Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease,[1][2][3][4] is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans.[5] Fights between supporters of rival teams may take place before or after football matches at pre-arranged locations away from stadia, in order to avoid arrests by the police, or they can erupt spontaneously at the stadium or in the surrounding streets. Football hooliganism can range from shouts and small-scale fistfights and disturbances to huge riots where firms attack each other with deadly weapons such as sports bats, glass bottles, rocks, knives, machetes and pistols.[6] In some cases, stadium brawls have caused fans to flee in panic; some being injured when fences or walls collapsed.[7] In the most extreme cases, hooligans, police, and bystanders have been killed, and riot police have intervened with tear gas, armoured vehicles and water cannons.[8]
A football firm (also known as a hooligan firm) is a gang formed to oppose and physically attack supporters of other clubs. Some firms exist to promote fringe political causes, both on the far Left and Right, with the football aspect of the club of minimal importance behind the promotion of their political ideals through violence. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the casual subculture transformed the British football hooliganism scene. Instead of wearing working class skinhead-style clothes, which readily identified hooligans to the police, firm members began wearing designer clothes and expensive offhand sportswear.
Football hooliganism has been depicted in films such as I.D., The Firm, Cass, The Football Factory, Green Street, Rise of the Footsoldier and Awaydays. There are also many books about hooliganism, such as The Football Factory and Among the Thugs. Some critics argue that these media representations glamorise violence and the hooligan lifestyle.
The first instance of football violence is unknown, but football and violence could be arbitrarily traced back to at least the 14th century in England. In 1314, Edward II banned football (which then was a violent free-for-all involving rival villages fly-hacking a pig's bladder across the local heath) because he believed the disorder surrounding matches might lead to social unrest or even treason.[9] The first alleged recorded instances of football hooliganism in the modern game took place in the 1880s in England, a period when gangs of supporters would intimidate neighbourhoods, as well as attack referees and opposing supporters and players. In 1885, after Preston North End beat Aston Villa 5-0 in a friendly match, the two teams were pelted with stones; attacked with sticks, punched, kicked and spat at. One Preston player was beaten so severely that he lost consciousness. Press reports of the time described the fans as "howling roughs".[9] The following year, Preston fans fought Queen's Park fans in a railway station; the first alleged instance of football hooliganism away from a match. In 1905, several Preston fans were tried for hooliganism, including a "drunk and disorderly" 70 year old woman, following their match against Blackburn Rovers.[9]
Between the two world wars, there were no recorded instance of football hooliganism, (though for example Millwall's ground was reportedly closed in 1920, 1934 and 1950 after crowd disturbances) but it started attracting widespread media attention in the late 1950s due to its re-emergence in Latin America. In the 1955-56 English football season, Liverpool and Everton fans were involved in a number of incidents. By the 1960s, an average of 25 hooligan incidents were being reported each year in England.
Football hooliganism in Azerbaijan In Azerbaijan Biggest problems come from fans of PFC Neftchi Baku (Flagman) (Ultra Neftchi) and Khazar Lankaran (Bosman) (12 Player)
Hooliganism used to be a problem for the last years in Belgian football. Riots between several major teams as Club Brugge, Anderlecht and Standard de Liège were a common problem. In Belgium, the Flemish firms are mostly right-winged. In Wallonia there are more left-winged groups, due to the political situation in the country.
On June 3, 2011, after the match Belgium - Turkey, several riots occurred in the city center of Ghent after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. 30 people were injured. After they won the championship against Standard de Liège, fans of K.R.C. Genk, who were intimidated by the police, attacked the police in the center of the city.
Football hooliganism in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a big problem. Biggest problems come from fans of FK Željezničar Sarajevo (The Maniacs), FK Sloboda Tuzla (Fukare), Zrinjski (Ultras Mostar) and FK Sarajevo (Horde Zla). Also there are many other teams in Bosnia that have hooligans as supporters. FK Borac Banja Luka (Lešinari), NK Čelik Zenica (Robijaši), FK Velež Mostar (Red Army), HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Ultras), NK Široki Brijeg (Škripari) also have not so polite fans. Riots often happen after the games and in restaurants, bars, etc.
Bosniak oriented groups are fans of FK Željezničar Sarajevo (The Maniacs), NK Čelik Zenica (Robijaši), FK Velež Mostar (Red Army), FK Sloboda Tuzla (Fukare) also fans of the FK Sarajevo (Horde Zla). Serb oriented groups are fans of FK Borac Banja Luka (Lešinari), FK Slavija, and associated with Serbs are FK Drina Zvornik (Vukovi), . Croat oriented groups are fans of NK Široki Brijeg (Škripari) and HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Ultras). Most football fans from Bosnia and Herzegovina are politically right oriented in higher or lesser degree.
Football hooliganism is common in Bulgaria. Several teams have organised ultras groups and firms, including CSKA Sofia(Ofanziva, 14, Lulin Boys, Torcida Plovdiv, UCSH, SWCR), Levski Sofia(Sofia Zapad, South Division), Botev Plovdiv(Izgrev Boys, Brigada Trakia), Lokomotiv Plovdiv(Lauta Hools, Napoletani), Minyor Pernik(Teva Boys), Beroe Stara Zagora(Zara Boys), etc. Most of the groups express far-right political views, especially against gypsies and Turks. There are several feuds between the ultras groups, with the biggest being between CSKA and Levski Sofia fans and between Botev and Lokomotiv Plovdiv supporters. Numerous occasions of vandalism on the stadiums have occurred, most notably on 26.02.2011 in the derby between Levski and CSKA Sofia played on Georgi Asparuhov Stadium.
Football hooliganism in Croatia has seen riots over inter-ethnic resentments and the politics that were reignited by the breakup of the Yugoslav federation in the 1990s.[8] Two of the best known hooligan firms are Torcida (Hajduk Split) and Bad Blue Boys (Dinamo Zagreb).[10] However, the groups are not just hooligan firms; they are more like the South American Torcida supporters groups and Ultras groups, with organised Tifos and so on.
On 13 May 1990 (before the breakup of Yugoslavia) Serbian club Red Star Belgrade was in Zagreb to play Dinamo Zagreb at the Maksimir Stadium. Red Star brought over 3,000 fans to the game with the late Željko Ražnatović (known as Arkan) a Serbian paramilitary leader being a prominent member. Before the match a number of small fights broke out. Police reinforcements soon arrived with armoured vehicles and water cannons, focusing and beating solely Dinamo's fans; the legendary reaction of the Dinamo's player Zvonimir Boban is when he kicked the policeman, defending Dinamo's fan beaten by the police. The fighting lasted for over an hour and hundreds of people were injured. Football hooliganism in Croatia is sometimes connected with racism and nationalism,[8] although the racist remarks, if any appear, are pointed solely to opposing club's players, never to own squad.
Ethnic tension between Croats and Serbs has also led to fighting at a football match in Australia. On 13 March 2005, Sydney United (who have a large Croatian following, and were established by Croatian immigrants) and Bonnyrigg White Eagles (who have a large Serbian following and were established by Serbian immigrants) met in Sydney in the New South Wales Premier League. About 50 fans clashed, resulting in two police officers getting injured and five fans being arrested. Football NSW held an inquiry into the events. Both clubs denied that the fight was racially motivated or that there was any ethnic rivalry.[11]
Croatian hooligans are also notorious for staging large illegal pyroshows at stadiumsrge incident occurred in 2003 in which signal flares and smoke bombs are hurled into the pitch causing postponement or cancellation of the match. A lain Rome during the Hajduk-Roma match when 900 Torcida fans threw signal flares at Roma fans resulting in various injuries and clashes with the police.
Another incident occurred in Genoa in 2007 when masked Torcida fans attacked the police with bricks,bottles and stones.Rioting continued in the stadium when Torcida fans threw chairs into the pitch and made nazi salutes.
A riot occurred in 2006 in Osijek during the Osijek-Dinamo match.Several clashes between the Bad Blue Boys and Kohorta occurred before the match in which one Osijek fan received several stab wounds after which Osijek fans attacked the police and Dinamo fans with signal flares and stones.
A large riot occurred in 2008 in Prague prior to the Sparta Prague-Dinamo match. Riots were ignited with the support of Sparta's ultrafans to Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić[12]. Approximately 500 Bad Blue Boys rioted in the city centre breaking shops and attacking police with chairs,signal flares and stones.Approximately 300 Bad Blue Boys were detained and 8 police officer were injured.Prior to the riots some Bad Blue Boys provoked local Romani people by giving nazi salutes.
A large riot occurred in 2010 on 1.May at the Maksimir stadium when the Bad Blue Boys clashed with the police resulting in many arrests and one critically injured police officer.After the match violent clashes continued in which one Dinamo fan was shot by police officers.
