Season 09/10 - March

PSG stop ticket sales for away games to halt violence - 02/03/2010

Source : Reuters

Paris St Germain have stopped selling tickets for away games after a fan suffered a life-threatening head injury in a fight between rival hooligans before Sunday's Ligue 1 match at home to Olympique Marseille.

"Violence is at its height, we have reached a new level of urban guerrilla warfare," PSG chairman Robin Leproux said in a statement on the club's website (www.psg.fr) on Tuesday.

"Until further notice, we shall not sell tickets to our supporters for our away games. It's a far-reaching and distressing decision but I have to ensure the safety of all."

The 38-year-old supporter, a member of the Kop of Boulogne, fell into a coma after being attacked by members of a rival group based in the Tribune d'Auteuil before Sunday's game.

Fans also clashed after the match, which PSG lost 3-0, and police said the seven people arrested and are still in custody.

PSG's long history of hooliganism peaked in November 2006 when a police officer shot and killed a member of the Boulogne Boys faction to protect an Israeli supporter under attack after a UEFA Cup match against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

No action over Blackburn Rovers fan death at Stoke City - 02/03/2010

Source : BBC News

No further action is to be taken over the death of a 30-year-old Blackburn Rovers fan at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium last month, police say.

John Taylor was found unconscious in the south stand concourse, being used by visiting fans, during Stoke City's match against Blackburn on 6 February.

Mr Taylor, from Darwen in Lancashire, died in hospital from a head injury.

The Crown Prosecution Service said no further action would be taken against a man, 25, arrested at the time.

'Brilliant dad'

The man, from Preston, was arrested after the incident and later released on bail, police said at the time.

Initial reports suggested Mr Taylor may have been hit on the head with a bin.

Staffordshire Police said it had handed a file to the CPS but now the matter would not be taken any further.

Mr Taylor's family paid tribute to him last month, describing him as a "perfect and brilliant dad".

They said he was a life-long Blackburn Rovers fan and "lived for his weekends, going to football".

Sixteen PSG fans banned from stadiums - 03/03/2010

Source : USA Today

Sixteen Paris Saint-Germain fans were banned from stadiums following clashes between the club's supporters while France president Nicolas Sarkozy strongly condemned the violence on Wednesday.
The Paris prosecutor's office said the fans will also have to show up at police stations during matches.

Another fan has been sentenced to a six-month suspended jail term for "aggravated violence."

Clashes involving hooligans from the two main stands at PSG's stadium Parc des Princes, the Tribune d'Auteuil and the Kop of Boulogne, erupted last Sunday before and after a 3-0 loss to Marseille in the French league.

A 38-year-old man sustained a serious head injury and was still in a critical condition on Wednesday.

French government spokesman Luc Chatel said Sarkozy "has asked the government to be extremely responsive and very firm in the response to acts that are absolutely unacceptable."

PSG announced on Tuesday it won't make available tickets to its fans for away games until further notice and security measures will be increased for the team's next league game at Lens on Saturday.

The stand usually reserved for visiting fans at Lens' stadium Felix Bollaert will be closed.

Marseille fans, who have a long history of clashes with their PSG counterparts, boycotted the game to protest against security measures imposed on visiting supporters.

But Marseille will travel to the Stade de France on March 27 for the League Cup final against Bordeaux, and there are now fears PSG hooligans will take advantage of this trip to square up with Marseille fans.

Convicted of threatening B92 journalist - 04/03/2010

Source: B92

Stefan Hadžiantonović from Belgrade was sentenced to 1 year in jail before the Court for threats addressed to B92 journalist Brankica Stankovic over Facebook. The process was driven by the indictment of public prosecutor's office in Belgrade, for the crime of endangering safety. The defendant has admitted he sent the threats and he apologized to the journalist.

