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by Nomad
In the world of soccer- better known as football outside the US, the support of fans very often reaches a fevered pitch. The possibility the things will get out of control is always on the minds of the
authorities. In two unrelated incidents yesterday, things not only got out of control, they became dangerous and bizarre.
According to officers on the
scene, angry fans ripped out three toilet bowls out of the stadium lavatories
and their them from the upper tiers.
One supporter, named as Paulo Ricardo Gomes da Silva, was hit
and instantly killed by the object.
Undoubtedly crowd control will become a major issue as as
the country prepared to host the 2014 World Cup- in six weeks time- and the
2016 Olympics.
A sociologist’s study found more deaths directly related to fan violence in Brazil than any other country. The number escalated from an average of 4.2 per year about a decade ago to 23 in 2012.The Brazilian soccer weekly Lance! reported 155 soccer-related deaths between 1988 and 2012, with only 27 arrests. But these deaths were mostly linked to fan groups, which are infiltrated by criminal gangs and have complex relationships with teams and the police.
In another incident of bizarre soccer violence yesterday, clashes
reported broke out between fans of League Two teams, Mansfield and Bristol Rovers, at Memorial
Stadium in Bristol, England. In that event, before the match, there had
been problem but following a hometown defeat, angry fans took over the playing
field and fought with police. Some members of this mob were, authorities said, "intent on
engaging in acts of significant violence."
Obviously.
Police Superintendent Kevin Instance, according
to one source, had gave this statement about the events.
"There were small pockets of disorder before the match and a police horse was punched during one of these incidents.The article also reported:
He said the injured police officers were not badly hurt. Six people were arrested with cops expected to make more arrests.
At this time the autorities are still examining CCTV footage
and gathering witness statements. No information was given on the state of the horse.
Said Instance:
"Those who are intent on causing trouble, no matter what the circumstances are, should remember they are not anonymous and they will face serious consequences for their actions."
"Successful convictions are likely to lead to football banning orders, which will prevent those convicted from being able to attend games or follow the national side abroad.
Rather surprising perhaps, this
isn't the first time a police horse has been attacked. In October of last year,
a Newcastle United fan, Barry Rogerson, 45, was convicted and jailed for 12
months for punching a horse during a soccer match melee. In addition to his
prison time, Rogerson was also banned from attending any football matches in
the UK for six years.
