FOOTBALL fans were seething last night as two thugs accused of knifing a Spurs fan had their attempted murder charges dropped.
Ashley Mills was sliced across the head and groin in the vicious attack before Tottenham’s Europa League game with Lazio last week.
A mob of 50 ambushed The Drunken Ship pub in Rome as the 25-year-old builder enjoyed a pint with fellow Spurs fans.
Italian detectives charged Francesco Ianari, 26, and Mauro Pinnelli, 25, with attempted murder after the bloody brawl.
But yesterday their lawyer Lorenzo Contucci said the charges against the two men had been cut to aggravated wounding with a weapon.
He also revealed the controversial judge had decided the violence in the pub had not been racially motivated and was instead a “football related crime”.
Hours later fans hit online forums to vent their anger, branding the decision “disgraceful”.
Johnathan fumed: “Disgusting. What do you need to do to someone to get an attempted murder charge then??”
Kevin Hayes added: “It’s disgraceful. The Italian authorities should be ashamed of themselves.”
And Steve said: “Not been racially motivated but that it was a ‘football-related crime’ – so that makes it ok then?”
Initial reports suggested masked far right Lazio Ultras were to blame for the cowardly attack. But the two men were understood to be supporters of cross-town rivals, AS Roma.
At least 11 people were injured in the attack, including an American and a Bangladeshi.
Police named other injured British fans as Dave Lesley, Stephen Tierney and Christopher Allen.
Ashley, from Brentwood, Essex, who had travelled to the Italian capital with his interior designer brother Bradley, 30, remains in hospital after losing huge amounts of blood.
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/284526/
Sunday 25 November 2012
Saturday 24 November 2012
Four Britons facing lengthy prison sentence in Greek jail after attack on ex-footballer
Robert Hughes, 31, from Croydon, was left in a coma after the assault while he was on holiday in Crete in 2008
Hit with a bottle and left for dead outside a nightclub in Malia
Mr Hughes was left in a coma and had to undergo three life-saving brain operations after the attack
link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237467/Robert-Hughes-attack-4-Britons-facing-lengthy-prison-sentence-Greek-jail.html
Hit with a bottle and left for dead outside a nightclub in Malia
Mr Hughes was left in a coma and had to undergo three life-saving brain operations after the attack
link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2237467/Robert-Hughes-attack-4-Britons-facing-lengthy-prison-sentence-Greek-jail.html
Thursday 22 November 2012
Only serving police officers must answer Hillsborough investigation questions under new law
ONLY serving police officers - not those that have retired - will be compelled to give evidence to an investigation into the Hillsborough cover-up, it emerged yesterday.
A fast-track law will be passed by Christmas, enabling the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to begin quizzing witnesses early in the New Year, the Home Secretary said.
But ministers are believed to have decided it is better to act swiftly than to be dragged into a dispute about whether the powers can be extended to former officers, who are now civilians.
Whitehall sources said ex-officers would be expected to attend an interview as would any "conscientious member of the public" - given the huge importance of the investigation.
And they did not rule out toughening up the law further next year, if it emerged that further action was needed to ensure no-one involved in the cover-up escapes justice.
Announcing the Police (Complaints & Conduct) Bill - revealed by the ECHO yesterday - Theresa May said: "I made a commitment to ensure that the IPCC has the powers and resources it needs to carry out its investigations into the Hillsborough disaster.
"This commitment was made in the knowledge that the families of the victims and the survivors have waited 23 years for the truth about the disaster to be revealed.
"The IPCC has indicated that as part of its ongoing investigations, it will likely be in a position to call witnesses early in 2013."
The Bill will also allow the IPCC to probe any matter previously investigated by its predecessor, the Police Complaints Authority, the Home Secretary added.
Labour - which first pushed for the IPCC's powers to be strengthened - is believed to agree that it is better to get a simpler Bill through
parliament quickly.
However, it will continue to push for the appointment of a 'senior lead investigator' to pull together all the Hillsborough inquiries and ensure
they do not drag on for years.