Argentina : Estudiantes de La Plata - Argentinos Juniors - 03/03/2010

Source: usatoday.com

Policeman killed in clash with hooligans

A policeman in Argentina caught up in the violence between groups of football hooligans has died from a gunshot wound to the head.
The policeman, identified as Sergio Rodriguez, was shot at a train station in La Plata where he was working crowd control prior to Wednesday's Argentine league match between Estudiantes of La Plata and Argentinos Juniors. He died Thursday after being airlifted to a hospital.

The death is believed to be related to a power struggle for control of hooligan groups that follow the Estudiantes club. Police said they detained 42 people in the violence and seized firearms.

According to various accounts, the violence broke out when the two hooligan groups confronted each other at the entrance to the train station, a meeting which was followed by gunfire and running street battles.

PSG ordered to play Ligue 1 game behind closed doors - 03/03/2010

Source : reuters

Paris St Germain must play their Ligue 1 home game against Boulogne behind closed doors following crowd trouble during a match against Olympique Marseille in March 2009, the French League said on Wednesday.

The game against Boulogne is scheduled for March 28 at the Parc des Princes.

The sanction is not directly linked to the clashes between rival groups of PSG's fans which left one supporter in a life-threatening coma before a home match against Marseille last weekend.

Eighteen PSG fans, arrested during this latest incident, face criminal proceedings.

PSG have since banned the sale of tickets for away games to their own supporters until further notice but are under threat of further sanctions.

Sarkozy vows to banish French 'thugs' - 04/03/2010

Source : AFP

French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday vowed to force "thugs" out of France's stadiums after Paris Saint-Germain fans clashed amongst themselves following their 3-0 weekend defeat by Marseille.

"I've been going to PSG for a good while, and for a good while longer than the thugs who make an unfortunate scene in the stands," he told reporters during a trip to Marignane on France's southern coast.

"These thugs, you shouldn't call them supporters, are thugs and believe me, with the Minister of the Interior (Brice Hortefeux) we will make sure these thugs leave our stadiums.

"It's better that the stands of a stadium are empty than full of people like that."

PSG's 3-0 league loss at home to fierce rivals Marseille on Sunday was marred by violent scenes both inside and outside their Parc des Princes ground.

Marseille fans boycotted the game in protest at stringent security measures but the PSG supporters fought amongst themselves after the match, leaving one man seriously injured following an attack by a rival fan group.

"I'm really sorry that Marseille's supporters weren't able to come to Paris," Sarkozy continued.

The French Professional League (LFP) on Wednesday punished PSG by ordering them to play their home league game with Boulogne on March 28 behind closed doors, while the club announced on Tuesday that they will no longer sell tickets for away games to their fans.

"I completely support the PSG directors who have decided to no longer sell tickets to these thugs and who have decided not to appeal when they are made to play matches behind closed doors," Sarkozy added.

"I find it really sad that we have arrived at this unacceptable position where supporters cannot come with their families to support their team. I'm embarrassed for these people who behave like that."

Coupet: PSG squad "responsible" for OM violence - 03/03/2010

Source : ESPN

Paris St Germain goalkeeper Gregory Coupet admits he and his team-mates feel "strongly responsible'' for the outbursts of violence which tarnished the weekend's Classico against Marseille and left a fan in critical condition.

The 38-year-old supporter, who has been named only as Yann L, remains in a coma with serious head injuries after being lynched by fellow PSG fans before Sunday's match.

Violent clashes between PSG fans took place before, during and after the 3-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes and riot police, using tear gas, attempted to control the situation.

Around 20 people were arrested following confrontations with police and 16 of them have now been banned from stadiums and will have to report to their local police station at match time to prevent them violating their ban.

On Tuesday PSG president Robin Leproux announced the club had taken the drastic action of deciding not to make tickets available for away games until further notice, something of which Coupet approves.

"Once again it's the club's image which suffers,'' he said. "At a sporting level, we feel strongly responsible because if there had been good results there maybe wouldn't have been all these problems and this rise in violence.

