Tottenham have accused Spanish police of hitting a disabled fan during Thursday's Uefa Cup tie in Seville.

Riot police charged away fans midway through the first half of the match as trouble broke out inside the ground.

 

Spurs club secretary John Alexander said: "We know one disabled fan was hit with a baton with such force that it knocked him out of his wheelchair."

 

Uefa has pledged an investigation but government official Faustino Valdes said drunken Spurs fans were to blame.

 

Tottenham have offered their full support to the authorities.

 

"Our initial reports suggest there was no fan-to-fan fighting at any stage of the proceedings," said a club statement.

 

"As such we are seeking explanations as to why the police reacted in the way they did with our fans.

 

"Tottenham supporters have enjoyed an exemplary reputation across Europe this season which is why tonight's events are unprecedented.

 

"We will be co-operating fully with Uefa, the British Embassy and the Spanish authorities to understand why this has happened."

 

The police intervened midway through the first half as the away fans voiced their anger at a contentious penalty won by Sevilla.

 

The fighting continued into the half-time interval but died down when Spurs officials persuaded the Spanish authorities to take the police out of the away section in the second half.

 

Many Spurs supporters have accused police of over-reacting.

 

"It had been a perfect day up to then but was was spoilt by some over-zealous police officers, who started throwing their weight around, for want of a better term," said Daniel Wynne, of Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust.

 

"After the penalty, a couple of fans got a bit excited about that but nothing more than shouting at the pitch. There was no violence.

 

"Spurs fans weren't causing any trouble. The police went over and above acting as stewards."

 

However, Senor Valdes, the Spanish government's representative in Seville said: "We have two police who have suffered some serious blows and we also have arrested some (seven) Tottenham fans who should be now appearing in court."

 

"Some Tottenham fans under the influence of alcohol attacked the private security officers and police, there were some incidents as security tried to overcome the fans and nothing more."

 

"It was an incident surrounding a few people who behaved badly, probably because they had drunk too much."

 

The scenes followed violent clashes between fans and police in Manchester United's Champions League tie in Rome on Wednesday.

 

Uefa has launched investigations into both flashpoints, but communications director William Gaillard said possible sanctions for any of the clubs involved had not been discussed.

 

"Any talk of sanctions is pure speculation, it has not been discussed," he said.

 

"The control and disciplinary body is a a fully independent body and we and they will look at the evidence."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6531683.stm

Man Utd condemn police behaviour

 

 

Manchester United have condemned the Italian police following the violence in the Champions League tie with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

"In what the club views as a serious over-reaction, local police handed out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters," said a United statement.

 

"The disturbing scenes shocked everyone at Old Trafford."

 

Uefa has launched an investigation, while United want supporters to send in witness statements.

 

The Home Office have confirmed they will gather information from all relevant sources before deciding whether to approach Uefa about their concerns.

 

Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete praised the action of police.

 

"We owe gratitude to our law enforcers and I don't believe those who try to make games safe can be crucified in this manner," he said.

 

Uefa has confirmed it has opened an investigation into the shocking scenes.

 

A statement said: "Uefa is currently gathering evidence and will be studying the official reports of the referee, delegate and security officer in detail before announcing any further action."

 

The investigation could lead to disciplinary action for both United and Roma.

 

Roma could be charged if they are judged to have failed in their security arrangements, while United could be in trouble if their fans are found to have a played a significant role in provoking the police's reaction.

 

Earlier in the season, United were fined £6,300 for the poor behaviour of their supporters in the away leg against Lille in Lens.

 

The trouble flared when rival fans surged towards a barrier separating them and missiles were thrown.

 

Baton-wielding riot police were seen repeatedly striking United supporters, including at least two as they lay on the floor.

 

Uefa spokesman William Gaillard said Uefa has little control over the police.

 

"Italian law says police are responsible for public order inside stadiums. Stadia in Italy are municipal stadiums, they are not the property of the club," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

 

"We are definitely in favour of soft policing, which is clearly the use of stewards who we know can handle a difficult situation probably better than riot police.