The investigator would co-ordinate inquiries by the IPCC, by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and an expected probe by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The landmark findings of the Hillsborough Panel have left the IPCC carrying out the largest inquiry ever into police conduct in the UK.
It is examining the role played by up to 2,444 police officers, who served at 25 different forces - not including South Yorkshire Police.
The Bill published yesterday will cover officers who have moved to a different force since the 1989 tragedy, as well as current civilian
employees.
link
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/hillsborough/hillsborough-news/2012/11/22/only-serving-police-officers-must-answer-hillsborough-investigation-questions-under-new-law-100252-32288171/
A fast-track law will be passed by Christmas, enabling the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to begin quizzing witnesses early in the New Year, the Home Secretary said.
But ministers are believed to have decided it is better to act swiftly than to be dragged into a dispute about whether the powers can be extended to former officers, who are now civilians.
Whitehall sources said ex-officers would be expected to attend an interview as would any "conscientious member of the public" - given the huge importance of the investigation.
And they did not rule out toughening up the law further next year, if it emerged that further action was needed to ensure no-one involved in the cover-up escapes justice.
Announcing the Police (Complaints & Conduct) Bill - revealed by the ECHO yesterday - Theresa May said: "I made a commitment to ensure that the IPCC has the powers and resources it needs to carry out its investigations into the Hillsborough disaster.
"This commitment was made in the knowledge that the families of the victims and the survivors have waited 23 years for the truth about the disaster to be revealed.
"The IPCC has indicated that as part of its ongoing investigations, it will likely be in a position to call witnesses early in 2013."
The Bill will also allow the IPCC to probe any matter previously investigated by its predecessor, the Police Complaints Authority, the Home Secretary added.
Labour - which first pushed for the IPCC's powers to be strengthened - is believed to agree that it is better to get a simpler Bill through
parliament quickly.
However, it will continue to push for the appointment of a 'senior lead investigator' to pull together all the Hillsborough inquiries and ensure
they do not drag on for years.
The investigator would co-ordinate inquiries by the IPCC, by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and an expected probe by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The landmark findings of the Hillsborough Panel have left the IPCC carrying out the largest inquiry ever into police conduct in the UK.
It is examining the role played by up to 2,444 police officers, who served at 25 different forces - not including South Yorkshire Police.
The Bill published yesterday will cover officers who have moved to a different force since the 1989 tragedy, as well as current civilian
employees.
link
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/hillsborough/hillsborough-news/2012/11/22/only-serving-police-officers-must-answer-hillsborough-investigation-questions-under-new-law-100252-32288171/
Stabbed Spurs fan recovering in Rome hospital
A Tottenham Hotspur fan is recovering in hospital after being stabbed when a gang of 50 Italian hooligans stormed a bar in Rome and attacked supporters of the English football team.
Spurs fans were drinking in the Drunken Ship pub before last night's Europa League game with Lazio when trouble flared.
Italian sources told the Press Association that Tottenham fan Ashley Mills, in his mid-twenties and believed to have been stabbed, was seriously injured during the attack and was being treated in hospital.
A spokeswoman for Rome police said Mr Mills had received injuries to his "skull and thigh", was "not in danger of death" and would be kept in hospital for observation.
Spurs fans were drinking in the Drunken Ship pub before last night's Europa League game with Lazio when trouble flared.
Italian sources told the Press Association that Tottenham fan Ashley Mills, in his mid-twenties and believed to have been stabbed, was seriously injured during the attack and was being treated in hospital.
A spokeswoman for Rome police said Mr Mills had received injuries to his "skull and thigh", was "not in danger of death" and would be kept in hospital for observation.
Wednesday 7 November 2012
13 year-old Millwall fan given ban for racial abuse
A 13 year-old boy has been banned from attending Millwall games "for the
foreseeable future" after admitting racially abusing the Bolton
Wanderers player Marvin Sordell during a match last month. In a statement, the club said the boy had now written a letter of apology to Sordell.