"It's also a reflection on society. People fear the police less and less and that creates riots. Sport has nothing to do with that. Football is a popular sport.

"Sunday, when leaving the stadium, I saw all these riots. It's very disturbing. At the present time I wouldn't take my children to the Parc. Mr Leproux showed a lot of courage in taking measures against all this.''

Before the match coach Antoine Kombouare admitted they needed a victory to get the fans back on their side after a series of disappointing results had seen them slip to 12th in the Ligue 1 standings.

However, the supporters have turned even more against the team and there was added security at the training ground on Monday, although that could not prevent fans from hurling insults at the players and defender Sammy Traore in particular.

Coupet, who signed from Atletico Madrid last summer, insists the majority of their support should not be tarred with the same brush.

He said: "Their image is tarnished by a minority. At the Parc there are 45,000 spectators and a lot of people who are passionate about sport, who love PSG.

"When I came to the club I was pleasantly surprised by all these fans who are behind us, encourage and us and are worried because of results but who don't respond with violence.''

There is a history of violence between Marseille and PSG fans and OM supporters had boycotted Sunday's match in protest at the severe security measures that were going to be used to manage them.

There was a suggestion that the Coupe de la Ligue final could be moved from the Stade de France amid fears PSG fans would target the match between Marseille and Bordeaux, but the league confirmed it would take place in Paris as planned.

Fan fails to overturn his football ban - 05/03/2010

Source : oxfordmail

A 21-YEAR-OLD man convicted of a drunken clash with police in Oxford failed yesterday to overturn a football banning order.

Matthew Claridge, of New Yatt Road, Witney, had been at Oxford United’s home game with Stevenage with his two brothers on August 22 last year before drinking in the city centre.

The trio were arrested in Gloucester Green bus station after swearing at passengers and singing football songs.

Claridge failed to stop when ordered by police and kicked two officers in the face and chest as they used CS spray.

In October, he was told to do 140 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay £100 costs and £175 compensation after admitting a public-order offence and two assault charges.

He was also banned from every football ground in England and Wales or being in Oxford city centre, Temple Cowley and near the Kassam Stadium on U’s matchdays, or where the club is playing.

At Oxford Crown Court yesterday, Claridge argued the offence did not involve rival fans, took place a long way from the ground and was not related to attendance at the match.

But Judge Bruce McIntyre, sitting with two magistrates, upheld the order, although he did reduce Claridge’s ban from the area around the Kassam Stadium from four hours before and after matches to two hours either side of kick-off.

He said: “It seems to us as likely as can be if you go to a football match you will drink too much and if that occurs there’s a risk you will behave in that way again. For these reasons we think the football banning order was appropriate in principle.”

Outside court, Claridge said: “I just happened to be at football that day. I’m getting a banning order when I’m not causing trouble at football.”

Paris Saint-Germain Fans Violently Protest Against Colony Capital Ownership - 05/03/2010

Source : AFP

Smoke bombs were used in protest by les Parisiens’ fans, who are unhappy after another season of mediocrity...

Police arrested two Paris Saint-Germain fans on Thursday after they set off three flares outside the Paris offices of the club’s major shareholder, US private equity firm Colony Capital.

Police sources said six PSG supporters left the devices outside the firm’s French headquarters in an up-market area of central Paris. The two arrested are currently being questioned by police.

PSG’s 3-0 league loss at home to fierce rivals Marseille on Sunday was marred by violent scenes both inside and outside their Parc des Princes ground.

Marseille fans boycotted the game in protest at stringent security measures but the PSG supporters fought amongst themselves before the match, leaving one man seriously injured following an attack by a rival fan group.

The French Professional League on Wednesday punished PSG by ordering them to play their home league game with Boulogne on March 28 behind closed doors, while the club announced on Tuesday that they will no longer sell tickets for away games to their fans.