 

"We are subject to the law so we cannot tell the Italians and other countries where police are in charge of public order in stadia not to enter stadia.

 

"We are just a football authority not a law and order authority."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6528605.stm

Italian policing under spotlight

 

 

The violence between fans of Manchester United and AS Roma has brought the shadow of football hooliganism sharply back into focus.

 

The fighting which broke out before and during the Champions League match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is a throwback to the dark days where what went on in the stands often overshadowed the events on the pitch.

 

Questions have been raised over the tactics and behaviour of the police in quelling the violence, and one of the critics is psychologist Dr Clifford Stott, of the University of Liverpool.

 

He is an expert on football hooliganism and crowd dynamics and has previously advised the Home Office.

 

Dr Stott attended Wednesday's match in Rome to observe the crowd and said the Italian police had failed to control the situation, or even themselves.

 

Doubtful tactics

 

"I saw senior police officers trying to restrain their own men and failing to do so," he said.

 

"They only had police on the Manchester United side and just stewards on the Roma side. So when the trouble began they could do nothing at all with the Roma fans.

 

"I saw one United fan walking away and a policeman go up to him and hit him over the head."

 

Dr Stott said that, in his opinion, the initial provocation came from the Roma fans.

 

"I arrived with the United fans two hours before the game started and the Roma fans were throwing missiles for that time. They carried on doing so during the match as well.

 

"Eventually the United fans began throwing missiles back over which inflamed the situation.

 

"And when Paul Scholes was sent off for Manchester United there was a surge by both fans towards the clear fence that was keeping them apart. The police then deployed straight away."

 

Dr Stott said that the entire incident could possibly have been avoided if the Roma fans had been policed properly.

 

"The question is whether if the initial missile throwing by Roma fans had been stopped, whether the United fans would have begun reacting and if the police would have had to come in at all," he said.

 

"There were three factors at play here - the Manchester United fans, the Roma fans and the police.

 

"The relationship between these groups can lead to the dynamics that lead to a riot.

 

"One issue that has to be addressed is the behaviour of Roma fans in the stadium. If they had behaved that way in England they would have received a club ban and faced a criminal prosecution.

 

 

He said that the police were deployed next to Manchester United fans and so could not react to things happening elsewhere.

 

But at a police press conference on Thursday, the chief of policing in Rome Achille Serra said he supported what his force had done.

 

"To criticise the police is a sport," he said "The British always like to do it.

 

"The police were forced to intervene between two sets of violent fans and once you are in the middle of that you have to go in strong."

 

Mr Serra also said he had not seen any cases of police brutality but if evidence was produced he would investigate immediately.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6529721.stm

Rome police chief defends action

 

 

Rome's prefect of police has defended their tactics in dealing with clashes between Roma and Manchester United fans in their Champions League clash.

Manchester United said the police's response was a "serious over-reaction" and accused the police of handing out "indiscriminate beatings".

 

But Achille Serra said: "To criticise the police is a sport. The British like to do it.

 

"The police were forced to intervene between two sets of violent fans."

 

He added: "The stewards were literally swept aside and at that point the police were obliged to intervene.

 

"If people are criticising the security forces... I was at the stadium and I saw no negative behaviour. Certainly when you are facing facts of this nature you can not hand out flowers, that much is clear."

 

A Home Office minister has said answers are needed from Italian police following the clashes.

 

Vernon Coaker's remarks came after baton-wielding police fought with supporters at Rome's Stadio Olimpico during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat.

 

The British Embassy said 11 Manchester United fans were taken to hospital, with two reportedly kept in overnight.

 

Mr Coaker said: "The scenes that we saw on our television screens were extremely concerning."

 

He told BBC Radio Five Live he wanted to see reports from Italian and UK police, the British Embassy, the clubs concerned and the fans themselves.

 

"We need some explanation of what actually took place and the police response to it," he added.

 

Riot police

 

Manchester United said the police's response was a "serious over-reaction" and accused the police of handing out "indiscriminate beatings".

