Major
Test Star
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- Aug 28, 2013
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- 36,183
- Post of the Week
- 7
British sports fans are just terrible. They have even resorted to bullying some mascot kid because he couldnt afford to wear the right shoes on such a high occasion.
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Contact the PP Team
[VIDEOS] Examples of violence, mischief, vandalism, disorder, and hooliganism in football
- Thread starter MenInG
- Start date
Varun
Senior Test Player
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- Dec 25, 2012
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- 26,111
- Post of the Week
- 1
British people in general cannot handle their alcohol.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
Patrick Vieira will not face police charges following an altercation at Goodison Park.
Merseyside police has said that they have spoken to both involved and no formal complaint was filed
Merseyside police has said that they have spoken to both involved and no formal complaint was filed
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2015
- Runs
- 15,745
England playing behind closed doors after ban is an 'embarrassment', says Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate says England playing next month's Nations League home match against Italy behind closed doors is "an embarrassment".
The game at Molineux on 11 June will be held without fans in attendance after the Football Association was hit with sanctions following crowd trouble.
It came after a number of incidents at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium between the two nations in July.
The FA was fined £84,560 for "the lack of order and discipline" at the match.
Hundreds of ticketless fans got into Wembley and fought with stewards after areas around the stadium became packed hours before the evening kick-off.
Many sat in the area reserved for players' relatives, while England defender Harry Maguire later said his father Alan suffered two suspected broken ribs before the game.
Italy won the final 3-2 on penalties to become European champions after it had finished 1-1 after extra time.
Asked if England got off leniently with a two-game ban on supporters, with one match suspended for 24 months, Southgate replied: "Well, we're on a yellow card aren't we?
"So we are where we are. We've got the embarrassment now of playing behind closed doors at home.
"Normally when you watch those things having happened abroad we're all grandstanding about how it's someone else's problem and how this country should be dealt with - and now it's us. That's not a good optic for our country."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61571831
Gareth Southgate says England playing next month's Nations League home match against Italy behind closed doors is "an embarrassment".
The game at Molineux on 11 June will be held without fans in attendance after the Football Association was hit with sanctions following crowd trouble.
It came after a number of incidents at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium between the two nations in July.
The FA was fined £84,560 for "the lack of order and discipline" at the match.
Hundreds of ticketless fans got into Wembley and fought with stewards after areas around the stadium became packed hours before the evening kick-off.
Many sat in the area reserved for players' relatives, while England defender Harry Maguire later said his father Alan suffered two suspected broken ribs before the game.
Italy won the final 3-2 on penalties to become European champions after it had finished 1-1 after extra time.
Asked if England got off leniently with a two-game ban on supporters, with one match suspended for 24 months, Southgate replied: "Well, we're on a yellow card aren't we?
"So we are where we are. We've got the embarrassment now of playing behind closed doors at home.
"Normally when you watch those things having happened abroad we're all grandstanding about how it's someone else's problem and how this country should be dealt with - and now it's us. That's not a good optic for our country."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61571831
James
World Star
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- Jan 8, 2006
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- 50,840
- Post of the Week
- 2
Two Sheffield United players have been summonsed to appear in court over violence at the Championship play-off semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
Trouble flared after fans invaded the pitch when the Blades lost a penalty shoot-out at the City Ground on 17 May.
Nottinghamshire Police said Oli McBurnie, 26, and Rhian Brewster, 22, would be charged with common assault.
The players are due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 28 July.
Trouble flared after fans invaded the pitch when the Blades lost a penalty shoot-out at the City Ground on 17 May.
Nottinghamshire Police said Oli McBurnie, 26, and Rhian Brewster, 22, would be charged with common assault.
The players are due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 28 July.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
Five people have been injured and four arrested after 100 German football fans stormed a pub in Wembley.
Men wearing masks and donning England hats and scarves started a brawl at the Greenman Pub and Hotel on Dagmar Avenue ahead of the match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on Monday night.
Patrons were left with “blood over their faces and jackets” after being struck by the men, or after objects were thrown at them in the beer garden, one witness told the Standard.
David Wilson-Turner was inside the pub with a group of friends when the chaos unfolded.
Men wearing masks and donning England hats and scarves started a brawl at the Greenman Pub and Hotel on Dagmar Avenue ahead of the match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on Monday night.
Patrons were left with “blood over their faces and jackets” after being struck by the men, or after objects were thrown at them in the beer garden, one witness told the Standard.
David Wilson-Turner was inside the pub with a group of friends when the chaos unfolded.
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- Oct 2, 2004
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- 217,977
A Russian cup match between Zenit St. Petersburg and Spartak Moscow descended into disturbing chaos with punches, kicks and knees thrown, with six red cards handed out.
The game was taking place during the World Cup with Russian national and club teams banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite all eyes being focused on Qatar, league leaders Zenit and Spartak grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons as they battled in a cup clash.
The two sides won’t play again until March as Russia enters its winter break with Zenit six points clear of Spartak in their Premier League, but they left their mark in more ways than one.
With a cup meeting ending 0-0 in normal time, a coming together between Zenit’s Wilmar Barrios and former Netherlands winger Quincy Promes quickly turned nasty.
Referee Vladimir Moskalev struggled to break up a shoving match before Zenit’s Brazilian defender Rodrigao started attempting to kick his opponent.
That saw a flood of players intervene, with Rodrigao being punched in the face as the bench flew onto the pitch.
Spartak substitute Alexander Sobolev then jumped into action as if it was a boxing match, as coaching staff and bundles of players appeared on the pitch.
The referee had already begun dishing out red cards as the chaos began to subside, with Barrios, Rodrgio and former Barcelona man Malcom sent off for Zenit, while Spartako trio Sobolev, Shamar Nicholson and Aleksandr Selikhov receiving their marching orders too.
Spartak’s match report of the game said: “The fight still happened. It all started with the junction of Promes with Barrios, as well as the exchange of blows by the same Rodrigao and Nicholson.
“And this time much more desperate. Everyone fought, including substitutes and staff. As a result, after a long pause, Moskalev removed this ‘couple’, as well as Sobolev, Malcolm, Barrios and Selikhov, who took a particularly active part in the events.”
While all of this was happening, the only player missing from the tie due to the World Cup, Zenit’s Dejan Lovren, was lacing up his boots for Croatia getting ready to beat Canada 4-1.
Despite the unsavoury scenes, the game was able to resume for a decisive penalty shootout, with Zenit’s Brazilian goalkeeper Ivan the hero, saving two penalties to win the match.
https://talksport.com/football/1259...red-cards-zenit-st-petersburg-spartak-moscow/
The game was taking place during the World Cup with Russian national and club teams banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite all eyes being focused on Qatar, league leaders Zenit and Spartak grabbed the headlines for all the wrong reasons as they battled in a cup clash.
The two sides won’t play again until March as Russia enters its winter break with Zenit six points clear of Spartak in their Premier League, but they left their mark in more ways than one.
With a cup meeting ending 0-0 in normal time, a coming together between Zenit’s Wilmar Barrios and former Netherlands winger Quincy Promes quickly turned nasty.
Referee Vladimir Moskalev struggled to break up a shoving match before Zenit’s Brazilian defender Rodrigao started attempting to kick his opponent.
That saw a flood of players intervene, with Rodrigao being punched in the face as the bench flew onto the pitch.
Spartak substitute Alexander Sobolev then jumped into action as if it was a boxing match, as coaching staff and bundles of players appeared on the pitch.
The referee had already begun dishing out red cards as the chaos began to subside, with Barrios, Rodrgio and former Barcelona man Malcom sent off for Zenit, while Spartako trio Sobolev, Shamar Nicholson and Aleksandr Selikhov receiving their marching orders too.
Spartak’s match report of the game said: “The fight still happened. It all started with the junction of Promes with Barrios, as well as the exchange of blows by the same Rodrigao and Nicholson.
“And this time much more desperate. Everyone fought, including substitutes and staff. As a result, after a long pause, Moskalev removed this ‘couple’, as well as Sobolev, Malcolm, Barrios and Selikhov, who took a particularly active part in the events.”
While all of this was happening, the only player missing from the tie due to the World Cup, Zenit’s Dejan Lovren, was lacing up his boots for Croatia getting ready to beat Canada 4-1.
Despite the unsavoury scenes, the game was able to resume for a decisive penalty shootout, with Zenit’s Brazilian goalkeeper Ivan the hero, saving two penalties to win the match.
https://talksport.com/football/1259...red-cards-zenit-st-petersburg-spartak-moscow/
KingKhanWC
World Star
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- Jan 2, 2010
- Runs
- 50,466
A fan also attacked a goalkeeper in a Turkish match. Very horrible to see violence but esp on the pitch.
SpiritOf1903
ODI Debutant
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- Oct 4, 2009
- Runs
- 9,834
Brussels is on fire. What a tinderbox
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tensions in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brussels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brussels</a> after the Belgium - Morocco match.
<a href="https://t.co/g2txDyurRP">pic.twitter.com/g2txDyurRP</a></p>— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin_Akouh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yassin_Akouh/status/1596893829470519296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Could easily have happened in England if Pakistan had a final 20 years ago
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tensions in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brussels?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brussels</a> after the Belgium - Morocco match.
<a href="https://t.co/g2txDyurRP">pic.twitter.com/g2txDyurRP</a></p>— Yassin Akouh (@Yassin_Akouh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yassin_Akouh/status/1596893829470519296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Could easily have happened in England if Pakistan had a final 20 years ago
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- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
The A-League Melbourne derby has been abandoned after a player and the referee were injured by a spectator during a pitch invasion.
Fans ran on to the pitch in the 22nd minute of the match between between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Referee Alex King was trying to shield City goalkeeper Tom Glover when both suffered cuts to their faces after being hit by a metal bucket.
Glover had several stitches before being taken to hospital for scans.
A City statement said Glover, 24, went for "further follow up checks" after being assessed by the club doctor.
A TV cameraman was also injured by a flare.
In a statement, Victory said the club was "devastated" and "unequivocally condemns" the "appalling behaviour" of fans at Saturday's game at AAMI Park, which the two clubs share.
"The actions that occurred, that saw spectators enter the pitch and injure a Melbourne City FC player, an official and a Network 10 cameraman, are not acceptable under any circumstance and have no place in football," it continued.
Supporters had been protesting before and during the game, which was initially suspended then abandoned on player safety grounds.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced last week that it had sold the A-League Grand Final rights to Sydney for the next three years, and protests were planned at several A-League games this weekend as a result.
Fans of both Victory and City planned a walk-out on the 20-minute mark but the protest escalated after flares were thrown on to the pitch by both sets of supporters.
City were leading 1-0 when Glover appeared to throw a flare back towards the crowd, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age.
Victoria Police said approximately 150-200 Victory fans then ran on to the pitch, and Glover and referee King were struck by a bucket used to dispose of flares, covering them both in powder and smoke.
The players, including former Portugal and Manchester United winger Nani, were immediately ushered from the field and Football Australia said the game was called off "to protect the integrity of the match".
A Football Australia statement said "strong sanctions" would be handed down after the "shocking scenes".
"Such behaviour has no place in Australian football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately," it added.
An APL statement said: "The Australian Professional League is co-ordinating with Football Australia regarding the ramifications of these events."
Victoria Police are also investigating the incident, which has been widely criticised on social media.
"I can't believe what has happened," said former Australia midfielder Robbie Slater. "Not the way to protest. Very sad that it has come to this."
Former Australia goalkeeper Clint Bolton added that "I've never felt as embarrassed and as empty as I feel right now."
"That is an absolute disgrace from the Melbourne Victory fans," wrote Western United left-back Ben Garuccio.
"Not what football in this country needs and I hope whoever threw that bucket is banned from ever attending another A-League match."
Newcastle Jets supporters also staged a walk-out protest 20 minutes into Friday's home game with Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners fans did the same during Saturday's match against Sydney FC, while a group of Sydney FC fans boycotted the game in Gosford altogether.
The A-League Melbourne derby has been abandoned after a player and the referee were injured by a spectator during a pitch invasion.
Fans ran on to the pitch in the 22nd minute of the match between between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Referee Alex King was trying to shield City goalkeeper Tom Glover when both suffered cuts to their faces after being hit by a metal bucket.
Glover had several stitches before being taken to hospital for scans.
A City statement said Glover, 24, went for "further follow up checks" after being assessed by the club doctor.
A TV cameraman was also injured by a flare.
In a statement, Victory said the club was "devastated" and "unequivocally condemns" the "appalling behaviour" of fans at Saturday's game at AAMI Park, which the two clubs share.
"The actions that occurred, that saw spectators enter the pitch and injure a Melbourne City FC player, an official and a Network 10 cameraman, are not acceptable under any circumstance and have no place in football," it continued.
