pitch during City's dramatic 4-3 defeat in the derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Greater Manchester Police said he has been charged with going on to a playing area without lawful authority or excuse and will appear at Trafford Magistrates' Court on September 30.

Clarke is accused of staging a solo pitch invasion after Michael Owen's injury time winner.

Photos appear to show Bellamy march towards Clarke and push him in the face before he was led away by stewards.

According to police no formal complaint has been made against Welsh international Bellamy.



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Source : news.sky.com

Police Charge Fan Over Bellamy Clash

A football fan allegedly involved in a confrontation with Manchester City footballer Craig Bellamy has been charged by police.

ake Clarke, 21, is said to have run on to the pitch during City's 4-3 defeat in the derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Greater Manchester Police said he has been charged with going on to a playing area without lawful authority or excuse and will appear at Trafford Magistrates' Court on September 30.

The crowd watched as a male fan ran on to the pitch from the United home end after Michael Owen's late goal.

Bellamy marched towards the man and pushed him in the face before the fan was led away by stewards.

The Football Association said it was still considering what action, if any, to take against Bellamy.

Police will also investigate a coin-throwing attack on City substitute Javier Garrido, who was struck as he headed down the tunnel at half-time.

Twelve people were arrested at the ground for a variety of public order offences and a further 10 were arrested in the city.

A total of 51 supporters were ejected from Old Trafford during the match.

Partizan: 10 held over attack on French football fan - 21/09/2009

Source : Monsters and Critics.com

A Belgrade court said Monday it has ordered a 30- day investigative detention of 10 people suspected of brutally beating a French football fan last week.

The suspects face up to 40 years in prison for aggravated attempted murder, radio B92 quoted the Belgrade district court spokeswoman Ivana Ramic as saying.

The 28-year-old victim suffered brain damage, a ruptured aorta, and injuries to the lung, face and pelvis after hooligans attacked him and a group of Toulouse fans in a Belgrade cafe before of a UEFA League match against Partizan Belgrade.

He went through two emergency surgeries and was still listed in critical condition Monday, four days after the attack.

Brutal violence has become commonplace on the margins of sports events in Serbia. Football fans also meddled into politics, as over the weekend, when they effectively prevented a gay pride parade from taking place by threatening violence.

Athletic Bilbao - Austria Vienna - Europa League - 17/09/2009

Source : Reuters

Serbian first league - FC Smederevo - FC Red Star - 20/09/2009


Source: smedia.rs

The game was stopped twice because Red Star fans tried to invade the pitch and were throwing flares. Red Star might play the following Cup game with no audience.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPWG8-B86g8&feature=player_embedded

Cagliari - Inter Milan - 20/09/2009

Source : Reuters

Game Should Have Been Stopped After Racist Abuse - Inter

Inter Milan's Serie A game at Cagliari on Sunday should have been halted when fans started to racially abuse striker Mario Balotelli, president Massimo Moratti said on Monday.

Juventus were forced to play a match behind closed doors last season after their fans sang racist chants against Balotelli, who is Italian but of Ghanaian descent.

Following that incident, Italy's football authorities said games should be suspended in cases of racist abuse if police agreed. However, the referee at Cagliari took no action.

"The referee should have stopped the match because of the racist chants towards Balotelli," Moratti told reporters after Inter had largely stayed silent about the matter after the game.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands for arguing with officials about an on-field incident during Sunday's match and the league has imposed a one-game ban on the Portuguese.

No sanction has so far been sought against Cagliari for the chants.

Moratti was astounded that only the outspoken Mourinho had been punished.

"On the basis of what I've been told, Mourinho definitely didn't insult the referee and we didn't expect this type of sanction," he said. "I wouldn't want his lively character to be confused with aggressive behaviour."

POLICE want to speak to these 22 men following football violence that caused terror for motorists and shoppers after the recent Blues and Villa derby - 22/09/2009

Source : Birmingham Mail

The faces were seen on CCTV and police video footage as fighting broke out following Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory over Birmingham City nine days ago.