Football fan who shouted "pikey" at player cleared of racial abuse - 06/03/2010

Source : mirror.co.uk

A football fan who shouted the word "pikey" at a player during a heated match has been cleared of racial abuse.

Millwall supporter Gary O'Neill walked free after magistrates heard that fans of rivals Gillingham had adopted the derogatory term for gipsy travellers.

The 49-year-old kitchen fitter yesterday branded the decision to charge him a "huge waste of time and money".

O'Neill, from Maidstone, Kent, was arrested after his team lost 2-0 in a League One clash last September.

He had shouted to a player who writhed in pain on the ground from a heavy tackle to "get up you pikey". O'Neill was kept in a cell for six hours before being charged.

His solicitor showed JPs in Chatham, Kent, a Gillingham supporter's blue T-shirt bearing the phrase "Pure Pikey". He said the word was often chanted on the team's terraces in a self-mocking way.

O'Neill, a Millwall fan for 30 years who once played for Gillingham's youth team, said after the case: "I saw one of the magistrates shake his head. The whole thing was ridiculous and a huge waste of money."

Turkey : Diyarbakırspor - Bursaspor - 06/03/2010

Source : Hürriyet Daily News + Reuters + fanatik.ekolay.net

Violence erupts at Turkish football match; game cancelled

A football game between Bursaspor and Diyarbakırspor for the Turkcell Super league was suspended at the 17th minute on Saturday, when Diyarbakırspor fans began throwing foreign objects at Bursaspor athletes.

At the 17th minute of the game, when Bursaspor gained a corner kick, fans threw objects at the player taking the corner kick and injured an assitant referee. The match official and and assistant referees retreated into the locker room suspending play. During the game, which began 6 minutes late because fans threw foreign objects behind the Bursaspor goal post, a journalist was also injured when an object hit him in the head.

Officials, including Diyarbakırspor Club President Çetin Sümer and players for Diyarbakırspor, tried to prevent fans from throwing objects on to the field and at Bursaspor athletes. After the cancelation of the game, police used teargas to disperse Diyarbakırspor fans still engaging in disruptive behavior outside the stadium.

It is not clear what the repurcations for either team will be in terms of penalties or standing in the league but the disciplinary body of the Turkish Football Federation is expected to make a ruling.

The animosity between the two teams had resulted in Bursaspor fans from travelling to Diyarbakır because of violence which erupted on Sept. 26. On that game day Bursaspor fans greeted Diyarbakırspor in Bursa with huge Turkish flags and banners that read, “We are Turks, we are all soldiers,” and “Happy is he who calls himself a Turk.” The incidents did not stop at the level of verbal abuse. In the 26th minute of the Sept. 26 game, Bursaspor supporters broke off the plastic seats in the stands and threw them at Diyarbakırspor fans. Some Bursaspor fans even tried to jump over the fences to attack the visiting team supporters.

The brawl did not stop until police officers were placed between the two teams’ supporters, but 10 Diyarbakırspor fans, including one woman, had already been injured.

That was not the first time Diyarbakırspor, which represents the biggest city in southeastern Turkey, and its supporters have been the target of protests against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. Many ultranationalists consider the team to represent the Kurds and, by extension, the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the United States and the European Union.













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Source: http://www.fanatik.com.tr

Three-year match bans to make an example of young Rams hooligans - 04/03/2010

Source : Derby Evening Telegraph

TWO people whom police say were part of a gang of football hooligans have been banned from matches for three years.

Football intelligence officers claim that Jake Heenan, 17, and Jake Stewart, 20, were members of a Derby County hooligan fringe group known as the Derby Youth Connection.

During two separate hearings for the pair, Derbyshire police solicitor Caroline Clarke told the court that they had been present at several flash points outside and inside grounds.

She said officers had identified Heenan, of Cumberland Avenue, Derby, as being disorderly on 10 occasions between September 2007 and November 2009.

