More than 80 fans arrested in Britain

The Canadian Press

6/14/2004

LONDON (AP) - Police arrested more than 80 people around Britain in the hours following the England soccer team's heartbreaking, last-minute loss to France at the European Championship tournament in Portugal, police said Monday.

Disappointment erupted into violence in parts of London and counties including Hertfordshire, West Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with angry fans in some cases throwing bricks and bottles at police officers.

No serious injuries were reported, but several people, including some police officers, suffered minor wounds and in Boston, in the east Midlands, mobs turned over two police cars and set them on fire.

England soccer fans are notorious for their rowdy, drunken and sometimes violent behaviour. The government has cracked down hard in recent years, barring known hooligans from travelling overseas for big matches, but the post-game outbreaks of anger were more scattered, many occurring around pubs or other places where fans gathered to watch the match.

In Croydon, south London, about 400 people were involved in a disturbance that lasted for about an hour late Sunday and led to 12 arrests, the Metropolitan Police said. Several police vehicles were damaged by objects the fans threw, police said.

Kam Desai, manager of Croydon's Bar Red Square, said many of his patrons were afraid to go outside after the game.

``We did not want to open the door,'' he said. ``People were fighting outside ... a lot of the customers were frightened and a lot of the staff were frightened. We arranged to take them home.''

Croydon Police Supt. Nick Jupp called the violence ``totally unacceptable'' and said investigators would examine closed circuit television footage of the scuffles.

In Boston, a crowd of about 70 turned over and set alight two police cars and set a convenience store on fire. Police made 11 arrests for theft, arson and violent disorder.

Police in Birmingham, central England, said about 200 angry fans gathered in the city centre and 12 were arrested. One man suffered minor injuries and several pubs, a bus and some street signs were damaged. Police had to close a main street for about 45 minutes.

Five police officers were hurt and 31 people arrested in towns around Hertfordshire, north of London. Five police officers suffered minor injuries and police said they planned to beef up patrols for England's next tournament game, against Switzerland on Thursday.

In Wakefield, near Leeds, in West Yorkshire, angry crowds threw bottles and other objects and club bouncers and police, leading to 17 arrests, most for disturbing the peace and other public order offences.

England led by a goal for much of the match, but star player Zinedine Zidane won it for France with a free kick and a penalty in injury time.