Supporters had been protesting before and during the game, which was initially suspended then abandoned on player safety grounds.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced last week that it had sold the A-League Grand Final rights to Sydney for the next three years, and protests were planned at several A-League games this weekend as a result.
Fans of both Victory and City planned a walk-out on the 20-minute mark but the protest escalated after flares were thrown on to the pitch by both sets of supporters.
City were leading 1-0 when Glover appeared to throw a flare back towards the crowd, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age.
Victoria Police said approximately 150-200 Victory fans then ran on to the pitch, and Glover and referee King were struck by a bucket used to dispose of flares, covering them both in powder and smoke.
The players, including former Portugal and Manchester United winger Nani, were immediately ushered from the field and Football Australia said the game was called off "to protect the integrity of the match".
A Football Australia statement said "strong sanctions" would be handed down after the "shocking scenes".
"Such behaviour has no place in Australian football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately," it added.
An APL statement said: "The Australian Professional League is co-ordinating with Football Australia regarding the ramifications of these events."
Victoria Police are also investigating the incident, which has been widely criticised on social media.
"I can't believe what has happened," said former Australia midfielder Robbie Slater. "Not the way to protest. Very sad that it has come to this."
Former Australia goalkeeper Clint Bolton added that "I've never felt as embarrassed and as empty as I feel right now."
"That is an absolute disgrace from the Melbourne Victory fans," wrote Western United left-back Ben Garuccio.
"Not what football in this country needs and I hope whoever threw that bucket is banned from ever attending another A-League match."
Newcastle Jets supporters also staged a walk-out protest 20 minutes into Friday's home game with Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners fans did the same during Saturday's match against Sydney FC, while a group of Sydney FC fans boycotted the game in Gosford altogether.
Fans ran on to the pitch in the 22nd minute of the match between between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Referee Alex King was trying to shield City goalkeeper Tom Glover when both suffered cuts to their faces after being hit by a metal bucket.
Glover had several stitches before being taken to hospital for scans.
A City statement said Glover, 24, went for "further follow up checks" after being assessed by the club doctor.
A TV cameraman was also injured by a flare.
In a statement, Victory said the club was "devastated" and "unequivocally condemns" the "appalling behaviour" of fans at Saturday's game at AAMI Park, which the two clubs share.
"The actions that occurred, that saw spectators enter the pitch and injure a Melbourne City FC player, an official and a Network 10 cameraman, are not acceptable under any circumstance and have no place in football," it continued.
Supporters had been protesting before and during the game, which was initially suspended then abandoned on player safety grounds.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced last week that it had sold the A-League Grand Final rights to Sydney for the next three years, and protests were planned at several A-League games this weekend as a result.
Fans of both Victory and City planned a walk-out on the 20-minute mark but the protest escalated after flares were thrown on to the pitch by both sets of supporters.
City were leading 1-0 when Glover appeared to throw a flare back towards the crowd, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age.
Victoria Police said approximately 150-200 Victory fans then ran on to the pitch, and Glover and referee King were struck by a bucket used to dispose of flares, covering them both in powder and smoke.
The players, including former Portugal and Manchester United winger Nani, were immediately ushered from the field and Football Australia said the game was called off "to protect the integrity of the match".
A Football Australia statement said "strong sanctions" would be handed down after the "shocking scenes".
"Such behaviour has no place in Australian football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately," it added.
An APL statement said: "The Australian Professional League is co-ordinating with Football Australia regarding the ramifications of these events."
Victoria Police are also investigating the incident, which has been widely criticised on social media.
"I can't believe what has happened," said former Australia midfielder Robbie Slater. "Not the way to protest. Very sad that it has come to this."
Former Australia goalkeeper Clint Bolton added that "I've never felt as embarrassed and as empty as I feel right now."
"That is an absolute disgrace from the Melbourne Victory fans," wrote Western United left-back Ben Garuccio.
"Not what football in this country needs and I hope whoever threw that bucket is banned from ever attending another A-League match."
Newcastle Jets supporters also staged a walk-out protest 20 minutes into Friday's home game with Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners fans did the same during Saturday's match against Sydney FC, while a group of Sydney FC fans boycotted the game in Gosford altogether.
The A-League Melbourne derby has been abandoned after a player and the referee were injured by a spectator during a pitch invasion.
Fans ran on to the pitch in the 22nd minute of the match between between Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory.
Referee Alex King was trying to shield City goalkeeper Tom Glover when both suffered cuts to their faces after being hit by a metal bucket.
Glover had several stitches before being taken to hospital for scans.
A City statement said Glover, 24, went for "further follow up checks" after being assessed by the club doctor.
A TV cameraman was also injured by a flare.
In a statement, Victory said the club was "devastated" and "unequivocally condemns" the "appalling behaviour" of fans at Saturday's game at AAMI Park, which the two clubs share.
"The actions that occurred, that saw spectators enter the pitch and injure a Melbourne City FC player, an official and a Network 10 cameraman, are not acceptable under any circumstance and have no place in football," it continued.
Supporters had been protesting before and during the game, which was initially suspended then abandoned on player safety grounds.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced last week that it had sold the A-League Grand Final rights to Sydney for the next three years, and protests were planned at several A-League games this weekend as a result.
Fans of both Victory and City planned a walk-out on the 20-minute mark but the protest escalated after flares were thrown on to the pitch by both sets of supporters.
City were leading 1-0 when Glover appeared to throw a flare back towards the crowd, according to Melbourne newspaper The Age.
Victoria Police said approximately 150-200 Victory fans then ran on to the pitch, and Glover and referee King were struck by a bucket used to dispose of flares, covering them both in powder and smoke.
The players, including former Portugal and Manchester United winger Nani, were immediately ushered from the field and Football Australia said the game was called off "to protect the integrity of the match".
A Football Australia statement said "strong sanctions" would be handed down after the "shocking scenes".
"Such behaviour has no place in Australian football, with a full Football Australia investigation to commence immediately," it added.
An APL statement said: "The Australian Professional League is co-ordinating with Football Australia regarding the ramifications of these events."
Victoria Police are also investigating the incident, which has been widely criticised on social media.
"I can't believe what has happened," said former Australia midfielder Robbie Slater. "Not the way to protest. Very sad that it has come to this."
Former Australia goalkeeper Clint Bolton added that "I've never felt as embarrassed and as empty as I feel right now."
"That is an absolute disgrace from the Melbourne Victory fans," wrote Western United left-back Ben Garuccio.
"Not what football in this country needs and I hope whoever threw that bucket is banned from ever attending another A-League match."
Newcastle Jets supporters also staged a walk-out protest 20 minutes into Friday's home game with Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast Mariners fans did the same during Saturday's match against Sydney FC, while a group of Sydney FC fans boycotted the game in Gosford altogether.
sweep_shot
Test Captain
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2016
- Runs
- 47,152
Saw the video of this incident. Absolutely horrendous.
The player actually got injured quite badly. He was bleeding.
Never understood hooliganism in football. It should be criminalized.
James
World Star
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2006
- Runs
- 50,840
- Post of the Week
- 2
It is criminalised now.
In places like the UK and Australia, it is.
Many countries still have an appalling culture of it though.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
The number of arrests has increased and there is a "worrying level of disorder" at football games, says the UK's Football Policing Unit lead.
A UKFPU report, released on Thursday, shows 999 arrests were made between 1 July and 31 December 2022, a 10% increase on the same period last year.
There were also 343 new football banning orders issued, a 230% increase.
"Disorder at football has sadly not gone away," Chief Constable Mark Roberts said.
At 1,550 matches there were 661 reported incidents, the second highest figure on record, but it was a 19% decrease from the 2021-22 season.
There were 2,198 football-related arrests during the 2021-22 season, the highest number since the 2013-14 season, according to Home Office figures.
BBC
A UKFPU report, released on Thursday, shows 999 arrests were made between 1 July and 31 December 2022, a 10% increase on the same period last year.
There were also 343 new football banning orders issued, a 230% increase.
"Disorder at football has sadly not gone away," Chief Constable Mark Roberts said.
At 1,550 matches there were 661 reported incidents, the second highest figure on record, but it was a 19% decrease from the 2021-22 season.
There were 2,198 football-related arrests during the 2021-22 season, the highest number since the 2013-14 season, according to Home Office figures.
BBC
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
A PFA spokesperson on Aaron Ramsdale being hit by a fan at the end: “Violence towards players is completely unacceptable. These types of incidents are happening far too often.
“Players have a right to be safe in their place of work. When a player is attacked, we expect the laws and regulations that are in place to protect players to be properly enforced.
“As the players’ union, we treat this as a priority issue. We will continue working with the authorities to demand that players and staff are better protected in their place of work.”
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 47.508%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/0wqjpz" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
“Players have a right to be safe in their place of work. When a player is attacked, we expect the laws and regulations that are in place to protect players to be properly enforced.
“As the players’ union, we treat this as a priority issue. We will continue working with the authorities to demand that players and staff are better protected in their place of work.”
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 47.508%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/0wqjpz" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
West Ham’s joy in reaching the final of the Europa Conference League was marred by supporters of AZ Alkmaar confronting friends and family of the visiting players after the final whistle at the AFAS Stadion.
AZ are likely to face punishment from Uefa after the night ended on an unpleasant note. There was chaos when fans of the Dutch side ran to an area housing West Ham officials, sponsors and friends and families of the team.
Saïd Benrahma, Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell and Flynn Downes were among the West Ham players who confronted the supporters. David Moyes’s elderly father was in the section that was targeted.
“I can’t explain what happened and why it happened,” Moyes said. “Players were involved because it was the family section. That was probably the reason for the reaction.
“I don’t want that in any way to blight the night because the West Ham fans weren’t looking for trouble. Hopefully they’ll look into it. My family were there and I had friends in that section.
“You’re hoping they would try and get themselves away from it. I didn’t recognise it because I was too happy. Security wanted to take me inside but I had to make sure my players weren’t involved.”
One West Ham fan, who was nearby, said the AZ fans who attacked were wearing black shirts and had their hoods up. He said “they did not get very far” and added that the bigger concern was for young Dutch families who had been caught in between.
Pascal Jansen, AZ’s manager, apologised for the trouble. “I feel ashamed it happened in our stadium. It should not be happening. You have to stay in control of your emotions.”
Moyes was delighted after a late goal from Pablo Fornals saw West Ham win 3-1 on aggregate and reach their first European final since 1976. West Ham will face Fiorentina in Prague on 7 June after the Italians beat Basel last night. “I’m thrilled for the players and everybody at the club,” Moyes said. “We’ve got one more to go to see if we can win. We’ve done a real good job.”
Alphonse Areola, West Ham’s goalkeeper, said he had family in the section that was attacked. “They were a bit far from the incident,” he said. “We were a bit worried about them. Security is the most important thing in a stadium. It was a bit too open for the opposing fans. At the end, they managed to stop them. When families or fans are coming to the stadium we don’t want to see things like that. They want to enjoy the event and we want to enjoy it with them as well. We were worried about them.”
Guardian
AZ are likely to face punishment from Uefa after the night ended on an unpleasant note. There was chaos when fans of the Dutch side ran to an area housing West Ham officials, sponsors and friends and families of the team.
Saïd Benrahma, Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell and Flynn Downes were among the West Ham players who confronted the supporters. David Moyes’s elderly father was in the section that was targeted.
“I can’t explain what happened and why it happened,” Moyes said. “Players were involved because it was the family section. That was probably the reason for the reaction.
“I don’t want that in any way to blight the night because the West Ham fans weren’t looking for trouble. Hopefully they’ll look into it. My family were there and I had friends in that section.
“You’re hoping they would try and get themselves away from it. I didn’t recognise it because I was too happy. Security wanted to take me inside but I had to make sure my players weren’t involved.”
One West Ham fan, who was nearby, said the AZ fans who attacked were wearing black shirts and had their hoods up. He said “they did not get very far” and added that the bigger concern was for young Dutch families who had been caught in between.
Pascal Jansen, AZ’s manager, apologised for the trouble. “I feel ashamed it happened in our stadium. It should not be happening. You have to stay in control of your emotions.”
Moyes was delighted after a late goal from Pablo Fornals saw West Ham win 3-1 on aggregate and reach their first European final since 1976. West Ham will face Fiorentina in Prague on 7 June after the Italians beat Basel last night. “I’m thrilled for the players and everybody at the club,” Moyes said. “We’ve got one more to go to see if we can win. We’ve done a real good job.”
Alphonse Areola, West Ham’s goalkeeper, said he had family in the section that was attacked. “They were a bit far from the incident,” he said. “We were a bit worried about them. Security is the most important thing in a stadium. It was a bit too open for the opposing fans. At the end, they managed to stop them. When families or fans are coming to the stadium we don’t want to see things like that. They want to enjoy the event and we want to enjoy it with them as well. We were worried about them.”
Guardian
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A man has been charged over a football shirt which appeared to refer to the 97 fans who died as a result of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
James White, 33, from Warwickshire, was charged with displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
He was bailed to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court in London on Monday.