Officers came under a barrage of bricks and bottles as they tried to keep rival fans apart during clashes near St Andrew’s stadium immediately after the final whistle. But sporadic violence continued into the city centre, where traffic was brought to a standstill near Selfridges during running fights.

A taskforce has spent the past week poring over video footage to identify suspected troublemakers.

Today, officers released to the Birmingham Mail these images of men, most of them purporting to be Blues fans, who they want to question.

Det Chief Insp Matt Markham, from Stechford police, said: “There is no place for the kind of indiscriminate violent behaviour we saw after the game.

“I’d rather not have to deploy officers on the streets in riot gear before, during and after matches but on occasions am forced to do so to deal with the type of people intent on causing trouble.

“The majority of people attending the match behaved perfectly well, but the small minority who brought shame to their city will be brought to justice.”

He said some the men caught on camera were wanted for questioning over criminal damage caused to the cars of frightened motorists caught up in the trouble away from the ground. Some were also suspected of public disorder offences and assault.

Det Chief Insp Markham said: He added: “The message is very clear - if you are one of these people caught on camera then speak to us before we come to find you.

“The majority of people attending Blues Villa derbies do so for entertainment and the love of the game, it’s a family day out and I want to keep it that way. It’s for them that we are running this post match investigation.”

Birmingham City fan Suzanne Scott last week told the Mail of her terror as her path was blocked as she headed home with her sons, aged ten and 17.

The 38-year-old from Malvern, said: “We saw riot police and men charging towards them. All of a sudden they started pelting rocks and stones from the other side of the carriageway.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that. My ten-year-old said he never wants to go to a football match again.”

A total of 14 people, seven Blues fans and seven supporters of Aston Villa, were arrested during and after the game for a variety of offences including public order matters, assault and running onto the pitch. Most have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.


BBC News

Red Star and Smederevo stadiums suspended - 23/09/09

Source: blic.rs

FC Red Star and FC Smederevo will play their Cup games today in front of empty stadiums, after Disciplinary Committee of Serbian Football Association suspended the two grounds.

As it is stated by Contest committee chairman Branislav Delic, FC Red Star got it's suspension because of incidents caused by Red Star fans, that took place during the last leg of Serbian first league in Smederevo, where Red Star played away game against FC Smederevo. The FC Smederevo stadium was suspended after the committee determined that there were serious shortcomings in the organization of the match played in Smederevo. The stadiums will be suspended until the committee issues its final decision.



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Police banned fans gathering in center of Novi Sad


The Serbian police has issued a ban on fan gathering at Novi Sad central square of Liberty on 27th of September when FC Vojvodina will play FC Red Star. As it is stated by Novi Sad police administration, the police will take all the legal actions to protect property and citizens.
The ban was issued because of past incidents caused by fans in center of Novi Sad.
Police appeals on all of the fans and citizens who will be attending the game to contribute safe play of the game by their behavior and actions .

Carlisle - Portsmouth - Carling Cup - 22/09/2009

Source : BBC NEWS

Fans held after city centre clash

Nine people were arrested when violence flared following Carlisle's Carling Cup clash with Portsmouth.

Police were called to the Botchergate area of Carlisle late on Tuesday after reports of fighting outside two pubs. There were no serious injuries.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said eight people from Hampshire and one from Carlisle were arrested for public order offences.

Fan fined for invading pitch in Blues v Villa derby - 23/09/2009

Source : BirminghamMail.net

AN “over-excited” football fan has been fined for invading the pitch during the recent local derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa.

Marcus Brown, aged 24, of Canturbury Close, Erdington, admitted going on to the St Andrew’s playing area and was fined £65, ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £50 costs.

Magistrates said they were not imposing a football banning order because the incident had not involved any violence and because the defendant did not have any previous similar convictions.

Angelique King, prosecuting, said it happened when an Aston Villa player scored the only goal of the game.

She said the “elation” of the moment caused a number of Aston Villa fans, including Brown, to go on to the pitch.

Miss King said Brown was detained by a security guard and later arrested.

Brown said: “I do not think it warrants a banning order. I never went on the playing area fully.