A large number of Croatian football supporters are patriots and nationalists and often rally together at political or self organized events to show support for the national idea. In 2008 local Delije attacked a Croatian student home in Vukovar. After 2 weeks a large rally was organized by hooligan firms. 2500 Croatian football supporters converged on the city in search of Serbian football supporters but a heavy police presence prevented large scale violence. Several weeks after the rally masked Kohorta stormed a Delije fan club meeting in Bobota and attacked the police and Delije with signal flares and baseball bats resulting in several injuries. A large incident occurred in 2009 prior to the FC Timişoara-Dinamo match. 400 Bad Blue Boys rioted in the city centre and attacked local Serbs and Romani people. After the incident Romanian police detained a large number of Dinamo fans but the situation escalated again at the FC Timişoara stadium when 200 Bad Blue Boys tore down the pitch fence and attacked the police with chairs and bats resulting in several injured police officers.During the clash Dinamo fans fired signal missiles at FC Timişoara fans resulting in severe injuries. Many Croatian hooligan groups have also displayed nazi flags at matches and have neo-nazi skinheads in their ranks. Several incidents occurred when Bad Blue Boys and Torcida made racist chants towards opposing club's football players of black skin descent and hurled bananas in the pitch. In 2010 an Camerun player was attacked in Koprivnica resulting in severe injuries.
In December 2010. 10-15 Tornado (Zadar) hooligans attacked an Partizan traveling coach with stones and bricks resulting in one injured person .
In December 2010 30-40 Bad Blue Boys attacked an PAOK traveling coach with stones, bricks and flares setting the traveling coach on fire and inflicting injuries on several passengers.
Hooliganism has been a term used in Denmark since the early nineties just one decade after the peaceful roligan culture was introduced in Denmark. Hooligans in Denmark are mostly football fans who engaged in violence at football matches. Hooligans in Denmark usually fight in hooligans groups against other hooligans groups from rival football teams. The hooligan in Denmark usually arranges fights with the counterparts before or after the matches, but the fights can also take place far from the stadium or in the stadium during the matches. The Danish man who attacked the referee during a UEFA Euro qualification match in 2008 between Denmark and Sweden later known as the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier fan attack has however not been classified as a hooligan. In the beginning of the era of hooliganism in Denmark the hooligans operated with a relatively sharp honor code among themselves, which meant that they only fought with like-minded people, and the use of weapons was not permitted. However in recent years there have been examples of this so-called honor code being disregarded by various Danish hooligan groups. Casuals and hooligans operate close with each other in Denmark and the two groups often overlap each other both at the stadium and outside the stadium in this country. The hooligan groups in Denmark are often linked to the radical right-wing like the radical right-wing group Danish Front. Football hooliganism is regarded as a serious problem in Denmark both too the sport itself and too the Danish society in general. In an attempt to control hooliganism in Denmark the Danish parliament introduced a hooligan registry in 2008.
The following hooligan groups have been or are still active hooligan groups in Denmark: White Pride (AGF) formerly Ultra White Pride was the first real nationalist/ racist hooligan group in Denmark. They have existed since 1994. Aarhus Casuals (AGF) usually has a size of about 50 people. However, this may change depending on the significance of the concrete match. Southside United (Brøndby IF) was the first hooligan group in Denmark. The group started under the name Southside Brigade, but was renamed after several groups joined forces. The group consist of about between 170 and 250 people. Blue Front (Brøndby IF) consists of approx. 80 members between 17 and 22 years. Blue Front serves as the youth group to Southside United. Yellow Blue Crew (Brøndby IF) can assemble up to 70 people at big matches. Yellow Blue Crew is a non political group. It started out as a regular ultras group in 2006 but has had a great member replacement and is now back on track, as a more direct casual group consisting of young people in their early 20s. The group is centered around the town of Herlev and also known as The Herlev Boys or YBC. Copenhagen Casuals (FC Copenhagen) was founded in the mid-1990s under the name Copenhagen Ultras. The group consists of approximately between 50 and 100 people. Several members are active on the extreme right. Copenhagen Casuals Young Boys (FC Copenhagen) is a group of young people which are active in Copenhagen Casuals. The group was formed in 2003 and serves as a springboard to Copenhagen Casuals. Blue Army (Lyngby BK) counts approximately between 70 and 100 people, several persons from the right wing. The Island Boys (OB) is a relatively new group at the Danish hooligan scene, which includes supporting forces from the Odense football environment. The group is non-political. Green City Casuals (Næstved BK) is a non political group that first appeared on 13 April 2006. Membership is estimated to be approximately 15 people. Horsens Casuals (AC Horsens) is a violent group of Horsens fans who have not been active since the 2005/06 season. They were best known for their brawl with Odense Casuals, where there were used golf clubs as weapons. It is said that the group had approximately 100 members. HIK Hooligans (HIK) is a non-political group that emerged in the season of 2005/2006. The group consists of around 25 members and is due to their club's location in the second best Danish league limited to fewer direct confrontations than the hooligan groups supporting the clubs from the best Danish league. The group moves in the environment around Copenhagen Casuals and has a friendly relationship with this group. The HIK Hooligans is also known as 8911. Supra Esbjerg (Esbjerg fB) is a hooligan group from the city of Esbjerg which does not exist anymore. The group contained a hardcore inner group of between 15 and 20 people and a relatively large youth group taking the city's size into consideration. There have been many cases of brawl with other fans, however, the group was best known for their showdown with the group Aalborg Casual Youth.
Besides the official members of this hooligan groups there are also a lot of so-called hangarounds which means people which are not permanently attached to the groups.
Football hooliganism in France is often rooted in social conflict, including racial tension. In the 1990s, fans of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fought with supporters from Belgium, England( in 1994, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. hooligans fought running battles with English club Arsenal for 3 hours prior to the uefa cup semi-final in Paris. Over 300 Arsenal hooligans "TheHerd" fought against 1000 French hooligans, it was reported as one of the worst incidents of hooliganism in France), Germany, Italy and Scotland.[13] There is a long standing north/south rivalry between the PSG (representing Paris and by extension northern France) and Olympique de Marseille (representing the South of France) which has encouraged authorities to be extremely mobilized during games between the two teams. Violent fights and post-game riots including car burning, and store windows smashing have been a regular fixture of PSG-OM games. In 2000, the bitter rivalry turned particularly violent.[14] On 24 May 2001, fifty people were injured when fighting broke out at a match between PSG and Turkish club Galatasaray at the Parc des Princes stadium.[15][16] PSG were initially given a record $571,000 fine, but it was reduced on appeal to $114,000. Galatasaray was initially fined $114,000 by UEFA, but it too was eventually reduced to $28,500.[17] In May 2001, six PSG fans from the Supporters Club, were arrested and charged with assault, carrying weapons, throwing items on the pitch and racism. The six were alleged to have deliberately entered a part of the Parc des Princes stadium where French fans of Turkish origin were standing, in order to attack them. The six were banned from all football stadiums for the duration of their trial.[17][18][19]
On 24 November 2006 a PSG fan was shot and killed by police and another seriously injured during fighting between PSG fans and the police. The violence occurred after PSG lost 4-2 to Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Parc des Prince in a UEFA Cup match. PSG fans chased a fan of Hapoel Tel Aviv, shouting racist and anti-semitic slogans. A plainclothes police officer who tried to protect the Hapoel fan was attacked, and in the chaos, one fan was shot dead and another seriously injured. In response, the French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy held a meeting with the president of the French Football League, Frederic Thiriez to discuss racism and violence in football. The director-general of the French police, Michel Gaudin, insisted that measures against football hooliganism had reduced racist incidents to six that season from nineteen in the previous season. Gaudin also stated that 300 known hooligans could be banned from matches.[20] The fan who was shot, was linked with the Boulogne Boys, a group of fans who modelled themselves on British hooligans in the 1980s. The group's name comes from the Kop of Boulogne (KOB), one of the two main home fan stand at the Parc des Princes. The KOB themselves held a silent memorial march attended by 300 and accused the police office of murdering the fan. They cited bias in the French press who had only given a "one-sided" account of the incident.[20] French President Jacques Chirac condemned violence that led up to the shooting, stating that he was horrified by the reports of racism and anti-Semitism. French Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin called for new, tougher measures to deal with football hooligans. Prosecutors opened an inquiry into the incident, to determine whether the officer involved should face criminal charges.[21][22]
Before a home match against Sochaux on 4 January 2006, two Arab youths were punched and kicked by white fans outside the entrance to the KOB. During the match racist insults were aimed at black players and a PSG player of Indian origin, Vikash Dhorasoo was told to "go sell peanuts in the metro".[13] On 7 March 2006, three PSG supporters were convicted for unfurling a racist banner at a match in February 2005, that was being held as part of an anti-racism campaign. The fans were banned from the stadium for three years, and fined between US$90 and $1,200.[13]
In the recent years, following UK's example, France's legislation has changed, including more and more banning of violent fans from stadiums. The threat of dissolution of fan groups has also tempered the outward rivalry and violence of a number of fans. Known violent fans under ban sentences are to report to the nearest Police station on nights of game, to prove they are not anywhere in proximity to the stadium.