The Metropolitan Police said 22 other people were arrested at the Wembley FA Cup final on Saturday.
The force said they were detained during the match between Manchester City and Manchester United for offences including assault, affray, possession of drugs and drunk and disorderly behaviour.
Officers are also investigating after an item was thrown on to the pitch after the United goal in their 2-1 defeat by City.
Police said no-one had been arrested yet over the incident.
James White, 33, from Warwickshire, was charged with displaying threatening or abusive writing likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
He was bailed to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court in London on Monday.
The Metropolitan Police said 22 other people were arrested at the Wembley FA Cup final on Saturday.
The force said they were detained during the match between Manchester City and Manchester United for offences including assault, affray, possession of drugs and drunk and disorderly behaviour.
Officers are also investigating after an item was thrown on to the pitch after the United goal in their 2-1 defeat by City.
Police said no-one had been arrested yet over the incident.
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Czech police have detained several people after West Ham fans were attacked by Fiorentina supporters before the Europa Conference League final in Prague.
Three people were injured in a bar in Rytirska Street, with police confirming an officer had also been attacked during the incident.
In a tweet, Czech police said they had "restricted the personal freedom of 16 people".
The final starts at 20:00 BST.
One West Ham fan, who did not want to be named, said "a large group" of Italian fans attacked the Tek-ila Tek-ila bar in the city centre on Wednesday.
He added: "About eight Italians walked past, swinging bands and chains. Five minutes later, there was a big group that come down the road and attacked us."
The fan said that one of his friends was "quite badly" hurt with a "massive cut" on his head.
A 17-year-old witness said West Ham fans had "done nothing wrong" and Fiorentina supporters "were throwing flares and firecrackers."
Three people were injured in a bar in Rytirska Street, with police confirming an officer had also been attacked during the incident.
In a tweet, Czech police said they had "restricted the personal freedom of 16 people".
The final starts at 20:00 BST.
One West Ham fan, who did not want to be named, said "a large group" of Italian fans attacked the Tek-ila Tek-ila bar in the city centre on Wednesday.
He added: "About eight Italians walked past, swinging bands and chains. Five minutes later, there was a big group that come down the road and attacked us."
The fan said that one of his friends was "quite badly" hurt with a "massive cut" on his head.
A 17-year-old witness said West Ham fans had "done nothing wrong" and Fiorentina supporters "were throwing flares and firecrackers."
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West Ham fans fight riot police in Prague after Europa Conference League win
A scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
West Ham fans clashed with riot police in Prague after setting off flares as they celebrated winning the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night.
Fans poured into the streets of the Czech capital following the Hammers’ victory over Fiorentina, with many already in the city centre after thousands of supporters travelled from the UK without tickets.
But a scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, with fans responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
Earlier in the day Czech police said they had detained at least 16 Italian fans after they attacked West Ham supporters outside a bar, with videos shared on social media showing chairs and fireworks being thrown.
Celebrations were initially good-natured after the match, with revellers hugging and kissing each other and dancing on tables in bars.
Chants of “2-1 to the cockney boys” and “Irons” also broke out as the Londoners welcomed the club’s first trophy in more than 40 years.
The final took place at the Fortuna Arena, which has a capacity of around 19,300, with West Ham receiving an official ticket allocation of 5,000, although many more travelled from the UK to be in the city during the game.
...
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...pa-conference-league-fiorentina-b2353555.html
A scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
West Ham fans clashed with riot police in Prague after setting off flares as they celebrated winning the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night.
Fans poured into the streets of the Czech capital following the Hammers’ victory over Fiorentina, with many already in the city centre after thousands of supporters travelled from the UK without tickets.
But a scuffle broke out after police officers tried to confiscate a lit flare as fans gathered in the Old Town area of the city.
Riot police stormed a group after they lit a second flare, with fans responding by pelting the officers with bottles and missiles.
Earlier in the day Czech police said they had detained at least 16 Italian fans after they attacked West Ham supporters outside a bar, with videos shared on social media showing chairs and fireworks being thrown.
Celebrations were initially good-natured after the match, with revellers hugging and kissing each other and dancing on tables in bars.
Chants of “2-1 to the cockney boys” and “Irons” also broke out as the Londoners welcomed the club’s first trophy in more than 40 years.
The final took place at the Fortuna Arena, which has a capacity of around 19,300, with West Ham receiving an official ticket allocation of 5,000, although many more travelled from the UK to be in the city during the game.
...
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...pa-conference-league-fiorentina-b2353555.html
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West Ham treated Fiorentina like "animals" in their Europa Conference League final success, says the Italian club's president Rocco Commisso.
Striker Luca Jovic had to come off at half-time with a broken nose, while left-back Cristiano Biraghi was left with a bloodied face after being hit by an object thrown from the crowd.
Jarrod Bowen's late winner saw West Ham end a 43-year wait for a trophy.
"I expected to win, but it wasn't like that," Commisso told local media.
"But there have been episodes on the pitch where the referee had to make the difference.
"I spoke to the president of the Premier League, those of West Ham are animals in the way they treated ours. It's not right.
"This match could be won 3-0. I'm sorry for the fans, they deserved more."
Separately, the Serie A club "strongly condemned" what happened to Biraghi.
"This unacceptable behaviour obviously affected the performance of the footballer and his team-mates, who had their attention drawn away from footballing matters by the threats to their own safety," Fiorentina said.
It added it was "certain" European football's governing body Uefa would "duly punish those responsible for this act, delivering an appropriate response and setting an example so that such situations never occur again".
Meanwhile, police said a total 23 fans were arrested in Prague. One was a West Ham fan, with the other 22 supporting Fiorentina.
Fiorentina fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar in central Prague, with 17 of the 22 fans of the Italian club detained over that incident.
Striker Luca Jovic had to come off at half-time with a broken nose, while left-back Cristiano Biraghi was left with a bloodied face after being hit by an object thrown from the crowd.
Jarrod Bowen's late winner saw West Ham end a 43-year wait for a trophy.
"I expected to win, but it wasn't like that," Commisso told local media.
"But there have been episodes on the pitch where the referee had to make the difference.
"I spoke to the president of the Premier League, those of West Ham are animals in the way they treated ours. It's not right.
"This match could be won 3-0. I'm sorry for the fans, they deserved more."
Separately, the Serie A club "strongly condemned" what happened to Biraghi.
"This unacceptable behaviour obviously affected the performance of the footballer and his team-mates, who had their attention drawn away from footballing matters by the threats to their own safety," Fiorentina said.
It added it was "certain" European football's governing body Uefa would "duly punish those responsible for this act, delivering an appropriate response and setting an example so that such situations never occur again".
Meanwhile, police said a total 23 fans were arrested in Prague. One was a West Ham fan, with the other 22 supporting Fiorentina.
Fiorentina fans attacked West Ham fans in a bar in central Prague, with 17 of the 22 fans of the Italian club detained over that incident.
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UEFA fine West Ham and ban away fans for their next two European matches - with the second suspended - for throwing of objects at the Europa Conference League final
According to Media Sources:
Fan violence in Paris ahead of PSG vs Newcastle
Paris Saint-Germain supporters attacked a bar full of Newcastle United fans ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League group game in the French capital.
Videos circulating on social media showed PSG fans in black clothing and masks throwing flares and chairs at the windows of a bar in Paris.
One video appeared to show Newcastle fans fighting back to force the PSG contingent out of the bar as they tried to storm through the door. Glasses were thrown and windows appeared to be broken during the violence, with fans hurling abuse at each other.
Police had ordered bars officially designated for Newcastle supporters to shut early due to fears of clashes between rival fans.
The Newcastle United Supporters’ Club, which represents 7,000 members across 30 countries, posted on X: “Stay safe in Paris tonight. Stick together and look after each other.”
There had been threats issued on social media from so-called PSG ultras before the game but subsequent social media accounts played down the level of violence, saying fans had fled the scene when they had been unable to get into the bar itself.
The violence in France came after PSG fans were also involved in isolated scuffles before and after Newcastle’s 4-1 win over PSG at St James’ Park in October.
A Newcastle fan was stabbed ahead of their first Champions League game for 20 years after being surrounded by a gang as he walked back to his hotel in Milan in the club’s opener in the competition back in September.
The Newcastle supporter was walking home from a night out in Milan’s Navigli district where the majority of travelling fans had congregated, when he was attacked by a group of around seven to eight people.
Riot police were used to disperse supporters from the Navigli area but there were reports of violent clashes as fans celebrated their unexpected return to European football’s most prestigious competition.
Newcastle are bottom of Group F ahead of Tuesday’s match, realistically needing a win to keep their hopes of progression alive.
Fan violence in Paris ahead of PSG vs Newcastle
Paris Saint-Germain supporters attacked a bar full of Newcastle United fans ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League group game in the French capital.
Videos circulating on social media showed PSG fans in black clothing and masks throwing flares and chairs at the windows of a bar in Paris.
One video appeared to show Newcastle fans fighting back to force the PSG contingent out of the bar as they tried to storm through the door. Glasses were thrown and windows appeared to be broken during the violence, with fans hurling abuse at each other.
Police had ordered bars officially designated for Newcastle supporters to shut early due to fears of clashes between rival fans.
The Newcastle United Supporters’ Club, which represents 7,000 members across 30 countries, posted on X: “Stay safe in Paris tonight. Stick together and look after each other.”
There had been threats issued on social media from so-called PSG ultras before the game but subsequent social media accounts played down the level of violence, saying fans had fled the scene when they had been unable to get into the bar itself.
The violence in France came after PSG fans were also involved in isolated scuffles before and after Newcastle’s 4-1 win over PSG at St James’ Park in October.
A Newcastle fan was stabbed ahead of their first Champions League game for 20 years after being surrounded by a gang as he walked back to his hotel in Milan in the club’s opener in the competition back in September.
The Newcastle supporter was walking home from a night out in Milan’s Navigli district where the majority of travelling fans had congregated, when he was attacked by a group of around seven to eight people.
Riot police were used to disperse supporters from the Navigli area but there were reports of violent clashes as fans celebrated their unexpected return to European football’s most prestigious competition.
Newcastle are bottom of Group F ahead of Tuesday’s match, realistically needing a win to keep their hopes of progression alive.
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A lack of patience is the sole reason for this incident to happen.
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Forty-six men have been charged after violence broke out before an Aston Villa game against Legia Warsaw.
Five police officers were injured in clashes with away fans near Villa Park in Birmingham on Thursday night.
Of the 46 men charged, 43 have been charged with a public order offence, West Midlands Police said.
A total of 45 of those who have been charged are due to appear later before a special court set up at Birmingham Magistrates.
Two of the men have been charged with assaulting police officers, with one also accused of possessing a knife.
Police said the men charged were aged between 21 and 63, with 40 believed to be from Poland and a small number thought to be UK residents.
Villa fans said "all hell broke loose" outside Villa Park before the club's European Conference League fixture against the Polish team.
BBC
Five police officers were injured in clashes with away fans near Villa Park in Birmingham on Thursday night.
Of the 46 men charged, 43 have been charged with a public order offence, West Midlands Police said.
A total of 45 of those who have been charged are due to appear later before a special court set up at Birmingham Magistrates.
Two of the men have been charged with assaulting police officers, with one also accused of possessing a knife.
Police said the men charged were aged between 21 and 63, with 40 believed to be from Poland and a small number thought to be UK residents.
Villa fans said "all hell broke loose" outside Villa Park before the club's European Conference League fixture against the Polish team.
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A Port Vale fan storms pitch and chases referee after penalty call during their loss against Portsmouth in League One game.
FearlessRoar
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The FA Cup derby clash between West Brom and Wolves has been halted after violence broke out in the stands between supporters of both sides, with fans storming the pitch and players being forced to take their children to safety.
Footage shared on social media shows unrest in the crowd as about 50 police officers and stewards try to hold back the crowd as they wield batons at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich.
'I've seen it bad, but never like this,' said one lifelong West Bromwich Albion observer as he watched a man led across the pitch, blood pouring from his face.
At one point Albion defender Kyle Bartley was seen bringing his children - a young boy and girl - to safety as the unrest on the stands escalated onto the pitch.
The match had always had the potential for violence as it was the first time these rivals played each other since 2021 and the first time in front of fans since 2012.
The clash had been designated high risk, with security increased and the kick-off scheduled for 11.45am in the hopes this would avoid tensions overflowing between the fans of the West Midlands clubs.
In the 78th minute of the game, as the Wolverhampton Wanderers had just upped their lead to 2-0, violence broke out in the corner of the West Stand and Birmingham Road End.
It was part of the ground which theoretically should have been holding solely home supporters. The unrest was reportedly started by Wolves fans caught in the home crowd.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving on the ranks, with some fans spilling onto the pitch.
