Update: News, Video, Links
Just an update for the comm to show that we're not dead.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aeym3zLw-aw
News
Problem of hooliganism plagues authorities (Cyprus)
Problem of hooliganism plagues authorities
By Leo Leonidou
THE PROBLEM of hooliganism on the island is a long-standing one, with the director of the police department in charge of combating the phenomenon calling for more resources to tackle the issue.
Almost every weekend, fans clash with police and there is violence either on or off the pitch, with police and sports authorities often left powerless.
Over the last few years, hundreds of people have been arrested and charged by police in connection with sports-related offences.
The clubs are laying the blame on the police and are seemingly content to rake in earnings from ticket sales and television rights, while the force wants courts to impose stricter sentences.
However, all seem to agree that the biggest sticking point in bringing the game out of disrepute stems mostly from the House Legal Affairs Committee.
The debate in parliament with regards to a bill dealing with the problem has been going on for years and everybody is keen to see one passed.
The Cyprus Football Association has said the aim is to have the bill ready and approved so it can be implemented before the start of the next season.
The problem is not just restricted to football though. Over the past fortnight, youths stoned a bus carrying volleyball fans back from Paphos, critically injuring the driver, while fierce fighting involving Molotov cocktails followed the AEL-Omonia match.
So, what can be done? Michalis Erodotou is the Head of the National Football Information Point and he explained that police personnel attend EU hooliganism seminars every year, as well as high-level matches across the continent, to see how they are policed. Advice is taken from authorities in countries such as England and Germany, which have traditionally suffered from hooliganism.
“In Cyprus, the problem is unfortunately very severe and more needs to be done to stop it,” he said.
“There are currently only two CCTV systems, at the GSP and Antonis Papadopoulos stadiums, and we desperately need to install more.”
He also said that a new ticketing system to control the number of tickets issued and how they are bought is required.
To add to the difficulties, there are no specialised stewards at grounds, with the police having to undertake all tasks required, something they are struggling to do with limited numbers.
“If we have a crowd of 20,000 people, we would like to see at least 200 designated stewards,” Erodotou said.
Psychologist and sociologist Antonis Raftis said that hooliganism is a universal problem, with many people behaving ‘normally’ when not at sporting events.
“When they get together at football or basketball matches, for example, they all have one thing in common, their team, and it is easy for them to express their frustrations when they are in groups rather than individually.”
He added that many people follow a select few ringleaders, “who spread the virus of violence. Emotions run high, there is lots of aggressive chanting and people simply get carried away.”
Last week, Sovereign Base Authority (SBA) Police delivered a strong anti-violence message to the community, with a school congress held at the Trachoni Gymnasium in the village.
Many of those invited were aged between 14 and 15, all of who are involved in athletics either as players or supporters.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education, as well as parents, teachers, police and many other agencies attended, with suggestions made on how to stamp out violence in sport.
Bases spokesman Captain Crispin Coates said the campaign is a way of introducing people to the concept of standing up to violence, “not just at sporting events but also in the home and workplace”.
Etymology of a fan
THERE IS some confusion as to the origin of the word fan. Paul Dickson, in his New Dickson Baseball Dictionary cites William Henry Nugent’s work that traces it to fancy, a 19th century term from England that referred mainly to followers of boxing.
It was originally shortened to fance then just to fan. The word emerged as an Americanism around 1889. Many assume that it’s a shortened version of the word fanatic, and the word did first become popular in reference to an enthusiastic follower of a baseball team. (Fanatic itself, introduced into English around 1525, means “insane person”. It comes from the Modern Latin fanaticus, meaning “insanely but divinely inspired.”)
The first use of the term hooligan is unknown, but it appeared in an 1898 London police report. One theory is that the word came from the name of an Irish hoodlum named Patrick Hooligan. Another theory is that it came from a street gang in Islington named Hooley.
24 charged after football fans’ mass battle
24 charged after football fans’ mass battle
DAVID LEASK March 30 2007
Police have charged 24 hooligans after a mass battle between scores of rival football fans in a pub car park.
