Post by QPR Report on Dec 12, 2008 12:12:25 GMT
BBC/Duncan Crawford - England Fans Want Protection
For years the English were known as the football hooligans of Europe
There are calls for England football fans to get better protection when they travel to games abroad.
The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) has told Newsbeat supporters are now more likely to be targeted by foreign hooligans than start trouble themselves.
The FSF's Kevin Miles says foreign police need to be more aware that England supporters are often the victims of crimes.
"There are so many people who want to make a name for themselves at our expense - and think because they're English fans, they are legitimate targets," he explained.
"There is clearly a case for better protection for English football supporters."
For years the English were known as the football hooligans of Europe and some fans still cause trouble.
They sometimes get into fights and can get drunk and rowdy.
Out of nowhere, a bunch of local Croatians just turned up and started laying into us. Kicking and punching. We were hit over the head with a bottle
John, England fan
But the latest Home Office statistics show only five England fans were arrested at games abroad last season.
In comparison at Euro 2000, hundreds of England supporters were detained and deported from Holland and Belgium.
Since then, banning orders have stopped a lot of trouble makers travelling abroad.
England fan John, 29, who went to the England v Croatia game in Zagreb in September, said: "Out of nowhere, a bunch of local Croatians just turned up and started laying into us. Kicking and punching. We were hit over the head with a bottle."
His friend Jim, 27, was also attacked. He added: "My head, it split open. There was quite a lot of blood.
"I managed to get away and start running. I know exactly why we were attacked. Because we were England fans. No other reason."
Stephen Thomas, head of policing football at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), believes the threat of disorder in a foreign country now is England fans being attacked.
He said: "Our fans will be picked on by foreign hooligan groups who see the English as the ultimate hooligans.
"They think that if they can fight and beat the English in a fight, then they can take that mantle off them."
Riot police wrestle a football fan to the ground
The European Commission has just given the go-ahead to a multi-million pound pan-European football police training programme.
The money will be used to train European police in different tactics to deal with football fans.
Bryan Drew, head of the UK football policing unit told Newsbeat that British police methods will be shared with foreign police commanders.
He said: "The idea is to share knowledge, share identified good practice, share experience across Europe. We want to bring a degree of consistency to football-related policing across Europe."
BBC - Lewes on brink of administration
The Lewes FC board have warned that the club is on course for adminstration "in the near future".
A scheme to find 100 individuals or businesses to raise £5000 each has failed to yield sufficient funds.
The board put the club up for sale last month, and are now willing to sell at a price of £150,000.
A statement read: "Unless sufficient pledges come forward immediately, there is a reasonable chance [we] will have to consider entering administration."
The board are making one last attempt to raise funds before any sale.
The statement goes on: "The club, for the final time, is appealing for 30 businesses or individuals to come forward to invest £5,000 in exchange for one share each in the club.
"The board have collectively written off £300,000 of debt, and are prepared to freeze an unsecured interest free loan of £235,000.
"Repayment terms would be discussed and structured with the new shareholders.
"The board of directors propose to resign in order to allow the new shareholders to nominate a new board.
"All positions in the club would then be available to be decided by the new board."
BBC - Premier League agrees Asia link
Scudamore wants to help Asian football at grassroots level
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam have agreed plans for a link-up.
The organisations will work together at administrative and club-to-club level to forge closer links between the pair.
The move is seen as increasing the possibility of the Premier League playing a 39th game in Asia.
Bin Hammam said: "This is the first time for a league and a confederation to join forces."
He was a critic of the Premier League's plans to play an extra game abroad, but the forming of a co-operative relationship is regarded as the latest softening in his stance.
Bin Hammam added: "We had many questions. What kind of legacy are the teams going to leave behind? Does the club just collect the money and go home or are they going to leave something behind?
"Now we know there will be benefits to Asian Football. Our fans will benefit, our youth will benefit and our coaches will benefit. They will be coming here based on our approval." 606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on the plans
Scudamore, reflecting on the controversy caused by proposals for an extra game, said: "We had a meeting with the 20 clubs to explore the possibility of playing games abroad in a year and it created a media frenzy.
"People approached it as though teams were on a plane ready to go but it was really just the start of a process."
Scudamore revealed that the Premier League will offer its expertise to teams in Asia mostly at the grassroots level.
He said: "It will likely start with five or six clubs at an operational and coaching level. I doubt it will extend to joint commercial arrangements."
The AFC, meanwhile, will expand their Champions League from next year, increasing from 28 to 32 teams as the confederation attempts to usher in an increased level of professionalism in club football in Asia.