“I was sitting behind the goal. The game was not very good. It was a last minute goal and everybody got over-excited. It happened in the last three minutes of the game.”

Three other fans also appeared before magistrates yesterday.

Ian Parry, 20, of Renfrew Square, Castle Vale and David Maund, 23, of Croft Road, Yardley, both denied a charge of going on to the pitch. Their cases were adjourned for trial to take place.

The prosecution withdrew the same charge against Christopher Jones, 18, of Callow Brook Lane, Rubery, so that he could be given a police caution.

Levski Sofia get home ban for racist incident - 24/09/2009

Source : Reuters

Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia must play their next home game at a neutral ground following a racist incident among their supporters during the 2-0 loss at leaders and city rivals CSKA on Sunday.

The ban, imposed by the Bulgarian Football Union, will be served on Sunday when Levski, who were also fined 37,500 levs ($28,344), play surprise packages Chernomorets Burgas who are level on points with CSKA.

Levski fans unfurled racist banners during the match which was also marred by a crowd trouble.

Police said they had arrested 54 fans for violence after the "eternal derby" and six people were slightly injured.

Ex-football thug has no regrets for trouble on the terraces - 24/09/2009

Source: Edinburgh Evening News



TATTOOED arms tightly folded across his equally tattooed chest, a diamond in his tooth glinting in the sun and an adamant, steely glare.
Hibs' "king of the casuals" Andy Blance isn't here to talk about regrets.

He's not going to admit to mistakes or errors of judgement, make apologies or crave forgiveness.

He's not going to pretend that he's desperately sorry for the axe attack on a rival that left his victim's friends trying to hold his severed back together – injuries so horrific that they made a female police officer faint at the sight of them.

And in case anyone thought his notorious football gang of casuals – whose reign of terror reached a climax when a petrol bomb was thrown in Princes Street on a Saturday afternoon – had soured Scottish football with their love of violence, he'd like to point out that, actually, the likes of them were among the best things that could have happened to the game.

One thing Andy Blance doesn't do is apologies.

Instead, the man dubbed "Scotland's most notorious football hooligan" is sitting in the living room of his second-floor flat on a Fife council estate – a room dominated, bizarrely, by the largest grandfather clock imaginable, a chunky wooden chess set and a mock antique-style writing bureau. He's trying to explain just why football hooligans aren't all that bad. "We were fighting people that wanted to fight us," he shrugs simply. "There's a lot worse people in the world than football hooligans. There are rapists and murderers out there.

"But football hooligans get all the attention. Undoubtedly the police could spend their time and money much better than worrying about football hooligans."

Blance is a 42-year-old father of three boys – all Hibs daft. He's stocky, with a skinhead and countless tattoos, most in tribute to his beloved club, running the length of his arms and across his torso.

Today, he looks like any typical working bloke – indeed, he's just nipped off from a building job at a house he's helping renovate.

Until recently, however, he was one of the leading figures from the feared Hibs Capital City Service gang, a swaggering, bloodthirsty football terror squad who became notorious for spreading violence and fear, who would tease and taunt police, plot ambushes and senseless violence on rival gangs and stick two fingers up – and perhaps the occasional glass in the face – to some who happened to get in their way.

Now he's adding "writer" to a list of achievements which includes a criminal record of more than 50 offences. His book Hibs Boy – with a fawning foreword written by high-profile Hibs fan and friend, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, catalogues his life as a soccer casual, from February 1980 when, aged 15, he was arrested for the first time after scrapping with two Morton fans after a Hibs match, to the aftermath of that brutal axe attack which led to a five-year prison sentence.

It's a life story that he had hoped to present to his readers in person at a book signing at his local Waterstone's branch in Dunfermline next month.

Such is the powderkeg nature of his past, however, and the potential that some might turn up looking not for a signature but for a chance to challenge the author, that police have recommended it should be cancelled.

Blance, a one-time nightclub bouncer whose more recent business interests include running a suntan parlour and internet cafe, is slightly bemused that even now, when he insists he's left his hooligan days behind, his notoriety precedes him.