The men were tracked down by detectives after a major confrontation between Aberdeen and Celtic casuals six weeks ago.
Several people were hurt, although none seriously, as up to 60 supporters clashed outside the Gordon Hotel on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
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Some of the men charged had come from as far away as Dublin and England but police do not believe the fight was arranged in advance over the internet.
Fourteen of the men charged purported to support Aberdeen. The other 10 claimed to follow Celtic. Another six men were detained and interviewed but have not yet been charged as part of a huge operation involving police from Grampian and Strathclyde. Superintendent Adrian Watson of Grampian Police said: "This is yet again a clear illustration of how Scottish forces are working together to combat football hooliganism.
"My organisation is committed to dealing with all forms of antisocial behaviour and with the support of colleagues from Strathclyde Police we shall be reporting 24 men in connection with this particular incident to the procurator-fiscal. Enquires to trace others continue.
Chief Superintendent Kenny Scott, a regular match commander at Celtic Park and one of Europe's leading authorities on football-related violence, said: "Where appropriate, police will seek football banning orders in respect of any individual found guilty of offences. This will ensure their exclusion from football matches in the future."
The fight broke out after the kick-off between Aberdeen and Celtic on February 17. All will now appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on citation.
UEFA seeks EU help against hooliganism
Monday, March 12, 2007 at 10:38
UEFA seeks EU help against hooliganism
BRUSSELS (EUX.TV) -- Michel Platini, the president of the UEFA, on Monday will seek to engage the European Union's executive body in the fight against racism and football hooliganism.
Platini will be at the European Commission to meet with Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. They have scheduled a press conference for midday.
The press conference will also be attended by Sir Bobby Charlton, Director of Manchester United. His team on Tuesday takes on a selection of top EU football stars in a special match to commemorate the 50th anniversary of UEFA. The match will take place at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium.
Platini has already called for a special EU police authority that should keep football-related violence under control, and that should also crack down on illegal betting and corruption.
The European Commission later this year is expected to present proposals relating to the transfers of football players and on television rights.
Links
Hooliganism Fact Sheet
Hooliganism News From Around the World
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aeym3zLw-aw
News
Problem of hooliganism plagues authorities (Cyprus)
Problem of hooliganism plagues authorities
By Leo Leonidou
THE PROBLEM of hooliganism on the island is a long-standing one, with the director of the police department in charge of combating the phenomenon calling for more resources to tackle the issue.
Almost every weekend, fans clash with police and there is violence either on or off the pitch, with police and sports authorities often left powerless.
Over the last few years, hundreds of people have been arrested and charged by police in connection with sports-related offences.
The clubs are laying the blame on the police and are seemingly content to rake in earnings from ticket sales and television rights, while the force wants courts to impose stricter sentences.
However, all seem to agree that the biggest sticking point in bringing the game out of disrepute stems mostly from the House Legal Affairs Committee.
The debate in parliament with regards to a bill dealing with the problem has been going on for years and everybody is keen to see one passed.
The Cyprus Football Association has said the aim is to have the bill ready and approved so it can be implemented before the start of the next season.
The problem is not just restricted to football though. Over the past fortnight, youths stoned a bus carrying volleyball fans back from Paphos, critically injuring the driver, while fierce fighting involving Molotov cocktails followed the AEL-Omonia match.
So, what can be done? Michalis Erodotou is the Head of the National Football Information Point and he explained that police personnel attend EU hooliganism seminars every year, as well as high-level matches across the continent, to see how they are policed. Advice is taken from authorities in countries such as England and Germany, which have traditionally suffered from hooliganism.
“In Cyprus, the problem is unfortunately very severe and more needs to be done to stop it,” he said.
“There are currently only two CCTV systems, at the GSP and Antonis Papadopoulos stadiums, and we desperately need to install more.”
He also said that a new ticketing system to control the number of tickets issued and how they are bought is required.
To add to the difficulties, there are no specialised stewards at grounds, with the police having to undertake all tasks required, something they are struggling to do with limited numbers.
“If we have a crowd of 20,000 people, we would like to see at least 200 designated stewards,” Erodotou said.