Dinamo Zagreb fans arrested ahead of PSG match in Paris
European football was plunged into a fresh hooligan problem
yesterday when police detained scores of Dinamo Zagreb fans in the
French capital ahead of the UEFA Champions League group game against
Paris Saint Germain.
Reports said police arrested up to 125 fans who defied a French Government ban and were involved in street fights with rival PSG supporters.
The French Interior Ministry had banned visiting Zagreb fans on Sunday (November 4) because of a serious chance of unrest – and their fears were realised.
If French prosecutors pursue a case against the Croatian fans, each could face up to six months in prison and €30,000 (£24,000/$39,000) in fines for ignoring the travel ban.
The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) backed the arrests.
"We support any action that leads to the prevention of violence or punishing of those who committed violent acts," at sports events, HNS spokesman Neven Cvijanović was quoted as saying.
This is not the first time Croatian football fans have been under the spotlight.
The national association was fined during the 2012 UEFA European Championship for unruly behaviour by hardcore supporters.
Reports said police arrested up to 125 fans who defied a French Government ban and were involved in street fights with rival PSG supporters.
The French Interior Ministry had banned visiting Zagreb fans on Sunday (November 4) because of a serious chance of unrest – and their fears were realised.
If French prosecutors pursue a case against the Croatian fans, each could face up to six months in prison and €30,000 (£24,000/$39,000) in fines for ignoring the travel ban.
The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) backed the arrests.
"We support any action that leads to the prevention of violence or punishing of those who committed violent acts," at sports events, HNS spokesman Neven Cvijanović was quoted as saying.
This is not the first time Croatian football fans have been under the spotlight.
The national association was fined during the 2012 UEFA European Championship for unruly behaviour by hardcore supporters.
Football fans need free speech, too A man has been jailed for singing a song that mocks a religious leader, yet liberty campaigners have said nothing.
Imagine the scene: a young man is led away in handcuffs to begin a
prison sentence as his mother is left crying in the courtroom. He is 19
years old, has a good job, has no previous convictions, and has never
been in trouble before. These facts cut no ice with the judge, however,
as the crime is judged so heinous that only a custodial sentence is
deemed appropriate. The young man in question was found guilty of
singing a song that mocked and ridiculed a religious leader and his
followers.
So where might this shocking story originate? Was it Iran? Saudi Arabia? Afghanistan? Perhaps it was Russia, a variation of the Pussy Riot saga, without the worldwide publicity? No, the country in question is Scotland and the young man is a Rangers fan. He joined in with hundreds of his fellow football fans in singing ‘offensive songs’ which referred to the pope and the Vatican and called Celtic fans ‘Fenian bastards’.
Such songs are part and parcel of the time-honoured tradition of Rangers supporters. And I have yet to meet a Celtic fan who has been caused any harm or suffering by such colourful lyrics. Yet in sentencing Connor McGhie to three months in a young offenders’ institution, the judge stated that ‘the extent of the hatred [McGhie] showed took my breath away’. He went on: ‘Anybody who participates in this disgusting language must be stopped.’
Several things strike me about this court case. For a start, if Rangers fans singing rude songs about their arch rivals Celtic shocks this judge to the core, I can only assume he does not get out very much or knows little of life in Scotland. Not that his ignorance of football culture is a surprise - the chattering classes have always viewed football-related banter with contempt. But what is new about the current climate is that in Scotland, the middle-class distaste for the behaviour of football fans has become enshrined in law.
This new illiberal climate has created a situation where football supporters are increasingly viewed as a public-order incident waiting to happen. Tragically, young fans like Connor McGhie are now fair game because those in powerful positions don’t like what they sing. They have been demonised and criminalised for many years, a trend which reached its logical conclusion last year with the introduction by the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communication Act, which made it a criminal offence to shout or sing offensive slogans. The consequence is that to be a Celtic or Rangers fan today is to be watched over, regulated, censored and generally treated like a threat to society. There is no discrimination towards different groups of fans – all are treated equally badly. It was this time last year that I wrote on spiked about a dawn raid on the home of a 17-year-old Celtic fan, who was remanded in custody for allegedly singing a republican song the police objected to. In short, the civil liberties of Celtic and Rangers fans alike are now fair game to be trampled on.