"Fact is, my first priority is to watch Hibs – I'm a normal Hibs fan and I don't ever miss a game," he insists.

"I know that writing this book I'm going to get more attention, but all that's finished anyway. Even if I wanted to go back to it I know I couldn't get involved."

Born in Edinburgh, raised over the Forth in Rosyth by his father – his mother left home when he was six – and now living in Inverkeithing, Blance's name has been linked with the scourge of Scottish football hooliganism since the eighties. He claims to be a passionate Hibs fan, but it appears what happened off the pitch was often more exciting for him than events on.

"I think I just liked the buzz of being involved with it all," he shrugs. "At the time it was the thing to do. It was like how in the sixties there were mods and rockers, in the seventies there were skinheads and punks. In the eighties, all that stuff was part of the culture, I was at that age to get into it, so I did. And it was a buzz. It was a gang of guys fighting another gang of guys and, yeah, it was about adrenalin and excitement.

"We were fighting with people who wanted to fight us.

"Maybe not so much with the petrol bomb, though," he adds. "But most of the time, that's how it was."

He's referring to a particularly notorious incident in which his CCS casuals gathered in the city centre, preparing to ambush a gang of the visiting ASC – Aberdeen Soccer Casuals.

The scene had been set in March 1985 when Aberdeen casuals pounced on their rivals in the shadow of Easter Road. Humiliated by the beating doled out to one of their number, Blance and his cohorts set about plotting revenge for their next Edinburgh meeting in October that year.

It turned out to be an episode that could have ended in tragedy when a petrol bomb was thrown at the Aberdeen gang, scattering terrified Saturday shoppers.

It's the one point where Blance concedes that his gang's violence overstepped the mark. "The petrol bomb was thrown and everyone scattered," he recalls. "It was the magnitude of it, it wasn't just some wee fizz and that was it. It was big. I look back on that and, yeah, totally, I think it was madness. Even the guy that did it probably thinks it was madness.

"But when I think of the violence I've seen and the real fights, then that petrol bomb wasn't as bad as walking down Paisley Road West, getting involved with Rangers casuals, Rangers fans . . ."

The walls of his Inverkeithing home are lined with Hibs memorabilia, various signed Hibs shirts, photographs, fridge magnets, scarves. The close outside his front door is framed, ceiling to floor, with green and white images and knick-knacks.

His passion for the team is obvious, yet at club official level the likes of Blance – who once sponsored winger John O'Neill – are scorned: "These people are animals, they are not real fans and we want nothing to do with them," former Hibs chairman Douglas Cromb once declared.

It's a twisted logic, but Blance retaliates by suggesting that he and his casual mates actually helped make Scottish football safer.

"It was all a game," he shrugs. "We all knew what we were doing – even the police regarded it as a game. They liked nothing better than running at us all with their batons. It was cat and mouse – they loved it too.

"But I honestly think we had a positive impact on the game," he adds. "It made grounds far safer places for normal people to go, because there were so many police brought in and the casuals had to find somewhere else to go to fight," he explains. "It meant people could walk down the road to the game and no-one would bother them. Joe Bloggs in the street is safe because we were all somewhere else.

"A lot of people would have to admit that the casuals made it safer for normal fans to actually go to the game."

Hibs Boy: The Life and Violent Times of Scotland's Most Notorious Football Hooligan, by Andy Blance, is published by Fort Publishing, price £9.99

'IF HIBS AND HEARTS MERGED MERCER WAS GOING TO GET HURT'
IT was perhaps one of the most controversial episodes in the rivalry between two clubs whose passion and pride go much deeper than the few miles that separate them.

When Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer dared to suggest that a combined Hearts-Hibs team would be a more logical rival to the force of Rangers and Celtic, Hibs fans reacted with fury.

None more so than the members of the Capital City Service.

Enraged by the thought that their club was about to be engulfed by their most loathed rivals, Andy Blance and his CCS cohorts set about plotting their next move.

That led to suggestions that the architect of the proposals, Wallace Mercer, could pay for his proposal in the most vile manner imaginable.

"It was talked about that if there was progress in that and if Hibs did go out of the game that he would get seriously hurt," admits Blance.

