Morning all.
I didn’t watch any football last night but have read the headlines this morning and they didn’t make very good reading. Forget the results, which incidentally were good for English clubs but the goings on at Aston Villa sound more like something out of a crime drama or even a horror film. Legia Warsaw Fans, although I use that term loosely, were throwing flares before their match, one of which hit a police office and set him alight. They fought with police and Villa fans but surprisingly, only 39 people were arrested. Thankfully, the police officer is ok but what on earth possess someone to behave like this before a game of football I just don’t know. I hope every single one of them arrested last night or over the next few days, are banned from attending football matches for life.
In Greece, where Brighton were playing AEK Athens, police had to use tear-gas in order to sort the home fans out but some of the Brighton fans got caught in the crossfire. Not a pleasant experience for anyone but I’d be royally cheesed off if it happened to me when I’d been behaving myself.
In Spain, at the start of the second half of a Catalan fourth division match between Fornells and Bescano, Bescano forward Marquez, clearly thinking no one would be taking much interest in him whilst play had stopped, wandered up to one of the home team defenders and launched what appeared to be an unprovoked, potentially leg breaking kick to the players leg. I saw the video and it’s brutal. It’s on Twitter if you’re interested.
Lastly, on a slightly lighter note though, Aberdeen’s Europa Conference League game with HJK Helsinki had to be stopped after the Scottish fans decided to pelt the opposing goalkeeper with snowballs. I know, I shouldn’t laugh but I did. Apparently an announcement was made, with a threat to abandon the match and civilised behaviour was resumed. Well, the Aberdeen fans stopped throwing snowballs.
There are some tasty fixtures this weekend as Newcastle Utd ‘welcome’ Manchester Utd to St James Park, Manchester City take on Totts at The Etihad and Chelsea face Brighton. Aston Villa, who are doing really well under Unai Emery, travel to Bournemouth. Liverpool play Fulham at Anfield so there’s little hope of them dropping points. At least Newcastle or Manchester Utd will drop points, as will Totts or Man City. A draw in both would be ideal for us…
Lastly, it appears that the case against Man City will take place late next year with the outcome expected the following year. I wonder how many more trophies City will have won by then….
Have a good Friday guys….
Good evening Rico, no one can deny that we’ve had a fair share of football hooliganism in this country. I think it has largely been stamped out now bit it remains not far below the surface. The emergence of all seater stadiums played a large part, but the high price of match tickets, travel, and the ever increasing price of alcohol also played a critical part too. There’s very little more the clubs can do to root out the cancer as there is a wide acceptance that hooliganism away from the stadiums is beyond the club’s control.
The trouble at the Villa game was due to something like double the expected number of away fans turned up, very many without tickets, who tried to force their way into the ground.
The police showed restraint in handling the violence, even though several officers were injured along with two police horses an let two police dogs. I’m pretty sure had the been a similar outbreak of violence in Italy or Turkey the arrest numbers and casualties would have been much higher.
Evening Cicero, I just understand it. Why bother going just to cause trouble. Thankfully though, no English club supporters were causing it.
Afternoon Rico and all,
The way things are going with these so called fans, I can see the officials making all these matches played behind closed doors.
Hi Geoff.
New post up.