Some football hooliganism in Germany has been linked to neo-Nazism and far right groups[23] In June 1998, after a FIFA World Cup match in France between Germany and Croatia a French policeman was beaten to the point of brain damage by German fans. Following the incident, German police contacted many of the known 2,000+ German hooligans to warn them they would be arrested if they travelled to upcoming matches in France.[24] A German fan was arrested in 1998 and charged with attempted murder[25][26] and in 1999, four more Germans were convicted in the attack[27][28] In 2001, Markus Warnecke, the German fan who was accused of leading the attack, was found guilty and jailed for five years and banned from France for ten years, and from all sports facilities for five years.[29]
In March 2005, German football fans fought with police and rival fans at a friendly match between Germany and Slovenia in Celje, Slovenia, damaging cars and shops, and shouting racist slogans. The German Football Association (DFB) apologised for the behaviour. As a result, 52 people were arrested; 40 Germans and 12 Slovenians.[30][31] Following a 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava, Slovakia, German hooligans fought with the local police, and six people were injured and two were taken into custody. The DFB again apologised for fans who chanted racist slogans.[32]
In June 2006, Germany beat Poland in a World Cup Finals match in Dortmund, which led to violent clashes. The police detained over 300 people in Dortmund and German fans threw chairs, bottles and fireworks at the police. Of the 300 arrested, 120 were known hooligans.[33] In October 2006, a task force was established to deal with violence and racism in German football stadiums.[34] The worst incident took place at a Third division (North) match between the Hertha BSC Berlin B-team and Dynamo Dresden, in which 23 policemen were injured.[35][36] In February 2007 in Saxony, all German lower league matches, from the fifth division downward were cancelled after about 800 fans attacked 300 police officers (injuring 39 of them) after a match between Lokomotive Leipzig and Erzgebirge Aue II.[37] There were minor disturbances after the Germany and England match during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. An England flag was burned down amongst a mob of German supporters in Duisburg-Hamborn in Germany.[38]
In April 2007 all sports stadiums were closed down in Greece for two weeks following the death of a fan in a pre-arranged fight between hooligans in Athens on 29 March. The fight involved 500 fans of rival Super League Greece clubs Panathinaikos, which is based in Athens, and Olympiacos, which is based in nearby Piraeus. The Greek government immediately suspended all team sports in Greece and severed the ties between teams and their supporter's organizations.[39]
On a Third Division match between Panetolikos and Ilioupoli was stopped for thirty minutes when players and fans clashed following a Panetolikos disallowed goal. Two players and a coach were sent to the hospital.[40]
On 18 April rival fans clashed with each other and riot police in Ioannina during and after a Greek Cup semi final match between local rivals PAS Giannena and Larissa. There was trouble during the game in which Larissa won 2-0. Fans set fire to rubbish bins and smashed shop windows, while police tried to disperse them by firing tear gas.[39][41]
On 10 October 2009, a group of about 30 hooligans disrupted an "Under 17" match between local rivals PAOK and ARIS. Among the injured were a group of ARIS players and their coach, a veteran PAOK player and another official.
On October 7, 2011, a group of Greek supporters firebombed the away section of a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Croatia in Athens resulting in several injuries.
There are three big regional derbies in Hungary year by year. The most famous and the oldest derby is in the capital city, Budapest between Hungary's two most well-known clubs; Ferencvárosi Torna Club (FTC, Fradi) from the IX. district and Újpesti Torna Egylet (UTE) from the IV. district. If anyone knows any of these team they should know that riots are more than guarrenteed when they meet in Hungarian First Division. there are lots of injuries, arrests, petards and trouble every time between the greens (FTC) and purples (UTE) fans. Ferencváros fans are also well-known about their behavior and fanaticism all around Europe. The Eastern-Hungarian derby is diveded by three clubs: Debreceni VSC (from Debrecen), Diósgyőri VTK (from Miskolc) and Nyíregyházi Spartacus (from Nyíregyháza, whois in the second division at the moment.) thousand of fans are supporting their team in a hellish atmosphere. Western-Hungary's derby is between Zalaegerszegi TE (ZTE, Man U fans must remember them) and Haladás VSE (from Szombathely.) a hellish atmosphere also guarranted at their games. One thing is common between these hooligans; they hate their biggest rival's fans and they want to show them, who is the strongest.
In February 2001, AS Roma fans fought with police and with Liverpool fans, and five English supporters were stabbed.[42] In December 2001, police tear gassed brawlers at a Champions League match between AS Roma and Liverpool, in which four Liverpool fans were stabbed.[43] In March 2006 three fans of English club Middlesbrough F.C. were stabbed before the club's UEFA Cup clash against A.S. Roma in Rome in an attack blamed on Roman ultras.[44]
After a weekend of violence in January 2007, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) threatened to halt all league football. An official of amateur club Sammartinese died when he was caught up in a fight between players and fans in Luzzi and in Florence, a Livorno fan needed 20 stitches in his head after being attacked by Fiorentina fans. About 100 Atalanta fans tried to attack coaches carrying Catania fans and fought with police and at a Serie D game, a linesman was hit by a metal drum thrown from the stands.[45] In February 2007 the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) suspended all football matches after a policeman was killed at the Serie A match between Catania and Palermo. The policeman, Officer Filippo Raciti, died when he was struck in the face by a small explosive as the police were trying to deal with the fighting outside the ground.[46] On 4 April 2007 AS Roma and Manchester United fans fought during UEFA Champions League match. A Manchester United fan was stabbed and eleven fans taken to hospital. Two Roma fans also received hospital treatment. The head of Rome police, Achille Serra, claimed that the police action was justified and that there would be no inquiry.[47]
The only really established Hooligan Firms in Ireland are the Bohs Soccer Casuals and The Larrys (Shamrock Rovers).On a smaller level, Cork City also have an element. In the 80's and 90's there are accounts of large scale disorder between Cork City and Shamrock Rovers in Cork. Oe incident involving over 200 Cork fans and 150 Rovers fans. Rovers fans were chased from Flower Lodge to the City Centre after the initial confrontation. Derry City had previously caused serious disorder in Cork in 1985 during their FAI cup run. Over 10,000 Derry fans attended the game in Cork. Widespread disorder took place before, during and after the game.Six Derry fans were stabbed after a serious altercation on the Blackrock road with Mahon and Albert road hooligan gangs.[48] There have been riots at matches between the Bohs Soccer Casuals and the 'Larrys' supporters of Shamrock Rovers. The Rivalry between Bohemians & Shamrock Rovers is the most intense in the country with a large police presence at all games between the two clubs.[48]
Football hooliganism in the Netherlands began after rioting between supporters of Feyenoord and English club Tottenham Hotspur at the 1974 UEFA Cup Final. Since then, several Dutch clubs have been associated with hooliganism, Ajax, Feyenoord, FC Utrecht, FC Groningen, Twente Enschede and ADO Den Haag. The most violent rivalry is between Ajax and Feyenoord. On 16 June 1990, English fans were arrested for brawling in Amsterdam before a friendly match.[49] The bloodiest football hooligan encounter has been the Battle of Beverwijk between Feyenoord and Ajax hooligans on 23 March 1997, in which several people were seriously injured and Carlo Picornie was killed.[50] On 26 April 1999, 80 football fans were arrested when Feyenoord supporters rioted after a cup match with NAC Breda.[51] The 2002-03 season was marked by continued fighting between fans of Ajax and FC Utrecht, and between fans of Ajax and Feyenoord.[52] In 2006, a riot broke out between Feyenoord fans and French police in Nancy.[53]
Hooliganism has escalated in Norway in recent years, though the activity still can not be compared to that in neighboring countries such as Sweden and Denmark. The little that exists of hooligans and casuals in Norway are usually smaller fractions of the supporter clubs of the bigger football teams. Clubs such as Brann, Lillestrøm, Vålerenga, IK Start and Rosenborg are all known for having supporter groups and firms which are involved with arranged fighting, vandalism and rioting.
Arranged football hooligan fights in Poland are known as ustawka. They became common in Poland in the late 1990s.. On 30 March 2003, it was reported that Polish police arrested 120 people because rival football supporters fought during a match between Śląsk Wrocław and Arka Gdynia.[54] During the riot, hooligans pelted police officers with stones and fought a running battle with knives and axes. One victim was found lying seriously injured at the scene, and later died in hospital. During the 1998-99 UEFA Cup, Italian footballer Dino Baggio, from Parma F.C. was stabbed in the head by Wisła Kraków supporters. The knife was thrown at him from the part of the terraces occupied by the Poles.[55]
The violence of football hooliganism in Portugal has increased in the past several years. Groups of hooligans identified with bigger teams can be violent when their team's reputation is at stake. Firms identify with teams such as F.C. Porto, S.L. Benfica, Sporting Clube de Portugal. F.C. Porto have the official firm the Super Dragões. Various illegal firms support Porto as well, being known as some of the most violent in northern Portugal, giving F.C. Porto fans a bad reputation amongst rival firms. SL Benfica have also the two firms, one official the Diabos Vermelhos and other non-official called No Name Boys, a criminal based firm. Sporting CP have three firms and of the three major teams of Portugal Juve Leo or Juventude Leonina along with Directivo Ultras XXI and Torcida Verde. Juventude Leonina is also the eldest Firm in Portugal (1976).
Recent violence in Portuguese football included fans throwing objects at players on the pitch and staff. Super Dragoes threw golf balls towards Benfica Goalkeeper Roberto during a FC Porto vs Benfica game, and got into various fist fights with the Benficas fans, proceeding afterwards to a massive riot. During a high policed rivalry between S.C. Braga and Vitória Guimarães incidents have occurred outside the pitch. Incidents of golf ball chucking and seats torn apart in each others stadium are very common, especially by the well-known Vitória Guimarães firm White Angels.
During a high profile UEFA Europa League game on 18 March 2010, sporting fans hurled rocks and flares towards Atlético Madrid away fans outside the stadium, whilst some Atletico fans threw glass bottles back. A strong police presence around the stadium helped stop the violence between the two sets of fans.