About 30 police officers and a similar number of stewards rushed over to calm the situation - but despite four announcements for fans to leave the field, the game was not restarted as fans were reluctant to get off the pitch.
Some West Brom players were concerned for family members seated nearby and went into the stand to remove their children.
The players of both teams left for the changing rooms and an announcement warned fans that the game could be abandoned if those on the pitch wouldn't return to their seats.
About half an hour after the original interruption to the game, the players returned to the pitch to warm back up.
Albion defender Bartley, who was seen holding a young child on the pitch, did not return to the field for the restart of the game and has been substituted.
When the game finally restarted, the players went through the motions as they played out the closing stages of the game, with the Wolves holding on for their first win at the ground since 1996.
There had been about 250 riot police deployed to the area and the atmosphere was tense.
There had already been pockets of trouble with flares thrown towards the pitch by Wolves fans after Pedro Neto had opened the scoring in the 38th minute.
There were further problems when objects were thrown towards Wolves' Tommy Doyle as he prepared to take a corner in the second half.
There had been baiting and provocation from both sets of supporters throughout but the security teams looked to have it under control under the final distressing scenes.
A statement by the Football Association read: 'The disorder that occurred is completely unacceptable.
'Safety and security are of the utmost importance and the behaviour of those involved was dangerous and inexcusable.
'We will be investigating these serious incidents alongside the clubs and the relevant authorities and the appropriate action will be taken.'
West Midlands Police arrested two people after the unrest.
'We have extra officers at this local derby and they responded immediately as disorder in the stands caused fans to spill onto the pitch,' the force said in a statement.
'Two people have been arrested for public order offences. We worked with officials to get the game restarted as soon as possible.'
Source: Daily Mail
www.dailymail.co.uk
Footage shared on social media shows unrest in the crowd as about 50 police officers and stewards try to hold back the crowd as they wield batons at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich.
'I've seen it bad, but never like this,' said one lifelong West Bromwich Albion observer as he watched a man led across the pitch, blood pouring from his face.
At one point Albion defender Kyle Bartley was seen bringing his children - a young boy and girl - to safety as the unrest on the stands escalated onto the pitch.
The match had always had the potential for violence as it was the first time these rivals played each other since 2021 and the first time in front of fans since 2012.
The clash had been designated high risk, with security increased and the kick-off scheduled for 11.45am in the hopes this would avoid tensions overflowing between the fans of the West Midlands clubs.
In the 78th minute of the game, as the Wolverhampton Wanderers had just upped their lead to 2-0, violence broke out in the corner of the West Stand and Birmingham Road End.
It was part of the ground which theoretically should have been holding solely home supporters. The unrest was reportedly started by Wolves fans caught in the home crowd.
There was a lot of pushing and shoving on the ranks, with some fans spilling onto the pitch.
About 30 police officers and a similar number of stewards rushed over to calm the situation - but despite four announcements for fans to leave the field, the game was not restarted as fans were reluctant to get off the pitch.
Some West Brom players were concerned for family members seated nearby and went into the stand to remove their children.
The players of both teams left for the changing rooms and an announcement warned fans that the game could be abandoned if those on the pitch wouldn't return to their seats.
About half an hour after the original interruption to the game, the players returned to the pitch to warm back up.
Albion defender Bartley, who was seen holding a young child on the pitch, did not return to the field for the restart of the game and has been substituted.
When the game finally restarted, the players went through the motions as they played out the closing stages of the game, with the Wolves holding on for their first win at the ground since 1996.
There had been about 250 riot police deployed to the area and the atmosphere was tense.
There had already been pockets of trouble with flares thrown towards the pitch by Wolves fans after Pedro Neto had opened the scoring in the 38th minute.
There were further problems when objects were thrown towards Wolves' Tommy Doyle as he prepared to take a corner in the second half.
There had been baiting and provocation from both sets of supporters throughout but the security teams looked to have it under control under the final distressing scenes.
A statement by the Football Association read: 'The disorder that occurred is completely unacceptable.
'Safety and security are of the utmost importance and the behaviour of those involved was dangerous and inexcusable.
'We will be investigating these serious incidents alongside the clubs and the relevant authorities and the appropriate action will be taken.'
West Midlands Police arrested two people after the unrest.
'We have extra officers at this local derby and they responded immediately as disorder in the stands caused fans to spill onto the pitch,' the force said in a statement.
'Two people have been arrested for public order offences. We worked with officials to get the game restarted as soon as possible.'
Source: Daily Mail
Black Country derby FA Cup clash is SUSPENDED due to crowd trouble
Footage shared on social media shows unrest in the crowd as about 50 police officers and stewards try to hold back the crowd as they wield batons at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich.
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This is not a good one. Football should unite the world and not cause divisions among us.
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Would have turned into a stampede.
q
q
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AS JUVENTUS fans travel to their away game against Lazio today, they will do so knowing they are taking their lives into their own hands.
So many supporters have been injured, maimed or killed by hooligans backing Rome's two main Serie A clubs, the Italian capital has become known as ‘Stab City’.
Knife wounds are as commonplace as pizza and rip-off ice cream in the Eternal city, with a “puncicate” – a jab in the buttocks, designed to cause pain but not to kill –the favored method of attack.
Assaults with weapons occur so regularly that local newspapers no longer bother reporting on them – it is only when other European teams visit that the blade menace becomes clear.
As part of our new series, League of Shame, The Sun examines how football hooliganism is seeing an unwelcome resurgence across the continent - and poses a worrying threat to fans ahead of this summer's European Championships.
And Lazio ultras, who until recently operated under the Irriducibili banner – meaning The Indomitable in Italian – are among the most notorious in the game.
Infested with fascists and with links to organised crime, they funded their feverish displays in the Curva Nord section of the Olympic Stadium by dealing drugs and carrying out bank robberies.
Author James Montague wrote a book on extreme football fans called 1312: Among the Ultras.
As part of his research, he befriended Lazio capos, or leaders, as well as those with arch-rivals Roma.
In a recent interview, he said: “English football culture – especially the hooligan scene of the 1980s and 90s – was incredibly influential on Italian ultra culture.
“Roma, Lazio, Atalanta... all credited the English style of chanting, flags and violence as influencing how they approached things. Hooligans were the ultimate symbol of being against the authorities. Like punk. Even today that culture is influential.”
He added: “The ultras who are there week in week out love their club, love football, and love their players when they put in the effort on the pitch comparable to the effort the ultras put in off the pitch.
“It's a myth that they don't love football. However, I'd met several capos who had very little interest in football. To them, ultras were a gang. It might as well have been a biker gang or a graffiti crew.”
Admiration for English hooligans has not discouraged Lazio ultras from targeting British footie fans – if anything, it has made their attacks worse.
In 2019, Conor Weir was one of three Celtic fans set upon while celebrating the Glasgow club’s 2-1 Europa League victory over Lazio in Rome.
He returned home with three stitches in the back of his head after masked men jumped out of a car and ran up behind him at around 2.30am.
Trouble had been brewing ever since Lazio ultras marched through Glasgow two weeks earlier, making fascist salutes in tribute to deceased Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
Green Brigade fans responded with an anti-fascist protest, erecting a banner that depicted the tyrant hanging upside down and telling ultras to “follow your leader”.
Conor, 20, from Bo’ness, West Lothian, said of his Rome visit: “I wasn’t wearing a Celtic strip, just a green t-shirt, but they must have been driving round looking for people to target and I was unlucky enough to get it.
“It was cowardly. They weren’t looking for a fight, just to hurt somebody and escape without getting any comeback.
“It was over so fast I hardly knew what was happening until I felt a sensation in my back and I felt blood on my top.
“The other three people I was with scattered in panic and I tried to run myself but they grabbed me and stabbed me before I could break free. I’m ok and I’m lucky to escape with what I did.”
In 2012, Tottenham Hotspur supporters were also fortunate to escape alive when they were surrounded by Lazio ultras before another European game.
A group of Spurs fans were drinking at the Drunken Ship pub in Rome when 50 men - their faces covered and wielding knives, baseball bats and iron bars – stormed inside and launched a frenzied assault.
Ten people were injured and two Italian supporters were later charged with attempted murder.
Ashley Mills, 25, was knifed in a groin artery and suffered head injuries during what was described as a racist attack.
His life was saved by Alberto di Giovanni, 19, a law student, who had recently done a first aid course.
Speaking from his hospital, Essex builder Ashley said: “They came out of nowhere. I didn’t see the guy who stabbed me. There were too many of them.”
There was no physical violence inside the stadium, but antisemitic slogans were aimed at Spurs supporters due to the club’s historic Jewish links.
Fanatical far right ultras chanted “Juden Tottenham”, using the German word for Jew, and a “Free Palestine” banner was unveiled.
Three black players were subjected to monkey chants during the 0-0 draw and one fan said: “We felt in fear all the time.”
It was not the first time Jewish supporters had been targeted by Lazio ultras.
In October 2017, thugs covered the Olympic stadium with stickers featuring Anne Frank wearing the shirt of their rivals, AS Roma, alongside an antisemitic message.
The Irriducibili’s long-time leader Fabrizio Piscitelli was a self-confessed fascist with links to the Albanian mafia
He had a criminal record for drugs trafficking - in 2016 police seized £1.7m worth of his assets – and he ran the group like a paramilitary outfit, with members dressed identically in blue jeans and the black jackets once favored by Mussolini.
The group was the first in Italy to erect huge speakers in the terraces so that one ultra could dictate all the chanting and songs. They once ran a merchandising operation that sold their “Original Fans” label at 14 outlets.
Italy star Paolo Di Canio, who later played in the Premier League with West Ham, was a well-known Irriducibili ultra. However, he had to keep his involvement secret at the start of his career.
He once said: “I kept the club in the dark about my travels. If they had known that I spent my Sundays with the Irriducibili, visiting far-flung corners of Italy, they would probably have kicked me out of the youth academy.”
The ultras’ power meant that during the 1990s they were often caught on video lecturing the players like schoolchildren at Lazio’s training ground.
Piscitelli’s reign came to an end when, aged 53, he was taken out in a gangland style hit in Acqueduct park in the Cinecittà area of Rome in 2019.
His ultras then disbanded, releasing a statement saying: “Too much blood, too many banning orders, too many arrests. After 33 years, we have decided to disband the group.”
But the shameful scenes witnessed before Lazio’s last 16 Champions League match with Bayern Munich earlier this month showed the far-right elements are still blighting the club.
On March 4, hundreds of Lazio fans gathered in the infamous Hofbräuhaus brewery where Adolf Hitler founded the Nazi party in 1920.
Viral videos later emerged that showed them chanting and performing fascist salutes.
John Foot, professor of modern Italian history at University College London and author of Calcio: A History of Italian Football, says Roma and Lazio ultras are the only groups in Italy that still use weapons.
And the situation has got so bad that stabbings linked to football games occur “on a weekly basis” in the Italian capital.
He said: “People are stabbed in Rome fairly often, but it is so common that it does not make the press.
“It is worse in Rome, which has a particular problem with violence and stabbing.”
Alarmingly, away fans have found they are most often stabbed in the buttocks.
Between 2001 and 2009, around a dozen English football supporters were attacked in this manner whilst visiting Rome.
Foot added of the Lazio ultras: "Puncicate is their speciality and is mainly about hurting rival fans but not killing them.
"They target the buttocks because the victim is not likely to die. These people don't want to kill and be known as murderers, they want to show they can hurt their rivals and get away with it."
www.thesun.co.uk
So many supporters have been injured, maimed or killed by hooligans backing Rome's two main Serie A clubs, the Italian capital has become known as ‘Stab City’.
Knife wounds are as commonplace as pizza and rip-off ice cream in the Eternal city, with a “puncicate” – a jab in the buttocks, designed to cause pain but not to kill –the favored method of attack.
Assaults with weapons occur so regularly that local newspapers no longer bother reporting on them – it is only when other European teams visit that the blade menace becomes clear.
As part of our new series, League of Shame, The Sun examines how football hooliganism is seeing an unwelcome resurgence across the continent - and poses a worrying threat to fans ahead of this summer's European Championships.
And Lazio ultras, who until recently operated under the Irriducibili banner – meaning The Indomitable in Italian – are among the most notorious in the game.
Infested with fascists and with links to organised crime, they funded their feverish displays in the Curva Nord section of the Olympic Stadium by dealing drugs and carrying out bank robberies.
Author James Montague wrote a book on extreme football fans called 1312: Among the Ultras.
As part of his research, he befriended Lazio capos, or leaders, as well as those with arch-rivals Roma.
In a recent interview, he said: “English football culture – especially the hooligan scene of the 1980s and 90s – was incredibly influential on Italian ultra culture.
“Roma, Lazio, Atalanta... all credited the English style of chanting, flags and violence as influencing how they approached things. Hooligans were the ultimate symbol of being against the authorities. Like punk. Even today that culture is influential.”
