Tag Archives: skirmishes

Borussia Dortmund and Schalke fans fight

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Germany latest to be shamed with 200 arrested at Dortmund and Schalke derby

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UPDATED:

22:36 GMT, 20 October 2012

Around 200 people were arrested as ugly scenes marred the 141st Revier derby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke on Saturday.

Despite repeated appeals by both clubs for their fans to behave during the week, violent skirmishes were reported in the build-up to a game which Schalke won 2-1 in Dortmund.

This comes after some high profile recent supporter incidents, including Serbian fans racially abusing England U21 players and a Leeds fan smacking Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in the face.

Confrontation: Dortmund fans face riot police before the game

Confrontation: Dortmund fans face riot police before the game

According to local police reports, a restaurant was gutted by Dortmund followers 'with furniture ripped apart and used as missiles against opposition fans and police'.

One police car was damaged as mounted police, riot police and agents with dogs were brought in to keep the spectators apart.

Flare up: Smoke fills the stadium

Flare up: Smoke fills the stadium

Flare

Hours before the game kicked off at
15.30 local time, followers of both clubs attacked police who tried to
segregate them in the Westphalian city and water cannons and tear gas
had to be deployed to keep them at a safe distance.

Mounted police were 'attacked by Dortmund hooligans with cobble stones', according to a police report.

The first reports of trouble were circulated almost three hours before kick-off when 'a group of around 100 masked Schalke fans left the underground station and went on the rampage, lighting flares on their way towards the stadium'.

'This has nothing to do with football supporters and we don't want to see them in Dortmund,' said the Dortmund police chief director Dieter Keil.

Face off: Fans stand before the police

Face off: Fans stand before the police

There was further trouble inside the Westfalenstadion with Schalke fans lighting flares and displaying offensive banners, despite bans on such material.

The culprits were all caught on video, however, and will be prosecuted, according to the police statement.

Victory: Schalke celebrate their win

Victory: Schalke celebrate their win

The majority of those arrested were Schalke followers, with the police suspecting the clashes had been organised by the rival groups.

Disturbances were kept to a minimum after the game with the police successfully able to keep both sets of fans apart.

Poland 1 England 1: Warsaw match zone

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Warsaw match zone: Poland's new stadium is not much of a fortress

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UPDATED:

22:14 GMT, 17 October 2012

It was only England’s second game in Warsaw. The other was back in September 1999, a goalless draw in which David Batty was sent off.

Of the previous eight visits to Poland one was in Poznan and the other six in Chorzow. Some Poles fear the new National Stadium does not intimidate as Chorzow did. The home fans were noisy but far removed from the pitch.

They gave England a terrific reception, applauding all the way through the national anthem. Nice touch. Poland are now unbeaten in five games in the new stadium — although they have drawn four and won only once.

Unbeaten: Poland have yet to lose at their new stadium in Warsaw

Unbeaten: Poland have yet to lose at their new stadium in Warsaw

Protest ground

The stadium has been built on the site of the demolished Tenth Anniversary Stadium, a vast oval bowl built in 1955 and capable of holding crowds of up to 70,000, used mainly for party rallies and abandoned as a sporting venue in the ’80s. It was also the scene of Ryszard Siwiec’s self-immolation in 1968.

Siwiec, an accountant and father of five, killed himself in protest at Soviet invasion of Czech Republic.

Defoe distraction

Poland goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton and midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak became obsessed with their little skirmishes with Jermain Defoe as they prepared for England corners to be taken.

Defoe positioned himself on Tyton’s toes and fought to stand his ground as the Polish pair tried to jostle him out of the way. This was going on when Wayne Rooney glanced Steven Gerrard’s corner into the net in the 31st minute.

Closely watched: Poland played attention to striker Jermain Defoe

Closely watched: Poland played attention to striker Jermain Defoe

Double disappointment

The European Rubik Cube championships have been held in Poland this week, in Wroclaw. A Russian called Sergey Ryabko was crowned champion. Ryabko averaged 8.89 seconds to beat Mats Valk (9.21) of the Netherlands. Just like Euro 2012, it was disappointment for the hosts. Polish world record holder Michal Pleskowicz (9.24) came third, unable to manage his world record time of 6.11 seconds.

Roy wanted more energy

Wayne Rooney had no complaints about being substituted as he was feeling weary. ‘I was making long runs back in the first half and then trying to get forward and then went out to the left for the second half and I was a bit tired,’ he said. ‘I’ve no problem with being taken off.’