Football hooliganism has become prevalent in Russia since the beginning of the 80s, growing from almost nothing into some of the most feared hooligans in the world. The most ruthless firms in Russia are very often linked to the Moscow teams, such as FC Spartak Moscow (Gladiators, Union), FC Lokomotiv Moscow (Red-Green's, Vikings, BHZ, Trains Team), PFC CSKA Moscow (RBW, Gallant Steeds, Yaroslavka, Einfach Jugend), FC Dynamo Moscow (Capitals, 9-ka) and FC Torpedo Moscow (Tubes, TroubleMakers), but faces tough competition from the internationally feared firms of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg (Music Hall, Coalition, Snakes Firm) from the second biggest city of Russia, Saint Petersburg. Russian hooligans often have an underlying resentment towards Russia's perceived political rivals.[56][57][58][59][60][61]
The most prominent groups of hooligans are associated with Belgrade and Serbia's two main clubs, FK Partizan and Red Star Belgrade. They are known as the Grobari (Gravediggers) and Delije (the name means heroes), respectively. FK Rad is a less-successful Belgrade club, whose associated hooligans, known locally as "United Force", have notoriously been involved in many violent incidents.[62]
On 2 December 2007, a plainclothes police officer was seriously injured when he was attacked during a Serbian Superliga match between Red Star Belgrade and Hajduk Kula.[63][64] On 14 April 2008 a football fan was killed near Novi Sad after clashes between FK Partizan's Grobari and fans of FK Vojvodina.[65] That same week, after a Red Star Belgrade-Partizan cup match, three people were injured and a bus destroyed by hooligans.[66]
On 19 September 2008 a Serbian football hooligan was sentenced to ten years in jail for an attack against a police officer at a Red Star Belgrade–Hajduk Kula game.[67]
On 12 October 2010 Serbia's Euro 2012 Qualifying clash with Italy was abandoned after only 6 minutes after several Serbian fans threw flares and fireworks onto the pitch and caused severe trouble in and out of the ground.[68]
Partizan Belgrade were disqualified from the UEFA Cup, after crowd trouble in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Grobari threw flares and stones and fought with supporters of Zrinjski Mostar and police.
Fourteen Grobari were convicted for the murder of Toulouse fan Brice Taton in Belgrade. They attacked them with baseball bats and flares while wearing surgical masks. The hooligans received up to 35 years in prison. [69]
Hooliganism began in Sweden at the turn of the 20th century as fans of AIK and Djurgårdens IF have been reported fighting after games in Stockholm. Modern hooliganism began in 1970 when fans of IFK Göteborg invaded the pitch, destroyed the goalposts and fought the police at the end of a match that relegated Göteborg from the Allsvenskan, although Hooliganism in Sweden became a growing problem in the 1980s, but pitch invasions and violence at football grounds decreased in the late 1990s; when hooligan firms started pre-arranging their fights away from the grounds and the regular supporters. Five clubs that have large organised hooligans firms are AIK (Firman Boys), IFK Göteborg (Wisemen) Djurgårdens IF (DFG) Hammarby IF (KGB) and Helsingborgs IF (Frontline). But several other football, bandy and ice hockey clubs have active hooligan followings.[70] In July 2002, a member of the Wisemen was killed after a pre-arranged fight against Firman Boys.[70] In November 2002, 12 members of the Wisemen stood trial for inflicting life-threatening injuries on a Hammarby fan in 2001.[70]
Football hooliganism in Spain arises from three main sources. The first is racism, as some black players have been victims of ethnic slurs. Samuel Eto'o, a former FC Barcelona player from Cameroon, has denounced the problem. The second source is the strong rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. After transferring from Barcelona to Real Madrid, Luís Figo's appearance in Barcelona's Nou Camp Stadium triggered a strong reaction. The crowd threw bottles, mobile phones and other things (including a pig's head). Although nobody was injured the match was followed by a large discussion on fan violence in the Spanish Primera División. Hooliganism is also rooted in deep political divisions arising from the General Franco fascist regime days (some Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol, Real Betis Balompie or Valencia CF ultras are linked to franquista groups), the communist ones, (such as Deportivo La Coruña, Sevilla FC or Rayo Vallecano) and the independentist movements in Catalonia (like FC Barcelona) and the Basque region. In Spain, organized hooligan groups are popularly called grupos ultra.
In 1998, Aitor Zabaleta, a supporter of Real Sociedad was killed by an Atlético Madrid hooligan[71] who was linked to a neo-Nazi group (Bastión), just before a match between these two teams. In 2003, a supporter of Deportivo La Coruña was killed in riots by Deportivo hooligans, when he tried to protect a supporter of the opposing team, SD Compostela. Since then, authorities have made attempts to bring hooliganism more under control. In 2007, there were acts of hooliganism before a match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, with several cars being destroyed and policemen injured by flares and bottles which were thrown at them.[72] Many black foreign players have been racially abused, such as at a recent friendly match between Spain and England, in which black England players such as Shaun Wright-Phillips and Ashley Cole endured monkey chants from Spain supporters.[73] There also have been local disputes between rival teams, for example between Cádiz Club de Fútbol and Xerez CD or Real Betis Balompie and Sevilla FC. In 2008, after a hooligan incident versus Espanyol, FC Barcelona very publicly took a stand on violence, saying it hoped to stamp out violence for good.[74] In 2007 Atlético Madrid hooligans clashed with Aberdeen FC hooligans prior to a UEFA Cup match.
Football hooliganism is relatively new in Switzerland. One incident, dubbed the 2006 Basel Hooligan Incident, 13 May 2006, occurred on the last day of the 2005-06 season, when FC Zürich defeated FC Basel at St. Jakob Park to win the Swiss championship with a last-minute goal. After the final whistle, angry Basel hooligans stormed the field and attacked Zürich players. The Zürich team were forced to celebrate in the upper deck of the stands while the fighting continued. There was similar fighting in the streets that night.[75][75]
According to the Turkish Daily News, hooligan groups are well organised, have their own "leaders", and often consist of organised street fighters. These groups have a "racon" (code of conduct), which states that the intention must be to injure rather than kill and that a stab must be made below the waist.[76] Other hooligans have fired firearms into the air to celebrate their team's victory, which has been known to accidentally kill innocent people watching the celebrations on their balconies.[77][78]
Trouble has arisen during matches between Istanbul rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe.[77] However, the Turkish Football Federation has tightened security to try and contain the hooliganism. During the 2005 Turkish cup final between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, 8,000 police, stewards and officials were employed to prevent violence.[79] In 2006, the Turkish Football Federation introduced new measures to combat the threat of hooliganism and have made new regulations that allow the Professional Football Disciplinary Board to fine clubs up to YTL 250,000 for their fans behavior. Repeat offenders could be fined up to YTL 500,000.[80] Despite reports from the Turkish Football Federation, the Turkish police believe that football hooliganism is not a major threat and are "isolated incidents".[81]
Before Galatasaray's semi-final UEFA Cup match with Leeds United A.F.C. in 2000, two Leeds fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were innocently stabbed to death in Istanbul following street fights between Turkish and British hooligans.[76] UEFA allowed the game to proceed and Galatasaray won 2-0. Leeds complained because home fans jeered while a message of condolence was read for the victims.[82] Galatasaray's players refused to wear black arm bands. The Leeds chairman at the time, Peter Ridsdale, accused Galatasaray of "showing a lack of respect".[83] He also revealed that his teams' players had received death threats before the match.[84]
Ali Umit Demir was arrested and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the stabbing, but the sentence was reduced to 5 years on the basis of heavy provocation, while five others were given lesser sentences of under four months.[81] The families of those accused of attacking with knives are reported to have defended their actions and approved of their children punishing the "rude British people".[76] Galatasaray fans were banned from traveling to the return match to try and avoid further clashes between fans, although there were reports of attacks by Leeds fans on Turkish television crews and the police.[85] However the Assistant Chief Constable in charge of policing the game believed that the number of arrests was "no worse than a normal high category game".[85] Hakan Şükür was hit with projectiles from Leeds United supporters and the Galatasaray team bus was stoned after driving through an underpass. The game saw Emre Belözoğlu and Harry Kewell sent off and Galatasaray sealed their way to the final with a 2-2 score.
Violence also occurred between Arsenal fans (mainly from The Herd) and Galatasaray fans before the 2000 UEFA Cup final in Copenhagen[86] in which a Galatasary fan, an Arsenal fan and a Dane were said to have been stabbed.[87] Galatasaray later won the match after a penalty shoot-out.
Hooliganism in Turkey is also a problem in Ankara, İzmir, Eskişehir, Bursa, Samsun and Adana. During the 2003–2004 season, a Second League Category A, match between Karşıyaka and Göztepe on 8 February 2004, involved rival Karşıyaka and Göztepe supporters clashing and the match was subsequently stopped for 33 minutes. This was due to Karşıyaka leading 5-2 after coming back from a 2-0 deficit. After the match, Göztepe fans clashed with the police, seven police officers were wounded and fifteen Göztepe fans were arrested.[88]
Bursaspor fans clashed with policemen at a match against Samsunspor match in the Turkcell Super League in Adapazarı at the end of the 2003-04 season. The match was played in Adapazarı due to events at a previous match between Bursaspor and Çaykur Rizespor. Bursaspor were playing to avoid relegation. Bursaspor won 1–0 the but were relegated to Category A after rivals won. After the match, Bursaspor fans ripped out and threw seats at the Sakarya Atatürk Stadium[89] They also fought with craftsmen of Gölcük during their journey to Adapazarı.[90] The Bursaspor-Diyarbakırspor game in March 2010 was suspended in the 17th minute after Diyarbakırspor supporters threw objects on the field. One object struck and knocked down an assistant referee.