He added: “The ultras who are there week in week out love their club, love football, and love their players when they put in the effort on the pitch comparable to the effort the ultras put in off the pitch.
“It's a myth that they don't love football. However, I'd met several capos who had very little interest in football. To them, ultras were a gang. It might as well have been a biker gang or a graffiti crew.”
Admiration for English hooligans has not discouraged Lazio ultras from targeting British footie fans – if anything, it has made their attacks worse.
In 2019, Conor Weir was one of three Celtic fans set upon while celebrating the Glasgow club’s 2-1 Europa League victory over Lazio in Rome.
He returned home with three stitches in the back of his head after masked men jumped out of a car and ran up behind him at around 2.30am.
Trouble had been brewing ever since Lazio ultras marched through Glasgow two weeks earlier, making fascist salutes in tribute to deceased Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
Green Brigade fans responded with an anti-fascist protest, erecting a banner that depicted the tyrant hanging upside down and telling ultras to “follow your leader”.
Conor, 20, from Bo’ness, West Lothian, said of his Rome visit: “I wasn’t wearing a Celtic strip, just a green t-shirt, but they must have been driving round looking for people to target and I was unlucky enough to get it.
“It was cowardly. They weren’t looking for a fight, just to hurt somebody and escape without getting any comeback.
“It was over so fast I hardly knew what was happening until I felt a sensation in my back and I felt blood on my top.
“The other three people I was with scattered in panic and I tried to run myself but they grabbed me and stabbed me before I could break free. I’m ok and I’m lucky to escape with what I did.”
In 2012, Tottenham Hotspur supporters were also fortunate to escape alive when they were surrounded by Lazio ultras before another European game.
A group of Spurs fans were drinking at the Drunken Ship pub in Rome when 50 men - their faces covered and wielding knives, baseball bats and iron bars – stormed inside and launched a frenzied assault.
Ten people were injured and two Italian supporters were later charged with attempted murder.
Ashley Mills, 25, was knifed in a groin artery and suffered head injuries during what was described as a racist attack.
His life was saved by Alberto di Giovanni, 19, a law student, who had recently done a first aid course.
Speaking from his hospital, Essex builder Ashley said: “They came out of nowhere. I didn’t see the guy who stabbed me. There were too many of them.”
There was no physical violence inside the stadium, but antisemitic slogans were aimed at Spurs supporters due to the club’s historic Jewish links.
Fanatical far right ultras chanted “Juden Tottenham”, using the German word for Jew, and a “Free Palestine” banner was unveiled.
Three black players were subjected to monkey chants during the 0-0 draw and one fan said: “We felt in fear all the time.”
It was not the first time Jewish supporters had been targeted by Lazio ultras.
In October 2017, thugs covered the Olympic stadium with stickers featuring Anne Frank wearing the shirt of their rivals, AS Roma, alongside an antisemitic message.
The Irriducibili’s long-time leader Fabrizio Piscitelli was a self-confessed fascist with links to the Albanian mafia
He had a criminal record for drugs trafficking - in 2016 police seized £1.7m worth of his assets – and he ran the group like a paramilitary outfit, with members dressed identically in blue jeans and the black jackets once favored by Mussolini.
The group was the first in Italy to erect huge speakers in the terraces so that one ultra could dictate all the chanting and songs. They once ran a merchandising operation that sold their “Original Fans” label at 14 outlets.
Italy star Paolo Di Canio, who later played in the Premier League with West Ham, was a well-known Irriducibili ultra. However, he had to keep his involvement secret at the start of his career.
He once said: “I kept the club in the dark about my travels. If they had known that I spent my Sundays with the Irriducibili, visiting far-flung corners of Italy, they would probably have kicked me out of the youth academy.”
The ultras’ power meant that during the 1990s they were often caught on video lecturing the players like schoolchildren at Lazio’s training ground.
Piscitelli’s reign came to an end when, aged 53, he was taken out in a gangland style hit in Acqueduct park in the Cinecittà area of Rome in 2019.
His ultras then disbanded, releasing a statement saying: “Too much blood, too many banning orders, too many arrests. After 33 years, we have decided to disband the group.”
But the shameful scenes witnessed before Lazio’s last 16 Champions League match with Bayern Munich earlier this month showed the far-right elements are still blighting the club.
On March 4, hundreds of Lazio fans gathered in the infamous Hofbräuhaus brewery where Adolf Hitler founded the Nazi party in 1920.
Viral videos later emerged that showed them chanting and performing fascist salutes.
John Foot, professor of modern Italian history at University College London and author of Calcio: A History of Italian Football, says Roma and Lazio ultras are the only groups in Italy that still use weapons.
And the situation has got so bad that stabbings linked to football games occur “on a weekly basis” in the Italian capital.
He said: “People are stabbed in Rome fairly often, but it is so common that it does not make the press.
“It is worse in Rome, which has a particular problem with violence and stabbing.”
Alarmingly, away fans have found they are most often stabbed in the buttocks.
Between 2001 and 2009, around a dozen English football supporters were attacked in this manner whilst visiting Rome.
Foot added of the Lazio ultras: "Puncicate is their speciality and is mainly about hurting rival fans but not killing them.
"They target the buttocks because the victim is not likely to die. These people don't want to kill and be known as murderers, they want to show they can hurt their rivals and get away with it."
Fascist footie thugs run Rome with gang executions & stabbing as common as pizza
AS JUVENTUS fans travel to their away game against Lazio today, they will do so knowing they are taking their lives into their own hands. So many supporters have been injured, maimed or killed by h…
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England and Serbia fans clash in Gelsenkirchen before Euro 2024 game
An England fan and one police officer have been left with heavy head wounds after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before the Serbia v England game at Euro 2024.
Shortly after 3.30pm local time, tens of Serbs standing outside a bar on Arminstraße in central Gelsenkirchen were targeted with projectiles, according to witnesses to the violence.
“Chairs, bottles, everything you can imagine suddenly came down,” said one eyewitness. The perpetrators of the violence fled the scene as about 200 German riot police arrived.
One man, said to be from Birmingham, was left with heavy wounds to his head as he was caught up in the fighting. He was seen receiving medical attention including heavy bandaging to the head. A plain clothes police officer was also treated for a head wound.
It is understood a group of hooligans, believed to be supporting England, had been seen by British police “spotters” rushing towards a bar in which around 30 Serbian fans were enjoying a drink five hours before the kick off of England’s first game.
The German riot police vans were called in but arrived shortly after the attack. Around 200 officers sealed off the bar from further attacks while smaller squads of riot police were despatched to hunt down the perpetrators. A police spokesman said that no arrests had been made.
More than 30,000 England fans – only 20,000 of whom are believed to have tickets – have arrived in Gelsenkirchen for the game with Serbia. The game has been designated as “high risk” due to the reputation of the two fan bases, with the police last week warning that up to 500 Serbian hooligans bent on violence could seek to cause trouble.
It appeared, however, that after a peaceful Saturday night and Sunday morning that it was England fans who instigated the first violence.
British police have been working in close cooperation with their German counterparts, with undercover spotters from both nations working among the supporters drinking in the bars around Gelsenkirchen in west Germany.
There has been an uptick of disorder in recent years in the domestic leagues in England and Wales, leading to concerns that such behaviour could spill over into internationals.
A downward trend in terms of the number of arrests at domestic football games has been sharply reversed post-Covid, with the number now at the heights of a decade ago.
As of August 2023, there were also 1,624 football banning orders in force, which is an increase of 24% compared with the year before. Within the 2022-23 football season, 682 new banning orders were issued, an annual increase of 32%.
All those under banning orders have had to surrender their passports for the duration of the tournament in Germany.
England and Serbia fans clash in Gelsenkirchen before Euro 2024 game
An England fan and one police officer have been left with heavy head wounds after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking
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England families hit by beer cups 'from all angles'
Defender Ezri Konsa says the families and friends of England players were hit by beer cups thrown "from all angles" after their goalless draw with Slovenia.
A couple of plastic cups were aimed in the direction of boss Gareth Southgate as he applauded them from the pitch after the Euro 2024 Group C stalemate on Tuesday.
According to Aston Villa's Konsa more were hurled around the stands in Cologne at full-time, with the section seating the players' friends and families affected.
Konsa said the players knew Southgate had been targeted but have "not spoken about it as players" or raised it with him.
It has been reported, external that the players' partners and friends were neither recognised nor deliberately targeted by those who threw the cups.
"We were aware of it because I think some of our family members got hit with a few drinks," he said.
"We check on them. There’s kids in the stands with family so we always have to check on them, reassure them and ask if they’re all right."
England topped Group C and will face Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday.
Konsa said "in football stuff like that happens", when pressed further on the reaction of fans.
He added: "My brother was hit, a few others. I spoke to him after, I asked him and how he was and he said he was fine.
"It was to the right [of the stadium], it wasn’t directly behind the goal, but it was coming from all angles. We try not to think about it too much so we move on."
Konsa has yet make an appearance in the tournament but the 26-year-old said he is ready to solve England's left-back issue in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday if needed.
Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier has filled in at left-back while Manchester United defender Luke Shaw battles to return to full fitness.
"At Charlton I played there a couple of times - but then I played at left-back, right-back, centre-back, all across the back four," Konsa said.
"I’m more than happy to do it. Obviously left-back is a bit different, but wherever the gaffer wants to put me I’ll try my best and give it my all."
Konsa said being versatile to play different positions is "important" for players in modern football.
"With Manchester City, you see the centre-halves play left-back, right-back," he explained.
"It’s something that is happening more and more often. For me it’s something I’ve done my whole career and I’m happy to do it."
BBC
Defender Ezri Konsa says the families and friends of England players were hit by beer cups thrown "from all angles" after their goalless draw with Slovenia.
A couple of plastic cups were aimed in the direction of boss Gareth Southgate as he applauded them from the pitch after the Euro 2024 Group C stalemate on Tuesday.
According to Aston Villa's Konsa more were hurled around the stands in Cologne at full-time, with the section seating the players' friends and families affected.
Konsa said the players knew Southgate had been targeted but have "not spoken about it as players" or raised it with him.
It has been reported, external that the players' partners and friends were neither recognised nor deliberately targeted by those who threw the cups.
"We were aware of it because I think some of our family members got hit with a few drinks," he said.
"We check on them. There’s kids in the stands with family so we always have to check on them, reassure them and ask if they’re all right."
England topped Group C and will face Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday.
Konsa said "in football stuff like that happens", when pressed further on the reaction of fans.
He added: "My brother was hit, a few others. I spoke to him after, I asked him and how he was and he said he was fine.
"It was to the right [of the stadium], it wasn’t directly behind the goal, but it was coming from all angles. We try not to think about it too much so we move on."
Konsa has yet make an appearance in the tournament but the 26-year-old said he is ready to solve England's left-back issue in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday if needed.
Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier has filled in at left-back while Manchester United defender Luke Shaw battles to return to full fitness.
"At Charlton I played there a couple of times - but then I played at left-back, right-back, centre-back, all across the back four," Konsa said.
"I’m more than happy to do it. Obviously left-back is a bit different, but wherever the gaffer wants to put me I’ll try my best and give it my all."
Konsa said being versatile to play different positions is "important" for players in modern football.
"With Manchester City, you see the centre-halves play left-back, right-back," he explained.
"It’s something that is happening more and more often. For me it’s something I’ve done my whole career and I’m happy to do it."
BBC
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Arrests after Dutch fans attack English - British police
Statement from a UK Football Policing Unit spokesperson: "We are aware of some reports and videos circulating of disorder in Dortmund. It appears that there have been several instances of Dutch fans attacking England fans in bars and attempting to steal flags.
"We understand this has resulted in minor injuries to five people. We are also aware that in addition to the tens of thousands of Dutch fans there to enjoy the game, there are groups of risk supporters who have travelled to Dortmund from the Netherlands.
Our officers are at the location supporting German colleagues. We would advise supporters to be aware of their surroundings and seek areas where there is a German Police presence."
Statement from a UK Football Policing Unit spokesperson: "We are aware of some reports and videos circulating of disorder in Dortmund. It appears that there have been several instances of Dutch fans attacking England fans in bars and attempting to steal flags.
"We understand this has resulted in minor injuries to five people. We are also aware that in addition to the tens of thousands of Dutch fans there to enjoy the game, there are groups of risk supporters who have travelled to Dortmund from the Netherlands.
Our officers are at the location supporting German colleagues. We would advise supporters to be aware of their surroundings and seek areas where there is a German Police presence."
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Conmebol investigates clash between Nunez and fans
Conmebol has opened an investigation into the "unacceptable" scenes in which Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez clashed with Colombia fans at the Copa America in the United States.
Liverpool forward Nunez was involved in an altercation with spectators in the stands after Colombia's 1-0 win in Wednesday's semi-final in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The incident broke out in a section of the stadium where many family members of the Uruguay players were seated.