 

Uefa is to investigate the trouble involving many fans from both sides and campaign group Amnesty International backed calls for an inquiry.

 

Local media also said five people - three English and two from Italy - were injured in clashes as fans made their way to the stadium.

 

Two Roma supporters received hospital treatment after the clashes, it was reported.

 

During the game both sets of fans could be seen throwing missiles at each other.

 

The two sets of supporters were separated in one section of the ground by a barrier with riot police gathered on the Manchester United side.

 

After each goal both sets of fans surged towards the barrier.

 

At one stage, riot police with shields and batons were seen repeatedly striking Manchester United supporters.

 

Manchester United said in a statement: "The disturbing scenes witnessed in the Stadio Olimpico last night shocked everyone at Old Trafford.

 

"In what the club views as a serious over-reaction, local police handed out indiscriminate beatings to United supporters.

 

"In those circumstances, neither Manchester United, nor AS Roma is able to call the police to account."

 

The club said it welcomed the government's examination of the incident and said it would collect witness statements from fans to submit to the Home Office.

 

'Justified response'

 

Before the game Manchester United fans were warned in letters and on the club's website to avoid certain areas of the city, as they could be attacked by Roma's hardcore "ultra" fans.

 

The city's mayor Walter Veltroni criticised Manchester United officials and said the advice could create a "negative climate".

 

William Gaillard, from Uefa, said the body was very concerned at the number of violent incidents this year.

 

"We will be waiting for the delegate's report, and the control and disciplinary body will be looking at the television images to see the dynamics of what actually happened."

 

Amnesty International said it was concerned about claims the police "acted disproportionately" and urged the Italian authorities to fully cooperate with any inquiry.

 

In a statement, it said: "The organisation urges the Italian authorities to conduct a thorough review of current policing practices to ensure that Italy is abiding by international law and standards on the use of force by law enforcement officers."

 

In February the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) suspended all matches after a policeman was killed at a Serie A game between Catania and Palermo.

 

Three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and 10 others hurt during fights with Roma fans at an Uefa Cup quarter-final last year.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6530157.stm

Honestly, violence in Football is a shame.

 

I'm not a Football fan at all.

 

What's the purpose of this violence?

You just go to watch a match, have a nice moment, support your team, and finally you end up in hospital...

 

I really don't understand it.

Sport is a mean to have fun, relax, change our mind.

It shouldn't include violence.

 

Sport is a mean to earn money, too. and maybe that's the point.

 

People's stupidness is another point too, surely the main one.

There's no point hurting people who support another team, just 'cause you support the rival team... This is just sad, how narrow minded people can be.

the problem is that violent people hide there as a football fan, and they use this as the excuse to justify their acts....

 

teams must ban those supporters but they never do it. :(

I didn't vote because I think everyone's equally to blame. But I have no trouble believing the police over-reacted once the situation started to heat up.

 

Mike's right. It's really sad.

they got to stop this violence, it happens way to much

It was a mix between the Police and poorly designed stadiums.

^ And bad fans mate. I'm sure the fans weren't angels..

I agree to say that violence is a fucking big problem, but... it's not the only one in the football, governments have to be severe in this problem that's all, cause today, football is really too much violent...

 

Anyway, come on : FRANCE, A.S. Saint-Etienne, A.S. Nancy-Lorraine and Liverpool! :laugh3:

What I don't understand at all is WHY they are so violent.

 

Of course the governements have to be more severe.

And the stadiums have to be safer.

 

But I think the problem could never be really solved.

Cos the problem is in fans' mind. I dunno what's going in their minds.

It's "Ultra" fans of the club who are mad.

Everyones blaming each other, just as you'd expect.

 

Fact is, a lot of people were hurt, no matter who's fault it was.

 

My only thought of blame is why the hell did the police start hitting children and wheelchair bound disabled people?

 

SURELY they understand that a disabled person or a child cannot be the cause of this violence, but are moronic and apparently bloodthirsty enough to just attack them anyways.

 

Shocking scenes the entire thing.