On 7 May 2011, Bursaspor supporters clashed with the police ahead of the team's match with rival Beşiktaş. 25 police officers and 9 fans were injured in the violence.[91]
Beginning in at least the 1960s, the UK had a reputation worldwide for football hooliganism; the phenomenon was often dubbed the English Disease. However, since the 1980s and well into the 1990s the UK government has led a widescale crackdown on football related violence. While football hooliganism has been a growing concern in some other European countries in recent years, British football fans now tend to have a better reputation abroad. Although reports of British football hooliganism still surface, the instances now tend to occur at pre-arranged locations rather than at the matches themselves.
Football hooliganism in England dates back to the 1880s, when what were termed as roughs caused trouble at football matches.[9] Local derby matches would usually have the worst trouble, but in an era when travelling fans were not common, roughs would sometimes attack the referees and the away team's players.[92] In the early 1980s, many British hooligans started wearing expensive European designer clothing, to avoid attracting the attention of authorities. This led to the development of the casual subculture.
During the 1970s, organised hooligan firms started to emerge with clubs such as Everton (County Road Cutters), Arsenal (Gooners, The Herd), Aston Villa (Villa Youth, C-Crew, Aston Villa Hardcore (Villa Hardcore)), Birmingham City (Zulus, Zulu's Warriors, Zulu's Army, The Zulu), Derby County (Derby Lunatic Fringe), Chelsea (Headhunters), Liverpool (The Urchins), Leeds United (Leeds Service Crew), Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Frontline), Newcastle United (Gremlins), Nottingham Forest (Forest Executive Crew), Manchester United (Red Army), Portsmouth (6.57 Crew), Sheffield United (Blades Business Crew), Tottenham Hotspur (Yid Army), Wolverhampton Wanderers (Subway Army) and most famously West Ham United's (Inter City Firm). Lower league clubs also have firms, such as Blackpool's (Rammy Arms Crew), Coventry City (The Legion), Millwall (Bushwackers), Sunderland (The Vauxies, Seaburn Casuals), Stoke City (Naughty Forty), Walsall (Junction 9), Grimsby Town (GHS) Derby County (Derby Lunatic Fringe). Two main events in 1973 led to introduction of crowd segregation and fencing at football grounds in England.[93] Manchester United were relegated to the Second Division, the Red Army caused mayhem at grounds up and down the country, and a Bolton Wanderers fan stabbed a young Blackpool fan to death behind the Kop at Bloomfield Road during a Second Division match.[94]
The so-called relegation battle when Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea fans fought on the pitch before Spurs relegated Chelsea in the return fixture in 1975, made national news when shown on the BBC television programme John Craven's Newsround.
In March 1978, a full-scale riot broke out at The Den during an FA Cup quarter-final between Millwall and Ipswich. Fighting began on the terraces, then spilled out on to the pitch and into the narrow streets around the ground. Bottles, knives, iron bars, boots and concrete slabs rained from the sky. Dozens of innocent people were injured. In March 1985, hooligans who had attached themselves to Millwall were involved in large-scale rioting at Luton when Millwall played Luton Town in the quarter final of the FA Cup. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's immediate response was to set up a "War Cabinet" to combat football hooliganism.[95] On 29 May 1985, 39 Juventus fans were crushed to death during the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus at Heysel Stadium in Brussels; an event that became known as the Heysel Stadium disaster. Just before kick-off, Liverpool fans broke through a line of police officers and ran toward the Juventus supporters in a section of the ground containing both English and Italian fans. When a fence separating them from the Juventus fans was broken through, the English supporters attacked the Italian fans, the majority of whom were families rather than ultras who were situated in the other end of the ground. Many Italians tried to escape the fighting, and a wall collapsed on them.[96][97] As a result of the Heysel Stadium disaster, English clubs were banned from all European competitions until 1990, with Liverpool banned for an additional year.[98]
On 11 May 1985 a 14-year-old boy died at St Andrews stadium when fans were pushed onto a wall by Police which subsequently collapsed following crowd violence at a match between Birmingham City and Leeds United.[99][100] The fighting that day was described by Justice Popplewell, during the Popplewell Committee investigation into football in 1985 as more like "the Battle of Agincourt than a football match".[95][101][102] Because of the other events in 1986 and the growing rise in football hooliganism during the early 1980s, an interim report from the committee stated that "football may not be able to continue in its present form much longer" unless hooliganism was reduced, perhaps by excluding "away" fans.[95]
Margaret Thatcher, UK Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990, made a high-profile public call for the country's football hooligans to be given "stiff" prison sentences to act as a deterrent to others in a bid to clamp down on hooliganism. Her minister for sport, Colin Moynihan, attempted to bring in an ID card scheme for football supporters.
Millwall hooligans were involved in their third high profile incident in decade on January 1988, when in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal at Highbury, 41 people were arrested for rioting after The Herd and The Millwall Bushwackers clashed.
The government acted after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 96 fans died, bringing in the Football Spectators Act 1989 in the wake of the Taylor Report.[96][97] However, the Hillsborough Justice Campaign states: "the British Judicial system has consistently found that violence or hooliganism played no part whatsoever in the disaster".[98] On 15 February 1995, England played Ireland. English fans started to throw items down into the stand below and rip up seats; after battles broke out between police and English fans, 50 people were injured.
English and German fans have a rivalry dating back to the late 1980s.[103][104][105][106][107][108] After England's defeat to Germany in the Euro 96 semi-finals, a large scale riot took place in Trafalgar Square, with a number of injuries. A Russian youth was also stabbed in Brighton, because his attackers mistook him as being German.[109] Other occasional clashes have occurred with a few other teams since the mid 1980s.[110] France 98 was marred by violence as English fans clashed with the North African locals of Marseille, which led to up to 100 fans being arrested.[111]
In the 2000s, English football hooligans often wear either clothing styles that are stereotypically associated with the "[casual]" subculture, such as items made by Shark and Burberry. Prada and Burberry withdrew certain garments over fears that their brands were becoming linked with hooliganism.[112] English hooligans have begun using Internet forums, mobile phones and text messages to set up fight meetings or provoke rival gangs into brawls.[113] Sometimes fight participants post live commentaries on the Internet.[114]
Football violence in British stadiums declined after the introduction of the Football Spectators Act, and in the 2000s much of the trouble occurred away from stadiums or away at major international tournaments.[92] At Euro 2000, the England team was threatened with expulsion from the tournament, due to the poor behaviour of the fans.[115] Following good behaviour in the Korea-Japan 2002 and Portugal 2004, the English reputation has improved.[116] At the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, there were limited incidences of violence, with over 200 preventative arrests in Stuttgart (with only three people being charged with criminal offences) 400 others taken into preventative custody.[117][118] During that day, Police believe that on average each rioter consumed or threw 17 litres of beer.[118]
Despite hooliganism declining domestically, death threats by English hooligans have become more common in the 2000s. Rio Ferdinand was the target of death threats from Leeds United fans, as was Peter Ridsdale.[119][120] Swedish referee Anders Frisk quit his position after receiving death threats from Chelsea F.C. fans.[121] Reading players Ibrahima Sonko and Stephen Hunt also received death threats from Chelsea fans in 2006.[122] Fernando Torres received death threats from Liverpool fans.[123] Sol Campbell received death threats from Tottenham fans.[124] A steward died after serious clashes between firms from Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers after a Carling Cup game in September 2004.[125]
After some 20 years of relatively good behaviour among English football fans in general, extreme scenes of rioting and hooliganism made a comeback at Upton Park on 25 August 2009, during a Football League Cup second round tie between London rivals West Ham United and Millwall. The pitch was invaded several times during the game and rioting in the streets came afterwards, with one incident resulting in a man suffering stab wounds.[126][127]
There were minor disturbances during and after England's 4-1 defeat to Germany during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. A German flag was burned down amongst a mob of English supporters in Leicester Square in England, as well as damage to a Haagen Daz restaurant within the vicinity. One German fan amongst the crowd was confronted by the mob, but there were no injuries.[128]
On 1 December 2010, supporters of rival West Midlands clubs Aston Villa and Birmingham City clashed at St Andrew's stadium after a Football League Cup tie, which resulted in 14 people being injured - less than 24 hours before England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup failed.[129] Missiles were hurled onto the pitch, a rocket flare was released in the stands, and there were also scuffles in nearby streets. By this stage, football hooliganism was rising dramatically, with 103 incidents of hooliganism involving under 19's in the 2009-10 season compared to 38 the season before. Cass Pennant, a former football hooligan, said that the rise in football hooliganism was the result of rising unemployment, poverty, and social discontent in the aftermath of the recent recession.[130]
Northern Irish football has suffered from hooliganism. While riots have occurred in the past such as that between Belfast Celtic and Linfield in 1948,[131] there has historically been a heated rivalry between Linfield F.C. and Glentoran F.C. that has escalated somewhat in recent years, such as the 2005 riot, after former Linfield striker Chris Morgan scored a late winner to help Glentoran clinch the League, Linfield had won the league the year before. The game finished 3-2.[131] and the 2008 Boxing Day riot. Linfield were defeating Glentoran 3-0 and Glentoran fans started ripping out chairs of Windsor Park and throwing them towards Linfield fans.[131] Additionally, in the 1970s, the political Troubles in Northern Ireland spilled onto the terraces of the football stadiums, and is seen as a major factor in Derry City leaving the Irish Football League to join the League of Ireland.[131][132][133]