"It is unacceptable that an incident like this turns passion into violence," read a statement from Conmebol, South American football's governing body.
"On the eve of the final of Copa America, we want to reaffirm and warn that no action will be tolerated that tarnishes this global football celebration, which involves both the players and the fans present in the stadium."
The governing body stressed it wished to "understand the sequence of events" that led to the incident.
The disorder broke out after Colombia's victory, which sets up a final against Argentina on Sunday.
Nunez climbed the railings and made his way into the crowded stands.
"There was no police and we had to defend our families," said Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez.
"This is the fault of two or three people who had a few too many drinks and don't know how to drink."
Nunez was seen hugging his son on the pitch after the altercation cooled down.
The striker is yet to comment publicly on the incident.
BBC
Conmebol has opened an investigation into the "unacceptable" scenes in which Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez clashed with Colombia fans at the Copa America in the United States.
Liverpool forward Nunez was involved in an altercation with spectators in the stands after Colombia's 1-0 win in Wednesday's semi-final in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The incident broke out in a section of the stadium where many family members of the Uruguay players were seated.
"It is unacceptable that an incident like this turns passion into violence," read a statement from Conmebol, South American football's governing body.
"On the eve of the final of Copa America, we want to reaffirm and warn that no action will be tolerated that tarnishes this global football celebration, which involves both the players and the fans present in the stadium."
The governing body stressed it wished to "understand the sequence of events" that led to the incident.
The disorder broke out after Colombia's victory, which sets up a final against Argentina on Sunday.
Nunez climbed the railings and made his way into the crowded stands.
"There was no police and we had to defend our families," said Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez.
"This is the fault of two or three people who had a few too many drinks and don't know how to drink."
Nunez was seen hugging his son on the pitch after the altercation cooled down.
The striker is yet to comment publicly on the incident.
BBC
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OFFICIAL: The French Football Federation is taking the Argentine Football Federation to court over 'racial and discriminatory remarks.
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A board/federation can't control fans. Why take them to court? Just ban or take actions against those fans I guess.
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French FA to complain over alleged 'racist' Argentina song
The French Football Federation is to file a complaint to world governing body Fifa over an alleged "racist and discriminatory" song sung by some of the Argentina squad about France's players.
The FFF will also contact the Argentine Football Association (AFA) about the chants heard in a live video posted on social media by Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as Argentina celebrated winning the Copa America, having beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final on Sunday.
A statement from the FFF, external said that president Philippe Diallo "condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable and discriminatory remarks that were made against the players of the French team".
It added: "Faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly appeal to his Argentine counterpart and Fifa and to file a legal complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks."
BBC Sport has approached the Argentine FA and Chelsea for comment.
France beat Argentina in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup, before Argentina beat them in the final of the 2022 World Cup.
BBC
The French Football Federation is to file a complaint to world governing body Fifa over an alleged "racist and discriminatory" song sung by some of the Argentina squad about France's players.
The FFF will also contact the Argentine Football Association (AFA) about the chants heard in a live video posted on social media by Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as Argentina celebrated winning the Copa America, having beaten Colombia 1-0 in the final on Sunday.
A statement from the FFF, external said that president Philippe Diallo "condemns in the strongest terms the unacceptable and discriminatory remarks that were made against the players of the French team".
It added: "Faced with the seriousness of these shocking remarks, contrary to the values of sport and human rights, the president of the FFF decided to directly appeal to his Argentine counterpart and Fifa and to file a legal complaint for racially offensive and discriminatory remarks."
BBC Sport has approached the Argentine FA and Chelsea for comment.
France beat Argentina in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup, before Argentina beat them in the final of the 2022 World Cup.
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It was the team that was singing them
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Oh. I read it wrong.
Still, why sue the board? It is like suing a company for the crime of an employee.
Board can't control players. Those players should be penalized. Ban them for a number of months maybe.
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Hugo Lloris says Fernández video is ‘attack on French people’ as Argentinian minister sacked
Argentina’s undersecretary of sport has been sacked after calling for Lionel Messi to apologise for the racist and transphobic song about France’s players that the former captain Hugo Lloris has described as “an attack on French people”.
Chelsea said on Wednesday they had “instigated an internal disciplinary procedure” against Enzo Fernández after the midfielder posted a video on Instagram that showed him and some of his Argentina teammates involved in the chants as they celebrated their victory against Colombia in the Copa América final. He later apologised, saying the video did not “reflect my beliefs or my character”, and is expected to be fined by his club.
Fifa has confirmed it is investigating the incident, which Julio Garro had also urged Messi – who captained Argentina at the Copa América – and the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) president, Claudio Tapia, to apologise for.
But the office of Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, issued a strongly worded statement on X confirming that Garro had been dismissed. “The president’s office says that no government can tell the Argentina national team – world champion and two-time Copa América champion – what to comment, what to think or what to do, or to any other citizen,” it said. “For this reason, Julio Garro is no longer undersecretary of sports of the nation.”
The vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, also hit back at the country’s critics on social media. “No country with a colonial history is going to put us down for a song sung on a field nor for speaking a truth that nobody wants to admit,” she wrote. “Enough of pretending to be offended, hypocrites. Enzo I am with you, Messi thanks for everything! Argentines always keep your heads high! Long live Argentina!”
Villarruel said Argentina’s history had been forged by people of all races: “We never forced our way of life on anyone, nor will we tolerate that someone tries to do the same to us.”
Lloris, who captained France at the past two Word Cups – including their run to the final at Qatar 2022 when the chant was first sung by Argentina fans – said the players involved should have shown “more responsibility”.
“They deserve a lot of credit for what they have done on the field for the last four or five years,” Lloris said. “But when you win, you are an example for others, especially kids. It was a proper attack about the French people, especially for the French people who have African origin and family.”
Demba Ba, the former Chelsea and Senegal striker, wrote on X: “Argentina, land of asylum for former Nazis on the run. From 1945, [Juan] Perón hosted war criminals. And it surprises you …”
THE GUARDIAN
Argentina’s undersecretary of sport has been sacked after calling for Lionel Messi to apologise for the racist and transphobic song about France’s players that the former captain Hugo Lloris has described as “an attack on French people”.
Chelsea said on Wednesday they had “instigated an internal disciplinary procedure” against Enzo Fernández after the midfielder posted a video on Instagram that showed him and some of his Argentina teammates involved in the chants as they celebrated their victory against Colombia in the Copa América final. He later apologised, saying the video did not “reflect my beliefs or my character”, and is expected to be fined by his club.
Fifa has confirmed it is investigating the incident, which Julio Garro had also urged Messi – who captained Argentina at the Copa América – and the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) president, Claudio Tapia, to apologise for.
But the office of Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, issued a strongly worded statement on X confirming that Garro had been dismissed. “The president’s office says that no government can tell the Argentina national team – world champion and two-time Copa América champion – what to comment, what to think or what to do, or to any other citizen,” it said. “For this reason, Julio Garro is no longer undersecretary of sports of the nation.”
The vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, also hit back at the country’s critics on social media. “No country with a colonial history is going to put us down for a song sung on a field nor for speaking a truth that nobody wants to admit,” she wrote. “Enough of pretending to be offended, hypocrites. Enzo I am with you, Messi thanks for everything! Argentines always keep your heads high! Long live Argentina!”
Villarruel said Argentina’s history had been forged by people of all races: “We never forced our way of life on anyone, nor will we tolerate that someone tries to do the same to us.”
Lloris, who captained France at the past two Word Cups – including their run to the final at Qatar 2022 when the chant was first sung by Argentina fans – said the players involved should have shown “more responsibility”.
“They deserve a lot of credit for what they have done on the field for the last four or five years,” Lloris said. “But when you win, you are an example for others, especially kids. It was a proper attack about the French people, especially for the French people who have African origin and family.”
Demba Ba, the former Chelsea and Senegal striker, wrote on X: “Argentina, land of asylum for former Nazis on the run. From 1945, [Juan] Perón hosted war criminals. And it surprises you …”
THE GUARDIAN
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Argentina apologizes to France in football-chant row
Buenos Aires apologized to France after Argentina’s vice president called the European country “colonialist” and its people “hypocrites” in an argument over alleged racist chants by Argentine footballers.President Javier Milei’s office said Friday it had sent a senior official to the French embassy to explain that Victoria Villarruel’s angry statement on social media was made in her personal capacity.
FIFA has announced an investigation into the chants sung by Argentina players, including Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 23, after they won the Copa America.
The chants were heard on a live video posted on social media by Fernandez from the team bus in the wake of the Copa victory over Colombia in Miami on Sunday.
The song targets France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe among others and includes racist and homophobic insults.
Fernandez has apologized, but Chelsea have launched an internal disciplinary procedure against him. The French Football Federation (FFF) has complained to FIFA.
On Wednesday, Villarruel expressed support for Fernandez on X, saying: “No colonialist country is going to intimidate us because of a stadium chant nor for speaking truths that they do not want to admit. Enough with feigned outrage, hypocrites.”
The diplomatic incident came just days before Milei is due to travel to Paris to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
“Diplomatic relations with France are intact,” presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said Friday.
Argentina’s under secretary for sports, Julio Garro, was dismissed from his post this week after saying captain Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association should apologize for the chants.
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Fenerbahce president shockingly attacked by pitch invader as Jose Mourinho’s side’s clash with Goztepe turns ugly
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc was shoved over by a pitch invader during his side's game against Goztepe on Saturday.
Viral social media footage shows the Turkish Super Lig club chief having to dodge numerous bottles thrown from the stands.
There were loud boos and jeers coming from supporters in the crowd as he made his way around the pitch.
Koc had numerous security guards around him, as well as media cameras.
However, this did not stop a pitch invader running into the pack and pushing him from behind.
Koc ended up falling to the floor, with the pitch invader not making an effort to run away from the scene but instead continuing to goad the chief.
The Fenerbahce president was hurried away, whilst the pitch invader was dealt with by security.
Police present at the game even held up riot shields to protect Koc as he made his exit.
The unsavoury scenes occurred after Jose Mourinho's side's 2-2 draw away at Goztepe in their second league game of the campaign.
It is unclear as to whether the bottles were purposely thrown at Koc or if it was part of wider disorder.
The attack on Koc marks a worrying escalation of violence in Turkish football.
Although the Super Lig is no stranger to fan disorder, particularly in games involving fierce rivals such as Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, it has got considerably worse over the last year.
In March, ex-Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi was seen attempting to kick a fan in the head when supporters pitch invaded during a Fenerbahce game.
All league matches in Turkey were suspended indefinitely in December when a club president was arrested for punching a referee.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has implemented various measures to curb the violence, including increased security at stadiums.
Mourinho's Fenerbahce currently sit third in the Super Lig.
talksport.com
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc was shoved over by a pitch invader during his side's game against Goztepe on Saturday.
Viral social media footage shows the Turkish Super Lig club chief having to dodge numerous bottles thrown from the stands.
There were loud boos and jeers coming from supporters in the crowd as he made his way around the pitch.
Koc had numerous security guards around him, as well as media cameras.
However, this did not stop a pitch invader running into the pack and pushing him from behind.
Koc ended up falling to the floor, with the pitch invader not making an effort to run away from the scene but instead continuing to goad the chief.
The Fenerbahce president was hurried away, whilst the pitch invader was dealt with by security.
Police present at the game even held up riot shields to protect Koc as he made his exit.
The unsavoury scenes occurred after Jose Mourinho's side's 2-2 draw away at Goztepe in their second league game of the campaign.
It is unclear as to whether the bottles were purposely thrown at Koc or if it was part of wider disorder.
The attack on Koc marks a worrying escalation of violence in Turkish football.
Although the Super Lig is no stranger to fan disorder, particularly in games involving fierce rivals such as Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, it has got considerably worse over the last year.
In March, ex-Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi was seen attempting to kick a fan in the head when supporters pitch invaded during a Fenerbahce game.
All league matches in Turkey were suspended indefinitely in December when a club president was arrested for punching a referee.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has implemented various measures to curb the violence, including increased security at stadiums.
Mourinho's Fenerbahce currently sit third in the Super Lig.
Fenerbahce president attacked by pitch invader during Mourinho's side's clash
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc was shoved over by a pitch invader during his side’s game against Goztepe on Saturday. Viral social media footage shows the Turkish Super Lig club chief having to…
talksport.com
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Feyenoord v Ajax postponed because of police strikes
Sunday's Dutch top-flight match between Feyenoord and Ajax has been postponed because of a police strike in the Netherlands.
Police officers were injured during crowd disorder at a match between the sides last September.
Home fans threw flares and fireworks on the pitch at Ajax's stadium in Amsterdam after Feyenoord went 3-0 ahead and the match was stopped after 56 minutes.
The match was eventually concluded three days later behind closed doors.
Police said they would not work at Sunday's game as part of an ongoing campaign related to early retirement regulations.
'The Klassieker' was scheduled to take place at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.
