Season 00/01 - January

Cardiff: 21 City fans have been arrested in a series of dawn raids - 26/01/2001

Source: BBC News

21 City fans have been arrested in a series of dawn raids in S Wales. Operation Javelin was carried out by Staffordshire Police who also arrested many Stoke fans as well in similar raids in the Potteries. The arrests are the result of months of investigation into trouble at the Brittania Stadium last April.
Report from BBC Wales Online.
Police have charged 21 Cardiff City fans with violent disorder after a series of dawn raids involving three forces. The arrests were made in the south Wales and Gwent areas in conjunction with officers from Staffordshire Police. They follow disturbances in which 27 members of the public and 12 officers were injured when fighting broke out at a Stoke City - Cardiff City match in Stoke on Trent at the end of April 2000. A dozen detectives have spent the past nine months gathering evidence in Operation Javelin. A further 29 others were arrested on the day for public order and drink-related offences. The fans arrested this week will remain on bail until they appear before Stoke on Trent magistrates in February. In addition, 22 Stoke City fans have also been charged with violent disorder. Police say inquiries are continuing to identify a further 66 Stoke supporters involved in the trouble. Their investigations have included watching hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in order to identify those responsible for the disorder. Trouble flared among Cardiff City supporters at a key relegation match against Stoke. Police on horseback and officers armed with batons entered the ground shortly after half-time. Problems continued outside the ground after safety fences put up to keep rival fans apart were torn down. A massive police operation had been mounted to prevent rival fans from Cardiff City and Stoke City clashing during a key Division Two match. Officers ringed the edge of the Stoke pitch to prevent any risk of trouble after kick-off. Their enforced presence had followed threats of violence posted on the internet between rival fans ahead of the Sunday game. At one point in the second half, the game was threatened with being abandoned. Stoke - who are chasing a Divison One play-off place - went on to win the game 2-1, watched by 14,000 spectators. Almost 2,000 Cardiff fans had been expected to travel to the Potteries for the match but police had urged anyone without a ticket to stay away. Prior to the match, Staffordshire Police called in back-up from three other police forces amid fears of violence at the match. The officer in charge of marshalling the game said "criminal elements" attached to the clubs had led to special policing arrangements being required.

Lazio Roma - SC Napoli - 06/01/2001

Source: BBC

Policeman injured as fans clash

Sven Goran Eriksson's latest Serie A setback was overshadowed by violence between fans of Lazio and Napoli at Rome's Olympic stadium.
An Italian policeman had a splinter of glass removed from his eye on Sunday following violent clashes.

The officer was travelling on a bus carrying Napoli fans to Rome. The vehicle was hit by stones thrown from a bridge and one of the windows shattered, showering those inside with glass.

The injured officer was not badly hurt and hospital sources said his eyesight would not be permanently impaired.

Napoli fans clashed with police inside the ground after hurling missiles at home supporters. One Napoli fan was marched away by police with his face covered in blood.

Eriksson crisis

Before the game, which Napoli won 2-1, a 25-year-old Naples man was stabbed in the thigh in a scuffle outside the ground. He was treated in hospital and discharged shortly afterwards.

Fans also clashed with police in Naples as they travelled to Rome. About 12 were hurt, none seriously.

Lazio's latest defeat will reportedly lead to a crisis meeting with club president Sergio Cragnotti on Monday.

And Lazio's controversial Yugoslav defender Sinisa Mihajlovic has stated that he is contemplating leaving the Italian champions when his contract expires in the summer he was jeered by his own supporters during the Napoli defeat.

Manchester City - Coventry City - Cup - 28/01/2001

Source: Coventry Evening Telegraph

Police Step In As Coventry Fans Cause Trouble

Trouble flared among Coventry City fans for the second cup game in succession as a late winner by Manchester City sent the Sky Blues out of the competition. Greater Manchester police will be studying video footage of the game to see if they can identify any more of the troublemakers. Travelling fans seemed to get in among Manchester City fans after Shaun Goater’s winner three minutes into injury time at Maine Road on Saturday. They climbed over a brick wall and more than 20 rows of seats for the confrontation. Police chiefs had already sent the 50 on-duty officers outside the stadium to prevent any post-match altercations. But the last-minute goal and trouble meant they had to quickly get back inside to restore order. Despite dominating through, Coventry were unable to convert their chances. John Eustace went close twice. Several arrests were made by police on the terraces and an FA investigation into the incident is likely to take place. Manager Gordon Strachan refused to comment on the fighting, saying that he wasn’t wearing a yellow jacket and wasn’t a steward.

Man City boss Joe Royle said he missed the outbreak of violence as he was “too busy apologising” to Strachan for scraping such an undeserved victory. Club chairman Bryan Richardson said anyone who was caught by police would be banned. The game had not been earmarked of having a high risk of violence because the two previous games this season between the clubs had passed off without incident. The trouble follows scenes at Swindon earlier this month, where no police action was taken after Coventry City fans rushed to goad the home supporters.

Coventry firm

Coventry: Police Step In As Coventry Fans Cause Trouble - 29/01/2001

Source: Coventry Evening Telegraph

Trouble flared among Coventry City fans for the second cup game in succession as a late winner by Manchester City sent the Sky Blues out of the competition. Greater Manchester police will be studying video footage of the game to see if they can identify any more of the troublemakers. Travelling fans seemed to get in among Manchester City fans after Shaun Goater’s winner three minutes into injury time at Maine Road on Saturday. They climbed over a brick wall and more than 20 rows of seats for the confrontation. Police chiefs had already sent the 50 on-duty officers outside the stadium to prevent any post-match altercations. But the last-minute goal and trouble meant they had to quickly get back inside to restore order. Despite dominating through, Coventry were unable to convert their chances. John Eustace went close twice. Several arrests were made by police on the terraces and an FA investigation into the incident is likely to take place. Manager Gordon Strachan refused to comment on the fighting, saying that he wasn’t wearing a yellow jacket and wasn’t a steward.

Man City boss Joe Royle said he missed the outbreak of violence as he was “too busy apologising” to Strachan for scraping such an undeserved victory. Club chairman Bryan Richardson said anyone who was caught by police would be banned. The game had not been earmarked of having a high risk of violence because the two previous games this season between the clubs had passed off without incident. The trouble follows scenes at Swindon earlier this month, where no police action was taken after Coventry City fans rushed to goad the home supporters.

Stockport: 'Abusive' football fan fined for station incident - 20/01/2001

Source: Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Source: http://www.burytimes.co.uk

A STOCKPORT supporter was arrested on Blackburn railway station after his team had played in Burnley.

Blackburn magistrates heard that police were called after members of the public described people on the platform behaving like "animals".

And when the officers arrived at the tail end of the disturbance they found people with cuts and bruises around the station.

Craig Martin Johnson, 20, of Brownedge Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. He was fined £100 with £80 costs.

Clare Fanning, prosecuting, said that as a result of the disturbance, involving a group of Stockport supporters and other young men, there had been a serious assault.

Police were speaking to a witness to that assault when they noticed Johnson shouting in a provocative manner.

He initially moved on as requested but when officers came on to the platform with another witness, who began pointing out certain individuals, Johnson again became aggressive and abusive.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said Johnson had originally pleaded not guilty to the offence which dated back to October 14.

"He now accepts that his behaviour was untoward although he does not accept all that the prosecution say about him," said Mr Ditta.