Psychologist and sociologist Antonis Raftis said that hooliganism is a universal problem, with many people behaving ‘normally’ when not at sporting events.
“When they get together at football or basketball matches, for example, they all have one thing in common, their team, and it is easy for them to express their frustrations when they are in groups rather than individually.”
He added that many people follow a select few ringleaders, “who spread the virus of violence. Emotions run high, there is lots of aggressive chanting and people simply get carried away.”
Last week, Sovereign Base Authority (SBA) Police delivered a strong anti-violence message to the community, with a school congress held at the Trachoni Gymnasium in the village.
Many of those invited were aged between 14 and 15, all of who are involved in athletics either as players or supporters.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education, as well as parents, teachers, police and many other agencies attended, with suggestions made on how to stamp out violence in sport.
Bases spokesman Captain Crispin Coates said the campaign is a way of introducing people to the concept of standing up to violence, “not just at sporting events but also in the home and workplace”.
Etymology of a fan
THERE IS some confusion as to the origin of the word fan. Paul Dickson, in his New Dickson Baseball Dictionary cites William Henry Nugent’s work that traces it to fancy, a 19th century term from England that referred mainly to followers of boxing.
It was originally shortened to fance then just to fan. The word emerged as an Americanism around 1889. Many assume that it’s a shortened version of the word fanatic, and the word did first become popular in reference to an enthusiastic follower of a baseball team. (Fanatic itself, introduced into English around 1525, means “insane person”. It comes from the Modern Latin fanaticus, meaning “insanely but divinely inspired.”)
The first use of the term hooligan is unknown, but it appeared in an 1898 London police report. One theory is that the word came from the name of an Irish hoodlum named Patrick Hooligan. Another theory is that it came from a street gang in Islington named Hooley.
24 charged after football fans’ mass battle
24 charged after football fans’ mass battle
DAVID LEASK March 30 2007
Police have charged 24 hooligans after a mass battle between scores of rival football fans in a pub car park.
The men were tracked down by detectives after a major confrontation between Aberdeen and Celtic casuals six weeks ago.
Several people were hurt, although none seriously, as up to 60 supporters clashed outside the Gordon Hotel on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
advertisement
Some of the men charged had come from as far away as Dublin and England but police do not believe the fight was arranged in advance over the internet.
Fourteen of the men charged purported to support Aberdeen. The other 10 claimed to follow Celtic. Another six men were detained and interviewed but have not yet been charged as part of a huge operation involving police from Grampian and Strathclyde. Superintendent Adrian Watson of Grampian Police said: "This is yet again a clear illustration of how Scottish forces are working together to combat football hooliganism.
"My organisation is committed to dealing with all forms of antisocial behaviour and with the support of colleagues from Strathclyde Police we shall be reporting 24 men in connection with this particular incident to the procurator-fiscal. Enquires to trace others continue.
Chief Superintendent Kenny Scott, a regular match commander at Celtic Park and one of Europe's leading authorities on football-related violence, said: "Where appropriate, police will seek football banning orders in respect of any individual found guilty of offences. This will ensure their exclusion from football matches in the future."
The fight broke out after the kick-off between Aberdeen and Celtic on February 17. All will now appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on citation.
UEFA seeks EU help against hooliganism
Monday, March 12, 2007 at 10:38
UEFA seeks EU help against hooliganism
BRUSSELS (EUX.TV) -- Michel Platini, the president of the UEFA, on Monday will seek to engage the European Union's executive body in the fight against racism and football hooliganism.
Platini will be at the European Commission to meet with Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. They have scheduled a press conference for midday.
The press conference will also be attended by Sir Bobby Charlton, Director of Manchester United. His team on Tuesday takes on a selection of top EU football stars in a special match to commemorate the 50th anniversary of UEFA. The match will take place at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium.
Platini has already called for a special EU police authority that should keep football-related violence under control, and that should also crack down on illegal betting and corruption.
The European Commission later this year is expected to present proposals relating to the transfers of football players and on television rights.
Links
Hooliganism Fact Sheet
Hooliganism News From Around the World