Not good enough: Wayne Rooney struggled to shine despite scoring

Not good enough: Wayne Rooney struggled to shine despite scoring

Manager Roy Hodgson added: ‘He looked as if he was tiring but Wayne didn’t have the type of game (we wanted) after his excellent performance against San Marino. He couldn’t reproduce that. We wanted some more energy in that central area, which Tom Cleverley could do for us. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave a boost to our game. We created the better chances in the last 15 minutes.’

Fans praised

England’s players, having promised to pay the 40 ticket price for the fans who could not claim it back from the Polish FA, applauded the 800 supporters who stayed in Warsaw to cheer them on. ‘The fans are amazing,’ James Milner said. ‘Circumstances make things difficult. Time off work, the money, flights delayed, hotels changed. Unbelievable. I’m disappointed we couldn’t get three points for them.’

UEFA fine and suspended ban for PAOK

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PAOK and Rapid to resume hostilities behind closed doors after UEFA sanction for crowd trouble

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UPDATED:

10:35 GMT, 28 August 2012

PAOK Salonika and Rapid Vienna have been hit with suspended one-year bans by UEFA after crowd violence before their Europa League play-off match.

The Greeks won the first leg 2-1 after clashes between rival fans during the warm-up. The return leg is on Thursday in Austria and will now be played behind closed doors.

PAOK will have to play their next
three European home matches behind closed doors and have been fined
120,000, while Rapid have been fined half that figure.

Scroll down to watch the video

Violence: Fans of Rapid Wien are repelled by riot police after clashes with supporters of PAOK

Violence: Fans of Rapid Wien are repelled by riot police after clashes with supporters of PAOK

The one-year ban on the clubs is
suspended for three years and allows the winner of the play-off to
continue playing in this season's Europa League.

But both teams will be suspended immediately should any similar incidents occur within the three-year timeframe.

Several skirmishes ensued after
dozens of PAOK supporters spilled onto the pitch at the Toumba Stadium
in response to having flares thrown at them by Rapid fans.

PAOK spokesman Kiriakos Kiriakos said the club intendeds to appeal the decision in the coming days.

Fighting back: Greek riot police fire tear gas at PAOK and Rapid Vienna fans

Fighting back: Greek riot police fire tear gas at PAOK and Rapid Vienna fans

Delay: The home fans spilled on to the pitch, forcing kick-off to be put back

Delay: The home fans spilled on to the pitch, forcing kick-off to be put back

Delay: The home fans spilled on to the pitch, forcing kick-off to be put back

Supporters of PAOK FC enter the playing field before the UEFA Europa League play-off first leg soccer match between PAOK FC and SK Rapid Vienna

Wigan 3 Wolves 2: Violent clashes break out

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Violent clashes mar Wigan victory as pitch invasion breaks out at DW Stadium

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UPDATED:

17:38 GMT, 13 May 2012

Wigan's final home match of the season at home to already-relegated Wolves was marred by a couple of minor skirmishes at the final whistle after fans invaded the pitch.

The Latics won 3-2 to secure an eight successive season in the Barclays Premier League and many of the near sell out crowd came on to the field at the final whistle.

While it began as a good-natured celebration the party atmosphere turned unsavoury with those on the pitch taunting the away end.

Bloody battle: A number of fans were involved in violent clashes

Bloody battle: A number of fans were involved in violent clashes

A couple of Wolves fans broke the line of stewards across the 18-yard line and scuffles were seen to break out with at least one man leaving the field with a bloodied face.

However, the exchanges were very minor in nature and were not allowed to escalate and order was restored very quickly.

With the threat of the players' end-of-season lap of honour being cancelled the playing surface was cleared quickly after an appeal over the stadium's PA system.

Sad scenes: Violence erupted after Wigan supporters flooded onto the pitch

Sad scenes: Violence erupted after Wigan supporters flooded onto the pitch

The majority of the DW Stadium expressed their disapproval with boos and chants of 'Off, off, off.'

Wolves
players returned shortly afterwards to applaud their fans and were
given a warm welcome by all four sides of the ground, before the Latics
came out to thank their fans.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was unaware of the incidents after the whistle but said he did not think it was representative of fans' behaviour as a whole.

Finishing on a high: Wigan beat Wolves having already secured safety

Finishing on a high: Wigan beat Wolves having already secured safety

'It was a real emotional game and we have real passion but the last thing you want to see is violence attached to the game,' he said.

'It is a little minority but it will not spoil the feeling of a party and achievement because I thought the fans were incredible throughout the season.

'They deserve a real feeling of satisfaction today.'