What is also noticeable about the imprisonment of McGhie for singing songs is the response of civil-liberties activists and religious-freedom campaigners. Or rather, the lack of response. There has been complete silence. Where are all those who protested vehemently against the detention of Pussy Riot for making similarly profane statements in a Russian cathedral? Where are all those newspaper editorials howling in rage against the incarceration of this young Rangers fan? Perhaps if he stormed into St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow, the spiritual headquarters of the Catholic Church in Scotland, and hurled obscenities at worshippers, he would attract more support.
The other thing that strikes me is how anti-Catholic prejudice seems to be tolerated when it comes from our ‘national treasures’, like Stephen Fry or Richard Dawkins, but not when it comes out of the mouths of football fans. When the pope visited Britain two years ago, liberal campaigners lined up to accuse him of everything from hatred of women to paedophilia. To my knowledge, none of these words were deemed offensive enough to the UK’s Catholic community to prompt arrests or detentions, yet when a Rangers fan shouts of his hatred for the pope, that fan is locked up.
Tolerance, it seems, exists for those safely ensconced in polite society but not for Rangers or Celtic supporters, the great majority of whom are just ordinary working-class guys who love their team and enjoy expressing their passion for 90 minutes a week. True, they are not observing polite dinner-party etiquette when at a football match, and those of a more delicate nature should perhaps avoid Celtic or Rangers games. But part of the ritual of supporting a team is to wind up your rivals and, for some, this involves being raucous and boorish and hurling the occasional insult.
At the time of writing, Connor McGhie has been released on bail pending an appeal. Young men like him need and deserve the support of people who claim to care about free speech and civil liberties. This support should not be reserved for nice, respectable people, and withheld from those deemed less respectable. Despite my fanatical support for Celtic and my deep loathing for Rangers, there are things that cut through football rivalry. The right to shout the slogans we choose during the game is one of them.
So where might this shocking story originate? Was it Iran? Saudi Arabia? Afghanistan? Perhaps it was Russia, a variation of the Pussy Riot saga, without the worldwide publicity? No, the country in question is Scotland and the young man is a Rangers fan. He joined in with hundreds of his fellow football fans in singing ‘offensive songs’ which referred to the pope and the Vatican and called Celtic fans ‘Fenian bastards’.
Such songs are part and parcel of the time-honoured tradition of Rangers supporters. And I have yet to meet a Celtic fan who has been caused any harm or suffering by such colourful lyrics. Yet in sentencing Connor McGhie to three months in a young offenders’ institution, the judge stated that ‘the extent of the hatred [McGhie] showed took my breath away’. He went on: ‘Anybody who participates in this disgusting language must be stopped.’
Several things strike me about this court case. For a start, if Rangers fans singing rude songs about their arch rivals Celtic shocks this judge to the core, I can only assume he does not get out very much or knows little of life in Scotland. Not that his ignorance of football culture is a surprise - the chattering classes have always viewed football-related banter with contempt. But what is new about the current climate is that in Scotland, the middle-class distaste for the behaviour of football fans has become enshrined in law.
This new illiberal climate has created a situation where football supporters are increasingly viewed as a public-order incident waiting to happen. Tragically, young fans like Connor McGhie are now fair game because those in powerful positions don’t like what they sing. They have been demonised and criminalised for many years, a trend which reached its logical conclusion last year with the introduction by the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communication Act, which made it a criminal offence to shout or sing offensive slogans. The consequence is that to be a Celtic or Rangers fan today is to be watched over, regulated, censored and generally treated like a threat to society. There is no discrimination towards different groups of fans – all are treated equally badly. It was this time last year that I wrote on spiked about a dawn raid on the home of a 17-year-old Celtic fan, who was remanded in custody for allegedly singing a republican song the police objected to. In short, the civil liberties of Celtic and Rangers fans alike are now fair game to be trampled on.