But the city's mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb, said: "The safety of the players, but also of the public, cannot be sufficiently guaranteed without the use of the police."
Away fans have been banned from attending matches between the two sides in Rotterdam for several years after previous incidents of disorder.
Feyenoord said they "understand that people have to stand up for their cause, but regret that football, not for the first time, is being used as a tool".
Feyenoord v Ajax: Dutch derby postponed because of police strike in Netherlands
Sunday's Eredivisie match between Feyenoord and Ajax is called off because the "safety of players and public cannot be guaranteed without police" at the match.
www.bbc.com
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Kuwait FA board resign after 'chaotic incidents'
The Kuwait Football Association's board have resigned "en masse" after "regrettable chaotic incidents" at a home World Cup qualifier against Iraq.
An inquiry was launched by the FA after fans were reportedly left pleading for water and fainting in 40C temperatures as they queued to watch Tuesday's match at the 60,000-capacity Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.
Some supporters without tickets were allowed in while others who had purchased tickets were refused entry, according to AFP news agency.
The Kuwait FA apologised to fans on Wednesday in a statement, saying it regretted what had taken place, without giving details.
Following the inquiry, all board members have "tendered resignations en masse" Kuwait's official Kuna news agency said, citing an FA statement.
Kuna says the association has also accepted the resignation of its secretary-general Salah al-Qanai and public relations boss Mohamed Bou Abbas, who had initially been suspended after the events at Kuwait's Asian group game.
The match with Iraq ended goalless, leaving Kuwait fourth in Group B in the third round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
World Cup: Kuwait FA board members 'resign en masse' after fan scenes
All members of the Kuwait FA's governing body resign following inquiry after fans left pleading for water at a World Cup qualifier.
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FA charges Osmajic over alleged bite on Beck
Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic has been charged by the Football Association with violent conduct after allegedly biting Blackburn Rovers defender Owen Beck.
Beck, who is on loan from Liverpool, was sent off in the closing stages of Sunday's goalless Lancashire derby for kicking out at Preston's Duane Holmes.
A melee followed, with Beck, 22, furiously protesting to referee Matthew Donohue that he had been bitten by Osmajic, who received a yellow card.
Television replays appeared to show 25-year-old Osmajic had bitten Beck on his upper back.
Osmajic has until Monday, 30 September to provide a response, the FA said., external
Luis Suarez, then of Liverpool, received a 10-match ban in 2013 for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic.
Blackburn manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Owen's got a big bite mark on the back of his neck and it's a shame the referee didn't see that."
Milutin Osmajic: Preston forward charged by FA over alleged bite
Preston North End forward Milutin Osmajic is charged by the FA for violent conduct after allegedly biting Blackburn Rovers' Owen Beck.
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Pig's head thrown on pitch during derby in Brazil
A pig's head was thrown on to the pitch during a game between Sao Paulo rivals Corinthians and Palmeiras in the Brazilian championship.The incident occurred as Palmeiras prepared to take a corner in the first half and Corinthians forward Yuri Alberto ran from the penalty box to kick it off the pitch before play continued.
Alberto went on to score as Corinthians won the game 2-0.
"I almost broke my foot, I thought it was a cushion, I went to take it off with my foot, I kind of kicked it. It was a pig's head, I almost hurt my foot," Alberto told O Globo's SporTV., external
"A new one on me - the big traditional Sao Paulo derby, Corinthians v Palmeiras and someone has thrown a pig's head on the the field (the symbol of Palmeiras is a pig)," South American football correspondent Tim Vickery posted on X.
The situation was reminiscent of when Barcelona fans threw a pig's head on to the pitch when their former midfielder Luis Figo returned to the Nou Camp playing for arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2002.
Globo and ESPN Brazil, external reported that police are investigating and two fans were arrested following the incident, before being released.
Palmeiras fans adopted the pig as their mascot in 1986.
In a match against Santos they heard rival fans chanting "pig" and responded by shouting "And go for it Pig! Ole Ole Ole".
A few days later sports magazine Placar published a picture of Palmeiras player Jorginho Putinatti holding a pig in his arms.
Source: BBC
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Whistles and boos at France-Israel football match
Some football fans attending the European Nations League match in Paris between France and Israel whistled and booed as the Israeli anthem played at the start of the game.
Thursday's match was played in front of scant crowds and heavy security a week after violence in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and visiting Israeli fans.
Despite fears of a repeat of the Amsterdam violence, there were just a few brief scuffles in the stands during the first half of the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
President Emmanuel Macron - who attended the match with Prime Minister Michel Barnier - said beforehand that France would not give in to antisemitism.
Thousands of police were deployed to ensure security at the Stade de France in the northern Paris suburbs and on public transport, while an elite anti-terrorist police unit protected the visiting Israeli squad.
A reporter for France's AFP news agency witnessed stewards intervening to stop clashes in the stands between rival fans.
According to Reuters news agency, some 100 Israel fans defied travel warnings from their government and sat in a corner of the 80,000-capacity stadium, which was barely a fifth full.
Waving yellow balloons, they chanted "Free the Hostages" in reference to Israelis held in Gaza by Hamas militants, the agency reports.
Before the match, several hundred demonstrators gathered in a square near the stadium to wave Palestinian, Lebanese and Algerian flags in protest at the war in Gaza.
"We don’t play with genocide," one banner read.
Israel has denied allegations of genocide as baseless and grossly distorted.
It launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October last year when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 43,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Politicians across Europe decried a “return of antisemitism” after Israeli fans were chased through the streets of Amsterdam.
Maccabi fans were themselves involved in vandalism, tearing down a Palestinian flag, attacking a taxi and chanting anti-Arab slogans, according to city authorities. They were then targeted by “small groups of rioters… on foot, by scooter or car”, the city said in a 12-page report.
Violence between Israel and its neighbours in the Middle East has the potential to spread to Europe.
France, Belgium and the Netherlands all have large Muslim populations of North African origin and they live beside far smaller Jewish populations, who in the main identify strongly with Israel.
To express solidarity with European Jews after Amsterdam, President Emmanuel Macron attended Thursday’s match along with Prime Minister Michel Barnier and former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Supporters were told to expect identity checks ahead of the game while bars and restaurants in the area were told to close from the afternoon.
The Stade de France was the scene of a dangerous breakdown in law and order at a Uefa Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in 2022. However since then the Rugby World Cup and Paris Olympics have both been peacefully staged there.
France’s far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party – which sides with Palestinians and Lebanese in the conflicts with Israel – called for Thursday’s match to be cancelled, or at least for Macron to refuse to attend.
“We do not want our head of state honouring a country that commits genocide,” said LFI deputy David Guiraud.
But Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said it was out of the question to cancel or relocate the match. “France does not give way to those who sow hatred,” he said.
France and Israel are in the same group in the Uefa competition, alongside Italy and Belgium. In their first leg – played in Budapest – France beat Israel 4-1.
Pre-match tensions were already in evidence on the eve of the match after a pro-Israeli “gala” event was given the go-ahead in Paris, which the far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich was at one point expected to attend – although it was later thought his “presence” would be by video-link.
Several thousand pro-Palestinian and anti-racist organisations also staged protests in the capital to coincide with the event. Clashes broke out and police used tear gas as protesters targeted a McDonald's on the Boulevard Montmartre.
Relations between Macron and Benyamin Netanyahu have come under severe strain in recent weeks, after Macron accused the Israeli prime minister of “spreading barbarism” in Gaza and Lebanon.
French Jews were also upset when Macron was quoted as saying that Netanyahu should accept United Nations calls for a ceasefire because “his country was itself created by a decision of the UN”. This was interpreted in Israel as an insult to Jews who had lost their lives in their country’s war of independence.
France in turn was angered when two French officials were briefly detained by Israeli authorities at a holy site in East Jerusalem that is under French administration.
Macron has been described as pursuing a zigzag in his approach to the Middle East, as in many other domains, flipflopping inconsistently between outspoken statements of support for Israel and then its Arab neighbours.
BBC
Some football fans attending the European Nations League match in Paris between France and Israel whistled and booed as the Israeli anthem played at the start of the game.
Thursday's match was played in front of scant crowds and heavy security a week after violence in Amsterdam between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and visiting Israeli fans.
Despite fears of a repeat of the Amsterdam violence, there were just a few brief scuffles in the stands during the first half of the game, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
President Emmanuel Macron - who attended the match with Prime Minister Michel Barnier - said beforehand that France would not give in to antisemitism.
Thousands of police were deployed to ensure security at the Stade de France in the northern Paris suburbs and on public transport, while an elite anti-terrorist police unit protected the visiting Israeli squad.
A reporter for France's AFP news agency witnessed stewards intervening to stop clashes in the stands between rival fans.
According to Reuters news agency, some 100 Israel fans defied travel warnings from their government and sat in a corner of the 80,000-capacity stadium, which was barely a fifth full.
Waving yellow balloons, they chanted "Free the Hostages" in reference to Israelis held in Gaza by Hamas militants, the agency reports.
Before the match, several hundred demonstrators gathered in a square near the stadium to wave Palestinian, Lebanese and Algerian flags in protest at the war in Gaza.
"We don’t play with genocide," one banner read.
Israel has denied allegations of genocide as baseless and grossly distorted.
It launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October last year when about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 43,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Politicians across Europe decried a “return of antisemitism” after Israeli fans were chased through the streets of Amsterdam.
Maccabi fans were themselves involved in vandalism, tearing down a Palestinian flag, attacking a taxi and chanting anti-Arab slogans, according to city authorities. They were then targeted by “small groups of rioters… on foot, by scooter or car”, the city said in a 12-page report.
Violence between Israel and its neighbours in the Middle East has the potential to spread to Europe.
France, Belgium and the Netherlands all have large Muslim populations of North African origin and they live beside far smaller Jewish populations, who in the main identify strongly with Israel.
To express solidarity with European Jews after Amsterdam, President Emmanuel Macron attended Thursday’s match along with Prime Minister Michel Barnier and former presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy.
Supporters were told to expect identity checks ahead of the game while bars and restaurants in the area were told to close from the afternoon.
The Stade de France was the scene of a dangerous breakdown in law and order at a Uefa Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid in 2022. However since then the Rugby World Cup and Paris Olympics have both been peacefully staged there.
France’s far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party – which sides with Palestinians and Lebanese in the conflicts with Israel – called for Thursday’s match to be cancelled, or at least for Macron to refuse to attend.
“We do not want our head of state honouring a country that commits genocide,” said LFI deputy David Guiraud.
But Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said it was out of the question to cancel or relocate the match. “France does not give way to those who sow hatred,” he said.
France and Israel are in the same group in the Uefa competition, alongside Italy and Belgium. In their first leg – played in Budapest – France beat Israel 4-1.
Pre-match tensions were already in evidence on the eve of the match after a pro-Israeli “gala” event was given the go-ahead in Paris, which the far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich was at one point expected to attend – although it was later thought his “presence” would be by video-link.
Several thousand pro-Palestinian and anti-racist organisations also staged protests in the capital to coincide with the event. Clashes broke out and police used tear gas as protesters targeted a McDonald's on the Boulevard Montmartre.
Relations between Macron and Benyamin Netanyahu have come under severe strain in recent weeks, after Macron accused the Israeli prime minister of “spreading barbarism” in Gaza and Lebanon.
French Jews were also upset when Macron was quoted as saying that Netanyahu should accept United Nations calls for a ceasefire because “his country was itself created by a decision of the UN”. This was interpreted in Israel as an insult to Jews who had lost their lives in their country’s war of independence.
France in turn was angered when two French officials were briefly detained by Israeli authorities at a holy site in East Jerusalem that is under French administration.
Macron has been described as pursuing a zigzag in his approach to the Middle East, as in many other domains, flipflopping inconsistently between outspoken statements of support for Israel and then its Arab neighbours.
BBC
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FearlessRoar
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Dozens killed in crush at Guinea football match - reports
Dozens of people have died in a crush following clashes at a football match in Guinea's second-largest city, N'zérékoré, local media report.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah said a stampede at the event led to a number of victims on Sunday and called for calm.
One doctor, who did not want to be named, told AFP news agency that there were several bodies "lined up" in the local hospital, and the morgue was full.
Local media said police used tear gas after supporters of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones towards the pitch in anger at the referee.
So far no official casualty figures have been given.
"It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch," one witness told AFP.
Videos and images on social media appear to show chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with large crowds attempting to climb over walls and numerous bodies on the ground.
The BBC has not been able to independently verify these videos.
Regional authorities are working to "restore calm", Prime Minister Bah said in a statement, and added that hospitals are aiding the injured.
Thousands of spectators were present when the crush happened at a match between Guinean teams N'zérékoré and Labé, local news website MediaGuinee reported.
It said Sunday's match was part of a tournament in honour of President Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in September 2021.
One of the worst massacres in Guinea's history also took place in a stadium.