One of the first recorded incidents of large-scale crowd violence took place after a 1909 match between the Rangers and Celtic.[134]
By the 1980s the Casual manifestation of football hooliganism was adopted by fans of many clubs in Scotland with Aberdeen being the first club with a "casual" following and the established skinhead/punk hooligan elements from Airdrie, Hearts and Rangers that had dominated prior to this were then challenged by casual firms (or 'mobs' as they were more popularly known as in Scotland). Casual firms were attached to clubs such as St.Mirren (Love Street Division), Aberdeen (Aberdeen Soccer Casuals), Dundee and Dundee United (Dundee Utility), Hibernian (Capital City Service), Motherwell (Saturday Service), Partick Thistle (North Glasgow Express), Falkirk (Fear) and Dunfermline (Carnegie Soccer Service). Aberdeen, under the name Aberdeen Soccer Casuals (ASC), becoming the best known.[135][136]
From the 1980s onwards Aberdeen's ASC and Hibernian's CCS became the most feared casuals in Scotland, the CCS gaining particular notoriety. From the 2000s Hooliganism has declined in Scotland but Aberdeen, Dundee Utility, Celtic, Hibernian, Hearts, Motherwell, Partick Thistle, Airdrie, St.Mirren and Rangers still have a number of hooligans.[137]
While the Scotland national team's travelling supporters, the Tartan Army, are generally not violent these days, hooliganism does occur in other areas of Scottish football. Pre-arranged fights between firms on match days mostly take place away from the football grounds.[138] Most Scottish football fans are against this behaviour, and authorities have taken several measures to reduce football hooliganism.[137]
During Euro '96 there was an organised and well publicised fight between Scottish and English fans in the Centre of Trafalgar Square. This incident attracted worldwide media attention with footage of both sets of casuals attacking each other and police.[139]
Celtic and Rangers are the two biggest teams in Scotland, and the Old Firm rivalry is one of the most heated football rivalries in the world. The Old Firm rivalry is largely motivated by religious sectarianism, and is related to the conflict between Loyalists and Republican in Northern Ireland. Rangers' hooligan element (the ICF) have a strong rivalry with Celtic's CSC and Aberdeen's ASC, with Celtic being their traditional cultural enemy. They have also had major clashes with Motherwell, Hibs, Partick Thistle and Dundee's Utility. At the 2008 Uefa Cup final when Rangers reached the final, Rangers fans and the ICF rioted in Manchester with a huge media spotlight[140]
The oldest rivalry in Scotland is between Hibernian F.C. and Heart of Midlothian F.C. and contained a sectarian hatred from the outset as Hibernian were initially an Irish Catholics only club and Hearts represented the Scottish Protestant establishment.[141] At the first ever match between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian on Christmas Day 1875 the Hibs fans chased the Hearts captain, Tom Purdie after allegations of foul play,[142] and since then the rivalry escalated into more serious crowd trouble at virtually every game between them over the next 15 years.[143] This continued as an issue between the clubs and the fans indefinitely.[144][145][146][147]
In the 1980s and 1990s these Hibernian hooligans had documented clashes across the UK with various mobs including notorious hooligan followers from such teams as Aberdeen, Leeds United, Millwall and Chelsea. In European competition the CCS also had clashes with Belgian hooligans and local residents in 1989 and in 1992, in 2005 in the Ukraine against Dnipro hooligans. The Hibernian CCS story has been told in books such as 'These Colours Don't Run' and 'Hibs Boy', and online by former notable members. In Scotland, the CCS had a particular hatred towards Aberdeen's ASC, Rangers ICF, Hearts CSF and Airdrie's Section B.[148][149][150][151][152]
During Euro '96 the CCS, along with Celtic's CSC, Dundee's Utility, Partick Thistle's NGE, Motherwell's SS, St.Mirren's LSD and Aberdeen's ASC organised a well publicised fight with Chelsea, Millwall, Rangers and Airdrie's Section B Hooligans in the Centre of Trafalgar Square. This incident attracted worldwide media attention with footage of both sets of casuals attacking each other and police.[152][153]
In the 2000s Aberdeen Soccer Casuals (ASC) had clashes in England at Bradford and Hartlepool and also in Europe.[154]
Cardiff City F.C.'s hooligan firm are known as the Soul Crew and have been involved in full scale riots since the 1970s. In January 2002, Leeds United A.F.C. and Cardiff City fans, players, and Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam were hit by missiles during a match, and hundreds of Cardiff fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate knocking the then leaders of the Premier League out of the FA Cup.[155] In May 2002, Cardiff City were fined £40,000 by the Football Association of Wales for the events that day. Hammam was criticised by the head of the English Police Spotting teams for his comment preceding the game, which were deemed to be encouraging hooligans. Hammam had said, "It's better for us to play them at Ninian because the intimidatory factor will be so big... It's a bit like the old Den at Millwall except ten times more." Hammam at first blamed what he called a "racist English media" for exaggerating the trouble at the Leeds game. Hammam also launched "a war on hooliganism."[155] In October 2004 a BBC report stated that Cardiff had more fans banned than any other Football League club, with 160 banning orders against its fans; showing a clear willingness to stamp out holliganism.[156]
Despite the club's small size, Wrexham F.C.'s football hooligan element is known was the front line, and has gained a reputation as being amongst most fearsome 'firms' in the UK. The front line has been involved in full scale riots with many of the top firms in the UK, perhaps most notably in recent years with arch rivals Chester City F.C., Everton, Port Vale, Shrewsbury and Oldham. refEverton Port Vale hooliganism at Wrexham
Although in Argentine football violence was already present from the beginning (late 19th century), the organized groups (barras bravas) appeared in the 1950s (barras bravas of Independiente, San Lorenzo de Almagro, Lanús, Rosario Central, Vélez Sarsfield, Racing, etc.) and 1960s (barras bravas of Belgrano, Boca Juniors, River Plate, etc.), and continued to grow in the coming decades. Every major and minor football club in Argentina has a corresponding barra brava, and all are violent. In this country there are the largest and strongest organized supporter groups in the world,[157] and the most powerful of them are the barras bravas of Independiente, Newell's Old Boys, Boca Juniors and River Plate.[158]
The first murder related with the Argentine football occurred on 2 November 1924 in Montevideo (Uruguay), after the final match of the South American Championship of this year between Uruguay and Argentina. In the Colón Hotel (where the Argentina national football team was staying) broke out a fight of Uruguay supporters and Argentine fans and footballers. Consequentially, a Uruguayan fan died.[159]
On 14 May 1939 at the stadium of Lanús (in the city of Lanús, in the Greater Buenos Aires), the violence claimed its first fatality in Argentine territory. In a match of the minor divisions of Boca Juniors and the local team, after a foul by a player of Lanús, players began to fight. Seeing this, the Boca Juniors fans wanted to tear down the fence and invade the pitch, prompting the police to fire shots to disperse them. But a police officer named Luis Estrella shot into the stands, killing two spectators: Luis López and Oscar Munitoli, a minor of 9 years.[160]
But this violence was not only among fans, footballers or the police, but also against the referees. On 27 October 1946, during a match between Newell's Old Boys and San Lorenzo de Almagro at Newell's Old Boys stadium (in the city of Rosario), local fans tried to strangle the referee Osvaldo Cossio. The match was tied on two goals when Cossio annulled a goal of the premises, and the third goal of San Lorenzo de Almagro in the next play made worsen the situation. Averaging 89 minutes of the game, several Newell's Old Boys fans entered the pitch, hit the umpire and tried to hang him with his own belt.[161]
But this phenomenon suffered a major transformation in the late 1950s. The journalist Amílcar Romero sets 1958 as the beginning of the current barras bravas (although some had already existed for several years), with the murder by the police of Mario Alberto Linker (in a Vélez Sársfield - River Plate match at the José Amalfitani stadium). Because of the murder of this fan of Vélez Sársfield, in October 1958, the society notes the existence of this organized groups (the barras bravas). The so-called "industrialization of football" was the kickoff for this organization, because needed to control all aspects involved in the game. Before the emergence of these groups, when a team played as a visitor, was pressured by rival fans. This prompted the organization of the barras bravas in response to that pressure:
In Argentinian football, it was well established that if you played as the visiting team, you were inexorably in a tight spot. Although they were not barras bravas as we know them today, local fans would pressure you, and the police, when not looking the other way, would pressure you as well. That had to be offset by a doctrine that in the next decade became common currency: the only means by which to neutralize any effectual group with a reputation and capacity for violence, is with another, closer-knit group with as great, or greater, reputation for violence.[162]
Amílcar Romero
In this way, each club began having his barra brava, which was funded by the leaders of the institution. These groups were given their tickets and paid trips to the stadium, adding later other forms of financing. But the access to these "benefits" by the barra brava depended of the hierarchy inside her. For have prestige in the barra brava, had to be violent, so they began to increase the number of dead.[163]
After the death of Linker, in Argentine football began a phase marked by "habituation" to the violence of the barras bravas, and an increase in the number of deaths. According to Amílcar Romero, between 1958 and 1985 are produced in Argentina 103 deaths related to football violence, that is, on average one every three months. However, it also clarifies that the origin of such deaths is not always confrontation in the stadium, and go from the premeditated clash between barras bravas outside the sporting venues, police repression against disorder, infighting in a barra brava or "accidents", it analysis tends to show some kind of negligence or violation of safety standards.