"The police got wind of it. A guard was put around Mercer's home.

"It wasn't just the casuals, it was everyone who felt strongly. People loved their club, there was huge passion and he was threatening that.

"It's nearly 20 years ago, but folk still feel strongly."

Blance also claims in the book that his links with CCS put him in association with leading Edinburgh gangland figures. One, he claims, asked him to use his football connections to "sort out" a Scotland international whose debts to the crime lord had escalated to six figures.

"I was to speak to him and put him right," adds Blance.

LIONS CHIEF PLAYS DOWN POTENTIAL PUNISHMENT - 24/09/2009

Source : southwarknews.co.uk



MILLWALL CEO Andy Ambler has played down the furore surrounding the supposedly-imminent punishment from the Football Association for the club's part in the disorder at West Ham last month.

As the 'News' went to press the FA had yet to announce the outcome of their month-long investigation, but there is speculation that Millwall will be fined for their involvement in the violence.

While the East Londoners are likely to be fined heavily for the three pitch invasions that followed each of their goals, as well as other disorder inside and out of Upton Park, any decision also to fine Millwall is one that would surprise and outrage many at the Den.

"Until we know exactly what the FA have to say, we have nothing to offer, because the whole issue is getting a little out of control. At the moment we still don't know whether we will or won't be charged at all - there's been no indication from the FA about that whatsoever," Ambler told the 'News'.

"We've complied fully with the FA when they've asked things of us, but a lot of what's been said this week has been based on rumour more than anything else."

Any fine is likely to come under rule E20a of the FA's Disciplinary Process, which describes how a club must ensure its "supporters or followers conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and refrain from any one or a combination of the following: racist, violent, threatening, abusive, obscene or provocative behaviour".

It is thought that allegations of racist abuse directed at Hammers striker Carlton Cole and missile throwing and damage to the seating in the Sir Trevor Brooking stand are what the Lions could be punished for.

Nick Hart, head of the Lions Trust and editor of the No One Likes Us fanzine, said that he found it hard to see how Millwall could be blamed for last month's disorder.

"I think that Millwall made all the necessary provisions, but actually found themselves held back by the various authorities, who decided to cut ticket numbers and exclude Millwall fans from the security meetings," Hart told the 'News'.
"I actually think the club have conducted themselves very well in the aftermath of the match. Their approach has been creditworthy, which is something I don't say too often admittedly."

Hart acknowledged that any accusation of racism must be dealt with seriously: "If the charge of racism is proven then it's disappointing, but I guess we'd just have to take our medicine on that one," he said. "Obviously, we all condemn racist abuse and chants, so then if that's what we get done for, that's that."

"If there are fines handed out, we need fairness. We mustn't forget that West Ham have been accused of racist abuse as well. The fines must be in proportion, because if they are equal they will hit Millwall much harder."

France tightens rules to beat hooligans - 24/09/2009

Source : Daily Times

France’s Interior Ministry announced Wednesday new measures to try to stamp out violence at football grounds after a stormy start to the season. The measures include increased police surveillance of high-risk groups, stricter ground bans for violent individuals, clubs taking systematic legal action against trouble-makers and points reductions for teams whose supporters were involved in violence at matches. The crackdown follows a weekend which saw the referee twice take players off the pitch at Grenoble. Missiles and smoke bombs were thrown into the penalty box as the home team lost 0-4 to Rennes. And police broke up a protest by angry fans at Nice after a 3-1 loss to neighbours Monaco. French national league president Frederic Thiriez met ministry officials in Paris before the announcement. “Our game is being taken hostage by violent groups who are our worst enemies,” he said at the weekend. A ministry statement said the new measures will shortly be backed up by parliamentary legislation.

Ban for aggressive fan groups - 24/09/09

Source: rts.rs


Council of the Serbian government decided to launch an initiative to ban hooligan groups that call for hatred and violence, Minister Snezana Samardzic Markovic said. The Council pointed out the problem of coupling of club administration of certain clubs and so-called fans.