In 2009, 156 people were killed after troops opened fire at an opposition rally at a stadium in the capital, Conakry.
Many were shot, stabbed, beaten or crushed in a stampede as security forces fired teargas and charged into the stadium. Scores of women were also raped.
Former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara was recently sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes against humanity in connection with the massacre.
Guinea: Dozens killed in crush at football match - reports
Guinea's PM Oury Bah says the government is working to restore calm after the crowd stampede.
www.bbc.com
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Ugandan fan shot dead celebrating Arsenal beating Manchester United
A fan of English club Arsenal, who was celebrating the team's victory over Manchester United, has allegedly been shot dead by a security guard in Uganda.
Another fan was injured as the guard opened fire on a large crowd of jubilant supporters at a restaurant in Lukaya town in central Uganda, about 100km (62 miles) from the capital Kampala.
It happened towards the end of the match, which Arsenal won 2-0.
A local journalist told the BBC that the building's manager was angered by the noise that the jubilant supporters were making and asked the guard to intervene.
However, the fans did not heed a warning to quiet down.
Witnesses told the journalist, Farish Magembe, that the owner switched off the power in the restaurant, angering the fans, who responded by making even more noise.
It was then that the guard allegedly opened fire, firing several shots.
The victim, identified as 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, died at the scene. Another long-term Arsenal fan, Lawrence Mugejera, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Both the guard and the manager of the building are on the run after the incident, with the police looking for them.
The regional police spokesman, Twaha Kasirye, was quoted by the Daily Monitor newspaper as saying that they had recovered a gun at the scene.
"We condemn the incident and we ask anyone with information that can help the police to bring the suspect to book to speak up," he said.
He also urged fans to control their excitement.
Tensions and tragic violence arising from the outcome of football matches, especially between English clubs, are not uncommon in the country where the English Premier League is followed closely.
In October, an Arsenal fan stabbed a Manchester United fan after the two argued over the results over the results of a clash between Arsenal and Liverpool.
In January last year, a youth councillor died from stab wounds in Kampala after intervening in a fight after Arsenal lost to Manchester City.
Just a week before that, an Arsenal fan had been bludgeoned to death in Adjumani, in the West Nile district.
Ugandan fan shot dead celebrating Arsenal beating Manchester United
Witnesses said the celebration by Arsenal fans angered the security guard.
www.bbc.com
sweep_shot
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Ugandan fan shot dead celebrating Arsenal beating Manchester United
A fan of English club Arsenal, who was celebrating the team's victory over Manchester United, has allegedly been shot dead by a security guard in Uganda.
Another fan was injured as the guard opened fire on a large crowd of jubilant supporters at a restaurant in Lukaya town in central Uganda, about 100km (62 miles) from the capital Kampala.
It happened towards the end of the match, which Arsenal won 2-0.
A local journalist told the BBC that the building's manager was angered by the noise that the jubilant supporters were making and asked the guard to intervene.
However, the fans did not heed a warning to quiet down.
Witnesses told the journalist, Farish Magembe, that the owner switched off the power in the restaurant, angering the fans, who responded by making even more noise.
It was then that the guard allegedly opened fire, firing several shots.
The victim, identified as 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, died at the scene. Another long-term Arsenal fan, Lawrence Mugejera, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Both the guard and the manager of the building are on the run after the incident, with the police looking for them.
The regional police spokesman, Twaha Kasirye, was quoted by the Daily Monitor newspaper as saying that they had recovered a gun at the scene.
"We condemn the incident and we ask anyone with information that can help the police to bring the suspect to book to speak up," he said.
He also urged fans to control their excitement.
Tensions and tragic violence arising from the outcome of football matches, especially between English clubs, are not uncommon in the country where the English Premier League is followed closely.
In October, an Arsenal fan stabbed a Manchester United fan after the two argued over the results over the results of a clash between Arsenal and Liverpool.
In January last year, a youth councillor died from stab wounds in Kampala after intervening in a fight after Arsenal lost to Manchester City.
Just a week before that, an Arsenal fan had been bludgeoned to death in Adjumani, in the West Nile district.
Ugandan fan shot dead celebrating Arsenal beating Manchester United
Witnesses said the celebration by Arsenal fans angered the security guard.
An Ugandan person getting shot for celebrating Arsenal's victory in Uganda.
Very multilayered.
I hope police will find the guard and the manager.
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Newcastle and Villa charged over 'half-time melee'
Newcastle United, Aston Villa and a staff member from both clubs have been charged following an incident at half-time during the sides' recent Premier League match.
The Magpies beat Villa 3-0 at St James' Park on 26 December, with Villa striker Jhon Duran sent off after 32 minutes for stamping on Fabian Schar.
The Football Association (FA) has charged both teams for failing to control their players and staff following an altercation during the break.
Newcastle assistant head coach Jason Tindall, who was sent off for his part in the incident, as well as Villa analyst Victor Manas, have both been charged for acting in an improper manner.
Asked in his post-match media conference if the incident could be described as a "20-man half-time melee", Newcastle head coach Howe said: "Yeah, I don't think that's far off.
"These things always start out, I don't think, with the intention of it happening in the way that it did.
"There was probably 17 or 18 people trying to calm it down, but what it looks like then are more people are involved."
Villa manager Unai Emery was furious with Duran's sending-off and his frustrations continued throughout the first half.
Tindall was later seen shushing Emery in the technical area.
The two clubs and personnel have until 13 January to respond to the charges.
Source: BBC
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Fulham have condemned the "abhorrent" racist and homophobic online abuse directed at defender Calvin Bassey following Sunday's FA Cup penalty shootout win at Manchester United
Nigeria defender Bassey, who scored the opening goal at Old Trafford, shared some examples of the unsavoury abuse he had received on social media.
"We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour which has no place in football or society," Fulham said in a statement.
"Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing.
"We will do everything in our power to work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these vile messages and taking the strongest form of action against them."
Bassey's online abuse follows recent cases involving Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, England defender Kyle Walker, Newcastle United's Joe Willock and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw.
In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Samuel Okafor, chief executive of anti-discrimination body Kick It Out (KIO), said the level of abuse in English football had "reached crisis point".
Bassey's goal was cancelled out in the second half by Bruno Fernandes, with the game staying level at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and extra time.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed for United in the shootout to send the Cottagers into the quarter-finals, where they will host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.
Source: BBC
Nigeria defender Bassey, who scored the opening goal at Old Trafford, shared some examples of the unsavoury abuse he had received on social media.
"We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour which has no place in football or society," Fulham said in a statement.
"Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing.
"We will do everything in our power to work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these vile messages and taking the strongest form of action against them."
Bassey's online abuse follows recent cases involving Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, England defender Kyle Walker, Newcastle United's Joe Willock and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw.
In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Samuel Okafor, chief executive of anti-discrimination body Kick It Out (KIO), said the level of abuse in English football had "reached crisis point".
Bassey's goal was cancelled out in the second half by Bruno Fernandes, with the game staying level at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and extra time.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed for United in the shootout to send the Cottagers into the quarter-finals, where they will host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.
Source: BBC
KingKhanWC
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Football clubs and players should not entertain social media, there will be trolls and bad people on there, its impossible to stop. The more they complain the more these idiots think it works and continue. In the stadium, they should be arrested and taken to task.
sweep_shot
Test Captain
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Correct.
There are thousands of trolls. Not possible to go after all.
I think players should only allow comments from certain people. Public commenting should be disabled.
Apps should add those features if not present already.
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Hundreds arrested in Paris clashes after PSG Champions League win
Hundreds of people have been arrested in Paris following clashes with police, after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans celebrated their club's victory in the Champions League final.
Officers arrested nearly 300 people after clashes broke out near the city's Champs-Elysees avenue and PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, where nearly 50,000 people had watched the 5-0 win against Inter Milan in Munich on big screens.
Flares and fireworks were set off, bus shelters were smashed and cars were torched amid the wild celebrations.
The chaos came after PSG won the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history.
The majority of fans celebrated peacefully, with many singing and dancing in the streets or blaring their car horns.
The Eiffel Tower was illuminated with PSG's blue and red colours, and French President Emmanuel Macron, a keen supporter of Olympique de Marseille, posted on X: "A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.
Approximately 5,400 police were deployed across Paris in anticipation of the raucous celebrations.
Most of the almost 300 people detained were suspected of possessing fireworks and causing disorder, Paris police said.
"Troublemakers on the Champs-Elysees were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects," police said in a statement.
Footage shared on social media, which has not been verified by the BBC, appeared to show crowds attempting to break into several shops on the Champs-Elysées, including Chanel and Foot Locker.
Riot police reportedly used a water cannon to stop a crowd reaching the Arc de Triomphe, and fired tear gas into the crowds.
Other clashes between police and crowds occurred on the Paris ring road. At least two cars were torched near PSG's Parc des Princes stadium.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau took a hard line against the disorder, writing on social media: "True PSG supporters are enjoying their team's magnificent match.
"Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke the police."
Meanwhile, outside Paris, police said a car ploughed into PSG fans in Grenoble in south eastern France, leaving four people injured.
All those hurt were from the same family, police said. Two were seriously injured.
The driver handed himself into the police and was placed under arrest. A source close to the investigation told the AFP news agency it was believed the driver had not acted intentionally.
The PSG team will hold a victory parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday when tens of thousands of supporters are expected to gather to get a glimpse of their returning team.
Macron's office said he would host the victorious players on Sunday to congratulate them.
BBC
Hundreds of people have been arrested in Paris following clashes with police, after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans celebrated their club's victory in the Champions League final.
Officers arrested nearly 300 people after clashes broke out near the city's Champs-Elysees avenue and PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, where nearly 50,000 people had watched the 5-0 win against Inter Milan in Munich on big screens.
Flares and fireworks were set off, bus shelters were smashed and cars were torched amid the wild celebrations.
The chaos came after PSG won the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history.
The majority of fans celebrated peacefully, with many singing and dancing in the streets or blaring their car horns.
The Eiffel Tower was illuminated with PSG's blue and red colours, and French President Emmanuel Macron, a keen supporter of Olympique de Marseille, posted on X: "A glorious day for PSG! Bravo, we are all proud. Paris, the capital of Europe this evening.
Approximately 5,400 police were deployed across Paris in anticipation of the raucous celebrations.
Most of the almost 300 people detained were suspected of possessing fireworks and causing disorder, Paris police said.
"Troublemakers on the Champs-Elysees were looking to create incidents and repeatedly came into contact with police by throwing large fireworks and other objects," police said in a statement.
Footage shared on social media, which has not been verified by the BBC, appeared to show crowds attempting to break into several shops on the Champs-Elysées, including Chanel and Foot Locker.
Riot police reportedly used a water cannon to stop a crowd reaching the Arc de Triomphe, and fired tear gas into the crowds.
Other clashes between police and crowds occurred on the Paris ring road. At least two cars were torched near PSG's Parc des Princes stadium.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau took a hard line against the disorder, writing on social media: "True PSG supporters are enjoying their team's magnificent match.
"Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets of Paris to commit crimes and provoke the police."
Meanwhile, outside Paris, police said a car ploughed into PSG fans in Grenoble in south eastern France, leaving four people injured.
All those hurt were from the same family, police said. Two were seriously injured.
The driver handed himself into the police and was placed under arrest. A source close to the investigation told the AFP news agency it was believed the driver had not acted intentionally.
The PSG team will hold a victory parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday when tens of thousands of supporters are expected to gather to get a glimpse of their returning team.
Macron's office said he would host the victorious players on Sunday to congratulate them.
BBC
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Two dead and hundreds arrested in France after PSG Champions League win
Two people have died and hundreds have been arrested across France after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans celebrated the club's victory in the Champions League final, according to the French interior ministry.
In the south-west town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest late on Saturday evening, local media reported.
A 23-year-old man who was riding a scooter in central Paris was also killed after being hit by a vehicle, the prosecutor's office said.
Flares and fireworks were set off, bus shelters smashed and cars torched amid wild celebrations as PSG won the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history.
The French interior ministry said that 192 people were injured and 559 people arrested, including 491 in Paris.
Twenty-two police officers and seven firefighters were injured, the ministry said, adding that 264 vehicles were set on fire.
BBC
Two people have died and hundreds have been arrested across France after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans celebrated the club's victory in the Champions League final, according to the French interior ministry.
In the south-west town of Dax, a 17-year-old boy died after being stabbed in the chest late on Saturday evening, local media reported.
A 23-year-old man who was riding a scooter in central Paris was also killed after being hit by a vehicle, the prosecutor's office said.
Flares and fireworks were set off, bus shelters smashed and cars torched amid wild celebrations as PSG won the biggest prize in European club football for the first time in their history.
The French interior ministry said that 192 people were injured and 559 people arrested, including 491 in Paris.
Twenty-two police officers and seven firefighters were injured, the ministry said, adding that 264 vehicles were set on fire.
BBC
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