In 1964 more than 300 football fans died and another 500 were injured in Lima (Perú) in a riot during an Olympic qualifying match between Argentina and Perú in 24 May.[164] On 11 April 1967 in Argentina, before a match between Huracán and Racing de Avellaneda, a Racing fan of 15 years died murdered by the Huracán barra brava[165] at the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium. Over 70 River Plate people died in 1968 when crowds attending a Superclásico in Buenos Aires stampeded after youths threw burning paper onto the terraces.[164][166][167][168]
From the 1980s the nuclei of the biggest barras bravas began to attend the matches of the Argentina national football team in the FIFA World Cups. That caused fights against supporters of other countries (sometimes were hooligans or ultras) and between themselves Argentine barras bravas. Also, in the 1980s and the 1990s were recorded the highest levels of violence in the history of the Argentine football, and there was a new phenomenon: the internal fragmentation of the barras bravas. It was produced by the emergence of sub-groups with own names inside the barras bravas. Sometimes these sub-groups fought among themselves to have the power within the barra brava to which they belonged.
A example of the violence of this years was the Roberto Basile's death. Before the start of a match between Boca Juniors and Racing in 1983 in the Bombonera stadium, this Racing supporter died after being pierced in the neck by a flare thrown from the Boca Juniors stand.[169]
In 1997 a member of La Gardia Imperial (barra brava of Racing de Avellaneda) was murdered by a Independiente supporter.[170] In 2001, other supporter of Racing was killed, and the barra brava of Independiente was the main suspect.[171] Independiente and Racing (both from the city of Avellaneda, in the Greater Buenos Aires) have a huge rivalry (they form the Avellaneda Derby), the second most important in Argentina but maybe the fiercest (noteworthy that their stadiums are apart only for about 300 meters).
A 2002 investigation into football hooliganism in Argentina stated that football violence had become a national crisis, with about 40 people murdered at football matches in the preceding ten years. In the 2002 season, there had been five deaths and dozens of knife and shotgun casualties. At one point the season was suspended and there was widespread social disorder in the country. The first death in 2002 was at a match between fierce rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate. The match was abandoned and one Boca Juniors fan was shot dead. Boca Juniors, one of the largest clubs in Argentina, may have the largest barra brava element in the country (it is similar to the barras bravas of Independiente and River Plate), with their self-styled leader, Rafael Di Zeo, claiming in 2002 that they had over 2000 members (however there are doubts about the reliability of this information).[172]
In 2005, a footballer, Carlos Ezcurra, was shot and seriously wounded by a police officer, when rival fans rioted during a Primera B Nacional match between local Mendoza rivals (but not a derby) San Martín de Mendoza and Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba.[173]
During the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, there was a confrontation[174] between 6 members of the barra brava of Independiente and 16 members of the barras bravas of Boca Juniors and Defensa y Justicia (both were together) in Czech Republic (country where were housed the three barras bravas). As a result of the fight, a supporter of Boca Juniors had to be hospitalized.
In 2007, during the match of the promotion/relegation playoff of the 2006–2007 season between Nueva Chicago and Tigre (in the Nueva Chicago's stadium), broke out a fight between the barras bravas of both teams because, when a penalty was sanctionaty for Tigre (who was winning the match 2-1, a result that relegated to Nueva Chicago to the Second division) in the minute 92, the barra brava of Nueva Chicago invaded the pitch and ran on direction to the stand occupied by the supporters of Tigre for attack them. After this, were serious riots near the stadium (not only caused by the barras bravas, but also by ordinary people), and as a result of it, a fan of Tigre died.[175]
On 19 March 2010 in a bar of Rosario, the ex leader of the Newell's Old Boys barra brava (Roberto "Pimpi" Camino) was shot and later died in a hospital of that city.[176] Camino and his sub-group lead the barra brava from 2002 to 2009, year in which were expelled from it to be defeated by another sub-group, who currently dominates La Hinchada Más Popular (name of the Newell's Old Boys barra brava). Some members of the now main sub-group are the suspects of the murder, and the bar's owner are suspected of helping them.[177]
In the early morning of 4 July 2010 (the next day of the match between Argentina and Germany for quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup) in Cape Town, South Africa, there was a fight between some integrants of the barras bravas of Independiente and Boca Juniors. During the brawl, one member of the Boca Juniors barra brava lost consciousness after being brutally beating by the Independiente fanatics.[178] He was admitted to a hospital in the city and died there on 5 July.[179]
From 1924 to 2010 there were 249 deaths (250 with the Argentine recently died in South Africa) related to the Argentine football (if aren't counted the 300 dead in Perú in 1964).[180]
Fans in Brazil join in organized groups often considered criminal organizations that differ in many aspects from European hooligans. They act as the main supporters of each club and often sell products and even tickets. They have up to 50 members and are often involved in criminal activities other than fights such as drug dealing and threats to players. These fans establish alliances with other "torcidas organizadas" as they are called such as the alliance between Força Jovem Vasco (CR Vasco da Gama), Galoucura (C Atlético Mineiro) and Mancha Verde (SE Palmeiras), the alliance between Torcida Indepdendente (São Paulo F.C), Torcida Jovem (C.R Flamengo) and Máfia Azul (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube) and some others alliances. They often schedule fights against rival groups where many are injured and killed . Sometimes different groups of hooligans from the same team clash. The Mancha Verde (means "Green Stain") is one of the most violent football fan club in Brazil.[181][182][183] Its structure is very similar to a hooligan firm. As well, fans of local rivals TJP - Torcida Jovem Ponte Preta and TFI -Torcida Furia Independente clashed and rioted at a match in Campinas in 2002.[184]
Football hooliganism in Mexico appears to be low key, but there have been some incidents, such as small-scale fighting between fans of Monterrey and Morelia at a Primera División match in Monterrey in 2003.[185] In June 1998, one man died and several people were injured when Mexican football fans rioted after the Mexico national football team lost to Germany in the World Cup, a result that eliminated Mexico from the tournament.[186] After the match, hundreds of riot police were brought in to restore order because fans were looting and rioting. Fans then clashed with the police, and many fans were injured or arrested.
While football (called soccer in the United States and Canada) is traditionally viewed as a family-friendly event, violence does occur. On July 20, 2008, in a friendly match between Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew and English Premier League club West Ham United, in Columbus, Ohio, a fight broke out between rival fans. Police estimated more than 100 people were involved.[187]
That same weekend, a riot was narrowly avoided at a packed Giants Stadium as members of the New York Red Bulls supporters club, Empire Supporters Club (ESC), and members of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority security force clashed over what the ESC claimed was unfair and repeated mistreatment. Clashes also took place in the parking area around the stadium after the game, involving already ejected-for-life North Jersey Firm (NJF) members, and the New Jersey State Police were called to quell the situation.[188] There were several arrests, mostly of known NJF hooligans.
Football hooliganism in Bangladesh does not appear to be a major problem. However, in August 2001, 100 people were injured when thousands of football fans rampaged at a B-League match between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Rahmatganj Sporting Club in the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka. When the referee disallowed a penalty, Mohammedan fans invaded the pitch, throwing stones at the police, who had to fire tear gas at the fans to try and restore order. Outside the stadium dozens of cars and buses were damaged and set on fire.[189]
Football hooliganism in China is often linked to accusations of corrupt refereeing, with Chinese football being plagued by allegations of match fixing in the early 2000s.[190] After a match in 2000 between Shaanxi Guoli and Chengdu Wuniu in Xi'an, football fans clashed with police who had to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Police car windows were smashed as the police tried to stop the fans attacking the match referee, whom they were angry at for a decision made during the match. Eight people were arrested but later released.[191] In March 2002 fans fought with police again as hundreds of football fans rioted at a match in Xi'an, this time between Shaanxi Guoli and Qingdao Yizhong. At the final whistle, and in response to a late penalty to the visiting team, Shaanxi Guoli fans threw missiles at the players and the police before setting fire to the stadium seats. The fans accused the referee of being corrupt and fixing the match. The fans were finally dispersed by riot police with batons and high pressure water hoses. Outside the stadium fighting broke out again, a police van and four police cars were overturned. Two years before this incident following crowd trouble at a match also in Xi'an, the government had demanded more action to stamp out football hooliganism.[190] Football hooliganism continued to rise in China partly due to allegations of corrupt referees.[192]
In June 2002, thousands of football fans rampaged for two hours in the streets of Fuzhou in Fujian province, overturning police cars, damaging a bus and tearing street signs down. Order was only restored when one hundred heavily armed paramilitary policemen were called in. The rampage had started when fans were unable to watch the World Cup match between China and Brazil at an outside broadcast.[192] On 4 July 2004 fans rioted in Beijing when China lost the final of the AFC Asian Cup to Japan, 3-1, at the Workers Stadium. After the match hundreds of Chinese fans threw bottles, confronted riot police, burned Japanese flags and vandalised a Japanese Embassy official's car. The Japanese fans had to be protected by the police, and bussed to safety after they had been given a hostile reception by Chinese fans.[193][194] The rioting was attributed to ill-feeling toward Japan for atrocities committed before and during the Second World War.[193]
Football riots in Jordan are generally regarded as an expression of tension between the country's Palestinian ethnic group and the other racial groups that live in the kingdom, two groups of roughly equal size.[195]
In December 2010, rioting broke out following a game between the rival Wahdat and the Faisaly football club, both based in Amman. About 250 people were injured. According to Al Jazeera, supporters of Wahdat are generally of Palestinian origin, while Faisaly fans are of Jordanian origin. According to Al-Jazeera, The Wahdat fans are known for their bravery and madness. During the fights that occurred in December 2010, 243 out of 250 were Faisaly fans that were injured, according to senior officials from the hospitals.[195]
A similar riot took place in 2009.[195][196]
In Israel in the 2000s, tensions surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict spilled over into sporadic riots between Jewish and Arab Israeli football fans. In December 2000 it was reported that every club in Israel was on a final warning following escalating violence and intimidation at matches. Beitar Jerusalem were attracting attention because of their fan's behaviours. Earlier that season Beitar were fined when their fans shouted racist abuse at PAOK FC players during a UEFA Cup match. Beitar had already been under a suspended sentence following an incident two years previously when Rangers F.C. player Rod Wallace was also the subject of racist abuse.[197]
In August 2005 at the start of the domestic season, 7,000 Beitar Jerusalem fans travelled to an opening day away match at Maccabi Tel Aviv. Beitar fans chanted anti Arab chants throughout the match, and later rioted in Tel Aviv. After a match in Sakhnin against Bnei Sakhnin a predominantly Arab supported club, Beitar fans rioted. Beitar have a hooligan firm, La Familia, whose members consider Israeli Arabs to be their enemy.