What is also noticeable about the imprisonment of McGhie for singing songs is the response of civil-liberties activists and religious-freedom campaigners. Or rather, the lack of response. There has been complete silence. Where are all those who protested vehemently against the detention of Pussy Riot for making similarly profane statements in a Russian cathedral? Where are all those newspaper editorials howling in rage against the incarceration of this young Rangers fan? Perhaps if he stormed into St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow, the spiritual headquarters of the Catholic Church in Scotland, and hurled obscenities at worshippers, he would attract more support.
The other thing that strikes me is how anti-Catholic prejudice seems to be tolerated when it comes from our ‘national treasures’, like Stephen Fry or Richard Dawkins, but not when it comes out of the mouths of football fans. When the pope visited Britain two years ago, liberal campaigners lined up to accuse him of everything from hatred of women to paedophilia. To my knowledge, none of these words were deemed offensive enough to the UK’s Catholic community to prompt arrests or detentions, yet when a Rangers fan shouts of his hatred for the pope, that fan is locked up.
Tolerance, it seems, exists for those safely ensconced in polite society but not for Rangers or Celtic supporters, the great majority of whom are just ordinary working-class guys who love their team and enjoy expressing their passion for 90 minutes a week. True, they are not observing polite dinner-party etiquette when at a football match, and those of a more delicate nature should perhaps avoid Celtic or Rangers games. But part of the ritual of supporting a team is to wind up your rivals and, for some, this involves being raucous and boorish and hurling the occasional insult.
At the time of writing, Connor McGhie has been released on bail pending an appeal. Young men like him need and deserve the support of people who claim to care about free speech and civil liberties. This support should not be reserved for nice, respectable people, and withheld from those deemed less respectable. Despite my fanatical support for Celtic and my deep loathing for Rangers, there are things that cut through football rivalry. The right to shout the slogans we choose during the game is one of them.
Tuesday 6 November 2012
Police arrest 100 after Dinamo yobs defy travel ban to brawl in centre of Paris
Dinamo Zagreb fans brawled with Paris
Saint-German supporters in the centre of Paris despite a
government ban on Croatian fans attending Tuesday's Champions League clash.At least 28 people were arrested and one was seriously injured after rival supporters fought a running battle near the Bastille.
link
Heavy-handed police threats to travelling Toon fans
NEWCASTLE United fans heading to Belgium face "aggressive and illegal" police actions, a senior politician has warned.
Conservative MEP Martin Callanan has written to Belgian police chiefs both nationally and locally to make clear that their expected heavy-handed approach to travelling Toon fans risks breaking the law.
Mr Callanan, a North East MEP, intervened after fans were threatened with a night in the cells for actions which would not result in an arrest back home.
Advice handed out to some 10,000 fans set to head abroad for United’s Europa League game against Club Brugge on November 8 includes a Draconian warning that supporters without a valid ticket for the match will be prevented from travelling to the stadium, and anyone found in the vicinity of the stadium during the whole of match day without a ticket will be arrested.
Police also said that anyone who arrives at any border control point in Belgium with alcohol in their possession will have it taken off them. Mr Callanan has told the local Brugge police commissioner and a Belgian federal police commissioner that the threat of "arbitrary arrest and detention" breaks EU rules on free movement.
As the Euro MP pointed out to officers, Newcastle fans have a record of good behaviour and do not constitute a threat.
Mr Callanan said: "I cannot accept the threat of arbitrary arrest and detention of Newcastle United supporters or indeed anyone from the UK simply exercising their right of free movement within the EU.
"There are long links between the people of Flanders and my constituency and many visitors to Brugge from the North East of England bring considerable economic benefits to the city.
"I would not like to see the goodwill fostered by this history of exchange lost through aggressive policing tactics and illegal threats."
Mr Callanan is set to raise the issue with European Commissioners to ensure police do not break EU law.
link
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/communities/newcastle/2012/10/30/heavy-handed-police-threats-to-travelling-toon-fans-72703-32122675/
LOCAL businesses and police were today getting ready for the visit of Newcastle United fans with scores of Geordies expected in Brugge in the next 24 hours.