On most occasions, this involved threats and abuse aimed at rival supporters, but at Derby County's home match against QPR in October 2009, she said he tied his shirt up in a knot and threw it at a police officer.

After the hearing, football intelligence officer PC Allan Guy said that officers at the ground decided not to arrest Heenan as they knew proceedings to ban him were already under way.

He said: "They were also too busy. It was our evidence-gathering team and they couldn't afford to take their eyes off the action."

In another incident near Pride Park in November 2009, a Coventry fan, who was later charged with assaulting a Derby supporter, locked himself in a car to evade a group looking for revenge.

Miss Clarke said damage was done to the car while the group chanted hooligan slogans associated with Derby Lunatic Fringe. She said Heenan was present but the extent of his involvement was not clear.

She said Stewart, of Matthew Street, Alvaston, was seen by officers at nine incidents between September 2005 and January this year, also involving threatening abuse and behaviour.

In November 2008, officers saw him at a pre-arranged fight in a Burnley Tesco car park prior to a game between the home team and Derby County.

At a game between Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday in October 2009, he was seen to shout DLF slogans, Miss Clarke said.

Neither challenged the bans.

Stephen Cooper, for the pair, accepted the three-year bans were reasonable but added that Heenan said he had not intentionally thrown his shirt at police.

The bans handed down by Southern Derbyshire magistrates mean the pair cannot attend any Football League match in the country.

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

After the hearing, PC Guy, who is part of a police unit set up to deal with the county's hooligans, said the Derby Youth Connection was now the most active group of trouble-makers at Rams games.

He said: "They are mainly 15-to-19-year-olds. We are having trouble with them at almost every fixture.

"They are sometimes pre-arranging their disorder separately to other groups.

"By targeting those involved, we are sending a message to other youngsters that this is not what they should be doing."

The pair are both also banned from going near Pride Park on match days, four hours prior to and six hours after kick-off.

Rangers hooligans banned from football after fighting at Alloa v Aberdeen match - 04/03/2010

Source : Scottish Daily Record

THREE Rangers casuals who went looking for trouble at an Alloa Athletic v Aberdeen match were yesterday hit with football banning orders.

The men targeted last January's Scottish Cup clash as they thought there would be a low police presence.

Cops turned them away from the Clackmannanshire team's Recreation Park after they stood shouting anti-Aberdeen chants.

But they attacked away supporters just yards down the street at the end of the game.

Known hooligan Elliot MacRae - who Rangers banned from Ibrox for life 10 years ago - was yesterday banned from all UK football grounds for five years and given 150 hours of community service.

The Tullibody man, 39, and pals Leigh Wheater, 32, and Lee McKellican, 21, were the only people out of 10 arrested during the fight to be taken to court.

Several Dons fans were left bleeding after the skirmish.

Wheater, of Tullibody, got a three-year ban and 150 hours' community service. McKellican, of Alva, was banned for a year and fined £300.

They were sentenced at Alloa Sheriff Court yesterday after being found guilty of breach of the peace and football-related violence.

Procurator fiscal Andrew Grant said: "The imposition of banning orders will protect genuine fans from being subjected to such behaviour."

Former prison warder MacRae has previously been alleged to be a leading figure in the notorious Inter City Firm of football casuals.

He was first banned by Rangers in 1999 after being caught with a swastika flag on a flight after a match in Spain.

He got a life ban by the club for attending a 2000 home match against Sturm Graz.

And he was caught on camera in the thick of a clash with baton-wielding police at a UEFA Cup game against Osasuna in March 2007.

RC Lens - Paris SG - 06/03/2010

Source : USA TODAY + Reuters + La Voix du Nord

About 40 PSG fans arrested in Lens

About 40 Paris Saint-Germain supporters have been arrested ahead of a French league match at Lens.

Police said on Saturday the fans were brought to a police station and their match tickets were confiscated after PSG decided this week to ban its fans from traveling.