In November 2007 the Israel Football Association (IFA) ordered Beitar to play their game against the Arab club, Bnei Sakhnin behind closed doors after Beitar fans, led by La Familia, broke a minute's silence for former Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin and sang chants in praise of his assassin, Yigal Amir.
After a pitch invasion led by La Familia on 13 April 2008, which forced the abandonment of the match, when Beitar were leading Maccabi Herzliya 1–0 and just four minutes from winning the Israeli Premier League, the IFA gave the points to their opponents, deducted two points and ordered that the clubs remaining home games were to be played behind closed doors. At almost every Beitar Jerusalem game illegal smoke bombs and fire works are shot out to the field and seats. Even some games fights break out between fans[198]
There was brief unrest from North Korean fans at an international match vs Iran in North Korea in 2005. It appears that a North Korean player got into an argument with the Syrian referee, and then things got out of hand.[199]
On March 12, 2004 a fight between Arab and Kurdish supporters of rival Syrian football clubs at a match in Qamishli, 450 miles (720 km) north east of Damascus, escalated into full scale riots that left 25 people dead and hundreds injured.[200][201]
Japanese extreme right-wing groups, known for their financial and political connection with Japanese corporations and Japanese organized crime syndicates, are also associated with supporters of various sports events including international football matches. Japanese hooligans often use the country's military flag called kyokujitsu-ki (旭日旗 or 旭日昇天旗) at international football games, especially in which the Japanese national team plays against East Asian national teams. This is highly offensive to the countries of the opposing teams because the flag signifies Japan's military aggression before and during World War II, which resulted in deaths and sufferings of millions of Asian people under Japan's brutal regime.[202] In most East Asian countries, including China, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines and South Korea, public sentiment toward kyokujitsu-ki is analogous to public sentiment in Europe and North America toward Swastika, and displaying the flag in public places is strictly prohibited by law in these countries. Most recent incident in which the Japanese hooligans used the flag was during the FIFA-sanctioned 2011 Qatar AFC Asian Cup, in a match between South Korea and Japan. Many supporters of the Japanese national team, calling themselves as Ultra-Nippon, were seen waving kyokujitsu-ki during the match, and this caused a huge public condemnation in South Korea.[203]
Four died when troops opened fire at a derby match between AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa in November 1998.[204] In April 2001, 14 people died following a stampede at a derby match between TP Mazembe and FC Saint Eloi Lupopo. When fans invaded the pitch after Mazembe had equalised, and rival fans started throwing missiles at each other, the police fired tear gas, and fans rushed to escape the effects of the tear gas. In the resulting stampede, 14 people died. Fans of the two clubs are alleged to have a history of hatred and violence to each other.[205]
In January 2006 riot police had to attack Libyan fans in the Cairo International Stadium after throwing missiles at the Egyptian fans in the tier above them during a match between the Egypt national football team and the Morocco national team. The Libyan fans had stayed on to watch the match after they had seen Libya lose 2-1 to Ivory Coast and had started taunting the home supporters. The Egyptian fans responded by asking them to leave the stadium and verbally attacking them at half time, and when, despite a plea to stop, it continued into the second half, the riot police were called in. The Libyan Football Association were fined $7,000 by the Confederation of African Football disciplinary Commission.[206]
Massive riots occurred during and after a Cup of African Nations qualifying game between rival neighbours Senegal and Gambia at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium in Dakar, Senegal in June 2003. Gambian supporters hurled missiles towards Senegalese fans and were subsequently charged by soldiers. After the game violent clashes were reported in both Gambia and Senegal. In Gambia several severe beatings of Senegalese citizens occurred which led to over 200 Senegalese seeking shelter at their embassy. Also, there were rumours of a fatal beating of a Senegalese citizen. In Senegal a Gambian BBC reporter was attacked and robbed by a group of youths. The riots eventually led to the closing of the border between Gambia and Senegal until order was restored.[207][208]
Up to 125 people died and hundreds were injured when football fans stampeded at a match in Accra in 2001. Accra Hearts were leading 2-1 against Asante Kotoko — with five minutes left in the match — when some fans began throwing bottles and chairs onto the pitch. Police then fired tear gas into the crowd, creating panic. Fans rushed to escape the gas, and in the ensuing crush, up to 125 people were killed.[209]
Ghana giant Asante Kotoko face ban after Fans assault referee in CAF confederations cup game with Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.[210]
Fighting among fans at a match claimed one life on 6 May 2001 and injured 39 people.[166][211]
Eight fans died and 39 were injured as troops opened fire to stop both pro and anti Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi sentiments being expressed in a Tripoli stadium during a match between Al Ahli and Al Ittihad in December 1996.[212]
After a World Cup qualifying match between Mali and Togo on 27 March 2005, which Togo won 2-1, Mali fans rioted and went on a spree of destruction and violence. The trouble started when Togo scored the winning goal. Police fired tear gas at Mali fans who had invaded the pitch. The match was abandoned and the result awarded to Togo. The result set off a wave of violence in the capital of Mali, Bamako. Thousands of Mali fans in Bamako began chanting threats toward the Mali players, cars were set on fire, stores looted, property and monuments destroyed and a building housing the local Olympics committee burnt down.[213]
In May 1999, seven people died when rioting football fans threw petrol bombs into a casino, following a match in Port Louis between the Mauritian League champions, Scouts Club, and Fire Brigade SC. After the match which Fire Brigade SC won, hundreds of Scouts fans went on a rampage, attacking police vehicles and torching sugar cane fields.[214]
The government of Mozambique had to apologise for the violent behaviour of Mozambique fans, before, during and after a match between Mozambique team, Clube Ferroviário de Maputo and Zimbabwe team, Dynamos on 10 May 1998. Ferroviário fans attacked the Dynamo players and the referee, stoned vehicles and fought running battles with riot police outside the stadium. Fifteen people, including four Red Cross workers, needed hospital treatment.[215]
In Johannesburg, South Africa, on 14 January 1991, forty people died when fans surged toward a jammed exit to escape rival brawling fans at a match southwest of Johannesburg.[216]
In July 2000 twelve people died following a stampede, when they were crushed, at a World Cup qualifying match between Zimbabwe and South Africa in Harare. Police fired tear gas when the crowd started throwing missiles onto the pitch, after South Africa had taken a two goal lead. After Delron Buckley scored South Africa's second goal bottles began to fly onto the pitch. The police then fired tear gas into the 60,000 crowd, who began running to the exits to escape the effects of the tear gas. The match had to be abandoned as players from both sides felt the effects of the tear gas and had to receive medical treatment. The police were condemned for firing tear gas, calling it a total over-reaction.[217] In July 2002, two fans were shot when police opened fire on rioting fans at a match in Bulawayo. Seven police officers were injured and five vehicles badly damaged.[218]
Soccer rivalries in Australia have continued to grow, particularly between Sydney SC, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United supporters. However, to date there have been no major clashes in Australia's fledgling A-League competition. Unlike in Europe, there is no crowd segregation at the games.
The incident with most notoriety in Australian Soccer is the Pratten Park riot in 1985 where hundreds of fans stormed the pitch midway through a Sydney Olympic v Sydney City match.
In February 2011 Victoria Police said they were reluctant to cover Melbourne Victory games because of unacceptable behaviour by fans. Problems included violence, anti-social behaviour and the lighting of flares. One senior policeman branded soccer fans the most violent of any sporting code.[219][220]
At an international soccer friendly between Australia and Serbia in Melbourne in June 2011, fans lit flares both inside and outside the stadium, and in city streets. Banners supporting Ratko Mladic, the Serbian military leader charged with war crimes by the International Court of Justice, were displayed. A laser light was seen in use. Seating at the stadium was also damaged.[221][222]