Pubs and bars in the main square area of town were today briefed that drinks must be served in plastic glasses and that tables and chairs outside must be cleared away by midday as police look to stay on top of travelling fans.
Fans travelling without tickets were curious to see if a big screenwould be put in place in the main square but there was no evidence of this early this afternoon as Brugge prepares for the big game.
Saturday 3 November 2012
Football Gossip
Manchester City defender Kolo Toure targets French move
link
Short-sighted Manchester City left hamstrung by pointless Garcia, Rodwell & Sinclair signings
link
Di Matteo: Manchester United are favoured by referees
Suarez treatment hypocritical, claims Liverpool boss Rodgers
Swansea City v Chelsea: Swans Showing Signs Of Finding Feet Again
Norwich City v Stoke City: Promise Of Goals At Carrow Road
Refs 'could boycott Chelsea'
Wenger wary of deadly Van Persie
Arsenal know precisely how dangerous Robin van Persie can be, but
Arsene Wenger does not think that will make it any easier to stop the
Manchester United forward.
The
Gunners are set to face off against their former captain for the first
time since his £24million summer move to Old Trafford on Saturday
lunchtime.
Van Persie netted some 132 goals in eight seasons with the north London club, and Wenger said: "Robin Van Persie has a great quality in the fraction of a second that he understands where to go - you can talk and talk and talk, but defenders have to read that at the same time. His speed of analysing those little pockets around the box are absolutely exceptional."
He continued: "The team know him as well because they have played against him in training. But in the game it is a question of timing - how quickly will they read it as well as he reads it?"
The Gunners were humiliated 8-2 on their last visit to United in August 2011.
However, they were crippled by injuries to key men for the game, in which then rookie full-back Carl Jenkinson was sent off, with Aaron Ramsey the only likely starter on Saturday from the XI that miserable afternoon.
Wenger insists while painful at the time, that freak result under "exceptional circumstances" following an energy-sapping Champions League qualifier in Udinese is now well and truly out of the squad's system.
Nevertheless, the Arsenal manager insists damage limitation was never part of his footballing psyche.
"There is purely an emotional aspect in the 8-2, but there is no mathematical consequence. We lost a game, that is all," he said.
"The football aspect was easy to explain. We gave everything in Udinese three days before in 35 degrees at night and I knew that we would be dead. We lost vital defensive players in that game. We went out very exposed, but the most important game of the week was at Udinese."
Source: PA
The
Gunners are set to face off against their former captain for the first
time since his £24million summer move to Old Trafford on Saturday
lunchtime.Van Persie netted some 132 goals in eight seasons with the north London club, and Wenger said: "Robin Van Persie has a great quality in the fraction of a second that he understands where to go - you can talk and talk and talk, but defenders have to read that at the same time. His speed of analysing those little pockets around the box are absolutely exceptional."
He continued: "The team know him as well because they have played against him in training. But in the game it is a question of timing - how quickly will they read it as well as he reads it?"
The Gunners were humiliated 8-2 on their last visit to United in August 2011.
However, they were crippled by injuries to key men for the game, in which then rookie full-back Carl Jenkinson was sent off, with Aaron Ramsey the only likely starter on Saturday from the XI that miserable afternoon.
Wenger insists while painful at the time, that freak result under "exceptional circumstances" following an energy-sapping Champions League qualifier in Udinese is now well and truly out of the squad's system.
Nevertheless, the Arsenal manager insists damage limitation was never part of his footballing psyche.
"There is purely an emotional aspect in the 8-2, but there is no mathematical consequence. We lost a game, that is all," he said.
"The football aspect was easy to explain. We gave everything in Udinese three days before in 35 degrees at night and I knew that we would be dead. We lost vital defensive players in that game. We went out very exposed, but the most important game of the week was at Udinese."
Source: PA
Sheffield Wednesday's Gary Madine charged with affray
A Sheffield Wednesday footballer has appeared in court charged with affray and intent to cause grievous bodily harm.The 22-year-old former Carlisle United player was granted bail.
Mr Madine is due to appear at Leeds Crown Court on 13 November.
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