Minister of Youth and Sport Snezana Samardzic Markovic said that the Council of the Serbian government for prevention of violence and inappropriate behavior in the sport, decided to launch an initiative to ban Fan informal groups that call for hatred and violence and violate the Constitution and law.

At a press conference after the Council session, Minister said that that body found the main problem, when it comes to violence in sport, are ties of club administration of some clubs and so-called fans.

Samardzic Markovic said that the Council strongly condemned the violence among fans, hooliganism, such as throwing flares on the bus and beating a French citizen just because you support club.

According to her, the difference is clear between all those who love the sport and cheer for their clubs and others who use terraces and stadiums for violence and hooliganism.

The Council has recommended to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Justice to urgently examine all laws governing the prevention of violence at sporting events.

To this Ministries it has been recommended to propose amendments to the Law as soon as possible "in order to introduce penalties for all forms of inappropriate behavior of hooligans."

Call for media to fight against violence


The Minister invited the media to fight against violence in society, by "stamping the rowdy or not writing about them at all", but not being promoters of such behavior.

Serbian Football Association president Tomislav Karadzic said that the leadership of some teams openly conveyed to Football Association of Serbia that they can not cope with the problem of violence.

Karadzic said that in some clubs management are the people "whose past is not clean" and have "file that does not meet the criteria of the present time."

At the third session of the Council, a program of the international conference "Combating racism and violence through the promotion of diversity in sport" was also presented, which will soon be organized in Belgrade.

President of the Council is Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, his deputy Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, while the Deputy of the body are Samardzic Markovic and Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic.

The session was attended by President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia Vlade Divac, president of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia Aleksandar Boričić, President of Water Polo Federation of Serbia Velibor Sovrović, and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sport Vojislav Tabacki and Chief of the Department of Sport Ministry of Youth and Sports Dragan Atanasov.

Rather fighting than cheering - 24/09/09

Source: politika.rs


Police claims there are about 3,000 so-called supporters who advocate violence. - The more you attack the police officers, the higher "rating" you get in the group

It seems that with the attack of hooligans, who attacked the bus few days ago in Boulevard of Duke Misic - the wave of violence stroke the streets of the capital. The incidents started happening one after another, in which the targets were even foreign citizens, and in the clash in Obilicev venac French citizen was severely injured, for whose life doctors are still struggling. The question is did the capital as one of the safest cities, like it was seen by foreigners several months ago, turned into a dangerous place to live.

- Despite all unpleasant events, we can say that Belgrade is a safe city. Some smaller groups, however, spoil our image and so harm the reputation of both the citizens of Belgrade and the whole country - said Slobodan Vukolić, Chief of Police Administration for the city of Belgrade.

Hooligans, because of whom go to the game or walk down the street before, during or after sports events has become a risk, work in groups and some of them are known to the police.

- According to our knowledge, there are more than 3,000 people from fan groups that advocate violence. The most numerous are the supporters of two biggest clubs, but there are those who are supporters of other first league, second league, and lower leagues teams. They are usually divided according to place of residence, but also by sorts of action. Often fans are recruited from lower league teams to enter the "higher rank". Depending on the number of attacks on police, the destruction of certain buildings or property of citizens, their "rating" in the group is growing - out Vukolić.

All groups have their own leaders and ordered hierarchy.
- It is distinctive that hooligans before and after games express violence, regardless of the sporting events. Their main goal is to fight for sake of fighting. Despite the hatred that exists between the various fan groups, they are united in the attack on the police. It is worrying that for the committing of criminal acts leaders often recruit minors because of their status before the judicial authorities - says Vukolić.

Violent fans come from different social structures and are mainly in age from 18 to 25 years, although numerous, are those who have not crossed the threshold age.

Fan violence in this region dates back to the beginning of the eighties of last century.
-Clashes from that period can not be compared with ones today. In the beginning those were fist-fights, however, as time passed the brutality and extremism of hooligan groups increasingly grew. Now in clashes boxers, batons, metal rods, cold arms, and even firearms are used. Pyrotechnics are brought to the stadiums in different ways. Hidden even in the innermost parts of clothes, and often brought in by women. A number of leaders of fans is engaged in, under the guise of belonging to fan group, incriminated acts, and some of them had been sentenced for the most serious crimes. In most cases, they make offenses under the influence of alcohol or narcotics and this increases their aggressiveness - Vukolić said.