"We want to show some solidarity with the AFC with the relaunching of the Champions League," said Scudamore.
For years the English were known as the football hooligans of Europe
There are calls for England football fans to get better protection when they travel to games abroad.
The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) has told Newsbeat supporters are now more likely to be targeted by foreign hooligans than start trouble themselves.
The FSF's Kevin Miles says foreign police need to be more aware that England supporters are often the victims of crimes.
"There are so many people who want to make a name for themselves at our expense - and think because they're English fans, they are legitimate targets," he explained.
"There is clearly a case for better protection for English football supporters."
For years the English were known as the football hooligans of Europe and some fans still cause trouble.
They sometimes get into fights and can get drunk and rowdy.
Out of nowhere, a bunch of local Croatians just turned up and started laying into us. Kicking and punching. We were hit over the head with a bottle
John, England fan
But the latest Home Office statistics show only five England fans were arrested at games abroad last season.
In comparison at Euro 2000, hundreds of England supporters were detained and deported from Holland and Belgium.
Since then, banning orders have stopped a lot of trouble makers travelling abroad.
England fan John, 29, who went to the England v Croatia game in Zagreb in September, said: "Out of nowhere, a bunch of local Croatians just turned up and started laying into us. Kicking and punching. We were hit over the head with a bottle."
His friend Jim, 27, was also attacked. He added: "My head, it split open. There was quite a lot of blood.
"I managed to get away and start running. I know exactly why we were attacked. Because we were England fans. No other reason."
Stephen Thomas, head of policing football at the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), believes the threat of disorder in a foreign country now is England fans being attacked.
He said: "Our fans will be picked on by foreign hooligan groups who see the English as the ultimate hooligans.
"They think that if they can fight and beat the English in a fight, then they can take that mantle off them."
Riot police wrestle a football fan to the ground
The European Commission has just given the go-ahead to a multi-million pound pan-European football police training programme.
The money will be used to train European police in different tactics to deal with football fans.
Bryan Drew, head of the UK football policing unit told Newsbeat that British police methods will be shared with foreign police commanders.
He said: "The idea is to share knowledge, share identified good practice, share experience across Europe. We want to bring a degree of consistency to football-related policing across Europe."
BBC - Lewes on brink of administration
The Lewes FC board have warned that the club is on course for adminstration "in the near future".
A scheme to find 100 individuals or businesses to raise £5000 each has failed to yield sufficient funds.
The board put the club up for sale last month, and are now willing to sell at a price of £150,000.
A statement read: "Unless sufficient pledges come forward immediately, there is a reasonable chance [we] will have to consider entering administration."
The board are making one last attempt to raise funds before any sale.
The statement goes on: "The club, for the final time, is appealing for 30 businesses or individuals to come forward to invest £5,000 in exchange for one share each in the club.
"The board have collectively written off £300,000 of debt, and are prepared to freeze an unsecured interest free loan of £235,000.
"Repayment terms would be discussed and structured with the new shareholders.
"The board of directors propose to resign in order to allow the new shareholders to nominate a new board.
"All positions in the club would then be available to be decided by the new board."
BBC - Premier League agrees Asia link
Scudamore wants to help Asian football at grassroots level
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam have agreed plans for a link-up.
The organisations will work together at administrative and club-to-club level to forge closer links between the pair.
The move is seen as increasing the possibility of the Premier League playing a 39th game in Asia.
Bin Hammam said: "This is the first time for a league and a confederation to join forces."
He was a critic of the Premier League's plans to play an extra game abroad, but the forming of a co-operative relationship is regarded as the latest softening in his stance.
Bin Hammam added: "We had many questions. What kind of legacy are the teams going to leave behind? Does the club just collect the money and go home or are they going to leave something behind?
"Now we know there will be benefits to Asian Football. Our fans will benefit, our youth will benefit and our coaches will benefit. They will be coming here based on our approval." 606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on the plans
Scudamore, reflecting on the controversy caused by proposals for an extra game, said: "We had a meeting with the 20 clubs to explore the possibility of playing games abroad in a year and it created a media frenzy.
"People approached it as though teams were on a plane ready to go but it was really just the start of a process."
Scudamore revealed that the Premier League will offer its expertise to teams in Asia mostly at the grassroots level.
He said: "It will likely start with five or six clubs at an operational and coaching level. I doubt it will extend to joint commercial arrangements."
The AFC, meanwhile, will expand their Champions League from next year, increasing from 28 to 32 teams as the confederation attempts to usher in an increased level of professionalism in club football in Asia.
"We want to show some solidarity with the AFC with the relaunching of the Champions League," said Scudamore.