Post by saturdaysheros on Sept 4, 2006 0:57:04 GMT -5
Fighting between rival fans delayed the start of the second half of a first division soccer game. Witnesses said about 200 fans were involved in disturbances at the game between Coventry City and Portsmouth, and police say there were 19 arrests before, during and after the match.. Coventry, who eventually won 2-0, had staged the game without a major police presence and relied on their own stewards - two of whom were slightly hurt - to provide security.
The club said it only asked police to arrange security when there was thought to be a high risk of trouble, and Postsmouth's visit had not been classed in that category. One witness said trouble broke out in a section of the ground where Coventry and Portsmouth fans were gathered next to each other, but separated by a barrier. He said police arrived at the ground shortly after fighting began and kept the rival groups apart during the second half. "I would say there were about 200 involved. A few spilled on to the track which runs around the ground. "The police marched a number of people away. The second half was held up for a few minutes and the police kept them apart for the second half," the witness added. Another fan said about 50 to 60 Portsmouth fans broke through a segregated area and climbed over advertising boards to reach the Coventry fans.
The second fan said: "They were throwing Coke bottles and some were giving the Nazi salute. The saddest thing was that some of them were not young lads in their teens and 20s, some of these were 50-year-old men." Club secretary and director Graham Hover would say only: "We want to assess fully everything that happened and look at it closely. We will then make a statement on Monday."
The club said it only asked police to arrange security when there was thought to be a high risk of trouble, and Postsmouth's visit had not been classed in that category. One witness said trouble broke out in a section of the ground where Coventry and Portsmouth fans were gathered next to each other, but separated by a barrier. He said police arrived at the ground shortly after fighting began and kept the rival groups apart during the second half. "I would say there were about 200 involved. A few spilled on to the track which runs around the ground. "The police marched a number of people away. The second half was held up for a few minutes and the police kept them apart for the second half," the witness added. Another fan said about 50 to 60 Portsmouth fans broke through a segregated area and climbed over advertising boards to reach the Coventry fans.
The second fan said: "They were throwing Coke bottles and some were giving the Nazi salute. The saddest thing was that some of them were not young lads in their teens and 20s, some of these were 50-year-old men." Club secretary and director Graham Hover would say only: "We want to assess fully everything that happened and look at it closely. We will then make a statement on Monday."