He notes that the clubs have not clearly distanced themselves from such fans.
- It is important that clubs cancel certain benefits provided to hooligans, which is their duty by the Law on Prevention of violence in stadiums. This would probably return to football stadiums more true fans and lovers of sport - says Vukolić.
He points out that in combating violent hooligan groups everyone should be involved . From Parents, who often do not know where their children are, through educational institutions, local communities, which should offer young people places where they could spend their energy, all the way to the media, which often sensationalist approach to the problem of violence.

Atalanta Bergamo - Catania - 23/09/2009

Source: Goal.com

Three fans of the Nerazzurri were placed under arrest for allegedly assaulting a bus driver, which contained opposing supporters...

The clash between Atalanta and Catania saw three fans arrested for allegedly starting a fight outside the stadium before kick-off, according to ANSA.it.

The three are also alleged to be responsible for an assault on a bus driver, who was transporting Catania supporters to the game prior to the match. Also wanted are two Catania supporters, who allegedly took part in the fight.

A police officer - who tried to break it up - suffered head injuries and bruising, and he has been given a week off work to get over the sustained wound.

The match was not deemed 'at risk' by the Committee for the Security of Sporting Events, who have taken a strong stance this season, encouraging supporter safety, in particular for travelling tifosi.

Condition of French football fan worsens - 25/09/2009

Source : b92.net

The condition of the French football fan who injured after being attacked by a group of hooligans on September 17 has worsened says the Serbian Clinical Center.

According to the center, the patient, Brice Taton, has suffered brain damage, adding that his overall health had deteriorated. His hopes of recovery are very uncertain, say doctors.

He is still on a life-support machine.

The patient underwent surgery on his aorta on September 18, and on his brain the next day.

The Frenchman sustained his injuries shortly prior to the Partizan-Toulouse match, when he was attacked in the Irish Pub café in central Belgrade.

Two days later police arrested 11 suspects in the attack.

10 of the suspects were remanded in custody for 30 days on charges of attempted murder, while one was released on bail.

Everton FC - Blackburn Rovers - 20/09/2009

Source : THE ASSOCIATED PRESS + Reuters

Everton says fans didn't throw bananas at Blackburn's Diouf

Everton says Blackburn striker El-Hadji Diouf is "wholly wrong" to claim he was showered with bananas in their match last weekend.

The Senegal international made the allegation after Merseyside Police began investigating allegations that he racially abused a ball boy during Everton's 3-0 win on Sunday.

Everton spokesman Ian Ross said Friday that the police have failed to back up Diouf's claims about the bananas.

Ross said: "We have been deeply offended by his claims . . . he should apologize for the clear inference that he was, in some way, racially insulted by our supporters."

FC Baden - BSC Young Boys - 19/09/2009

Source : Romandie News

In Baden, police used flash-balls and pepper sprays with the aim to stop a brawl at the end of this game opposing FC Baden to Young Boys Bern.
Bern supporters also caused damages inside their special train when they came back home.

Traduction Underground Fans (c)

Switzerland (hockey) : Rapperswil-Jona - EV Zoug - 19/09/2009

Source : Romandie News

Troubles opposed supportersz from local Lakers to Zoug ones.
Police used flash-balls and pepper sprays to disperse both sides.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Switzerland: La Combe - Neuchâtel Xamax - Cup - 19/09/2009

Source : RTN

Local policeman injured by Neuchâtel supporters

Troubles occured between supporters this Saturday in Martigny at the end of this swiss cup game, opposing La Combe to Neuchâtel Xamax.
About 40 Xamax Fanati'X fought with local supporters.

Area and city policemen were called near the stadium to separate both sides after 15 minutes of troubles.

One policeman was slightly injured after he was punched up by a Neuchâtel supporters. One man was also arrested.

Translation Underground Fans (c)