Clashes involving hooligans from the two main stands at PSG's stadium Parc des Princes erupted last Sunday before and after a 3-0 loss to Marseille in the French league, leaving a 38-year-old in a life-threatening condition.

About 550 police officers haven been deployed and the stand reserved for the visiting fans in Lens' Stade Bollaert has been closed.



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Source : THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Five PSG fans put into custody ahead of French match league at Lens

Five Paris Saint-Germain supporters have been placed in custody while 70 others were fined for violating the order prohibiting access to the stadium for Saturday's French league match at Lens.

The sub-prefect of Lens, Isabelle Petonnet, added that 30 fans were arrested in Paris before boarding the train to Lens.

Police earlier said that 40 supporters were brought to a police station and their match tickets were confiscated, after PSG decided this week to stop selling tickets to its fans for away games.

Clashes involving hooligans from the two main stands at PSG's stadium Parc des Princes erupted last Sunday before and after a 3-0 loss to Marseille in the French league, leaving a 38-year-old in a life-threatening condition.

About 550 police officers were deployed in Lens and around the Felix Bollaert Stadium, where PSG supporters were banned under two orders issued by the prefecture.

The stand reserved for the visiting fans in the stadium was closed.

The Netherlands: brawl in Waalwijk - 05/03/2010

Source : brabantsdagblad.nl

About fifteen supporters, supposed to be Willem II followers, made a raid tonight at 8pm in a Waalwijk restaurant.
Police said these troublemakers were in search for local supporters with the aim to fight with them.
Willem fans threw chairs and tables inside the restaurant then they left the scene.
No one was arrested.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Belgium: two Beerschot supporters arrested - 06/03/2010

Source : news.google.nl

After troubles which occured the 18th of July 2009, during a game which opposed NEC Nijmegen to Beerschot, police have arrested two men, aged 22 and 24 years old, and appeared in front of a Arnhem Court.

In February, five others supporters from Antwerp were already arrested for these troubles.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

FC Hansa Rostock - Rot Weiss Ahlen - 05/03/2010

Source : tagesspiegel.de

Hundreds of angry Rostock supporters tried to enter the VIP section of their stadium after a defeat of their loved-ones.
Police fronted this crowd.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Uruguay : Rampla Juniors - Liverpool Montevideo - 06/03/2010

Source : quenonino.com.uy

At the end of the game, local supporters arrived near the away stand with the aim to throw bricks at the vehicles of Liverpool supporters.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Atalanta Bergamo - Udinese - 07/03/2010

Source : ecodibergamo.it

About thirty angry Atalanta supporters in scooters and with firecrackers waited and stopped the coach of their players on the road to the stadium.
After a few minutes the coach continued its way.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Lodzki KS - Widzew Lodz - 07/03/2010

Source: http://www.lodzcyfanatycy.pl/photogallery.php?album_id=17 (PHOTOS) + lodz.gazeta.pl

Three hours before the kick-off, nine policemen were injured and five hooligans were arrested.















VIDEO: http://tinyurl.com/y8br9ay

FC Porto - Olhanense - 06/03/2010

Source: http://www.fotosdacurva.com

Troubles opposed police to Colectivo group.

Fiorentina - Juventus Turin - 06/03/2010

Source : calcionews24.com

Three Juve supporters, two men and one woman, were arresteed by police.
Both men threw firecrackers and the woman had pyrotechnics.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

RC Elche - Hercules Alicante - 06/03/2010

Source: forum

For this derby game, all the coaches of the away supporters were escroted from Alilcante to Elche but a coach with 40/50 Herculigans arrived in Elche without escort and arrived in front of the Jove Elx stand.
A fight erupted with the same number of locals.
Finally, police arrived after a few minutes and away fans ran away.

Translation Underground Fans (c)

Malaga CF - Xerez - 07/03/2010

Source: forum

A brick was threw at the Xerez players' bus.

In the terraces, some normal fans were in the away stand and police intervened.

Translation Underground Fans (c)