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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Reid voices football police worry | Reid voices football police worry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Home Secretary John Reid has questioned the way that Italian and Spanish police handled clashes involving fans of British football clubs this week. | Home Secretary John Reid has questioned the way that Italian and Spanish police handled clashes involving fans of British football clubs this week. |
| He said there were "questions to ask" after baton-wielding officers fought with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur fans in Rome and Seville. | He said there were "questions to ask" after baton-wielding officers fought with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur fans in Rome and Seville. |
| But Rome's police chief blamed violence in the city on United and its fans. | But Rome's police chief blamed violence in the city on United and its fans. |
| Achille Serra produced a film showing supporters apparently smashing seats and spitting at officers. | Achille Serra produced a film showing supporters apparently smashing seats and spitting at officers. |
| Robust defence | Robust defence |
| Mr Reid said he would be studying reports from the Metropolitan police as well as from football authorities and British consuls. | Mr Reid said he would be studying reports from the Metropolitan police as well as from football authorities and British consuls. |
| He added: "I think that anyone who saw some of these incidents would at least have questions to ask about how they were handled, and we have asked those questions." | He added: "I think that anyone who saw some of these incidents would at least have questions to ask about how they were handled, and we have asked those questions." |
| Tottenham have claimed that Spanish police hit a disabled fan during Thursday's Uefa Cup tie in Seville. | Tottenham have claimed that Spanish police hit a disabled fan during Thursday's Uefa Cup tie in Seville. |
| Riot police charged the away fans midway through the first half of the match, with fighting continuing into the half-time interval. | Riot police charged the away fans midway through the first half of the match, with fighting continuing into the half-time interval. |
| Spanish government official Faustino Valdes blamed drunken Spurs fans, but supporters of the English club said the authorities over-reacted. | |
| Images of police fighting with supporters during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat by Roma on Wednesday evening had led to earlier calls from UK ministers for answers from Italian authorities. | Images of police fighting with supporters during Manchester United's 2-1 defeat by Roma on Wednesday evening had led to earlier calls from UK ministers for answers from Italian authorities. |
| Police had been accused by Manchester United of handing out "indiscriminate beatings" during the Champions League game against Roma. | Police had been accused by Manchester United of handing out "indiscriminate beatings" during the Champions League game against Roma. |
| English fans can have a different attitude when they go abroad Malcolm ClarkeChairman, Football Supporters' Federation Back to the English disease? | English fans can have a different attitude when they go abroad Malcolm ClarkeChairman, Football Supporters' Federation Back to the English disease? |
| But Mr Serra, Rome's chief of police, used a press conference on Friday to launch a robust defence of the force's conduct. | But Mr Serra, Rome's chief of police, used a press conference on Friday to launch a robust defence of the force's conduct. |
| He presented journalists with seven minutes of CCTV footage which showed Manchester United supporters acting aggressively, with a number of ringleaders urging other fans forward. | He presented journalists with seven minutes of CCTV footage which showed Manchester United supporters acting aggressively, with a number of ringleaders urging other fans forward. |
| Individual fans were picked out by Mr Serra, including one man - apparently the same as one who had been pictured in the UK media bleeding from the head - throwing objects. | Individual fans were picked out by Mr Serra, including one man - apparently the same as one who had been pictured in the UK media bleeding from the head - throwing objects. |
| However, the BBC's Christian Fraser, who attended the press conference, said the footage was too grainy to identify the man. | However, the BBC's Christian Fraser, who attended the press conference, said the footage was too grainy to identify the man. |
| 'Hotheads' | 'Hotheads' |
| Mr Serra added that 300 United supporters had rampaged through the streets of Rome, vandalising bars, throwing bottles and clashing with rival fans. | Mr Serra added that 300 United supporters had rampaged through the streets of Rome, vandalising bars, throwing bottles and clashing with rival fans. |
| A letter issued by Manchester United which warned fans that they might be attacked in Rome was blamed by Mr Serra for inciting trouble. | A letter issued by Manchester United which warned fans that they might be attacked in Rome was blamed by Mr Serra for inciting trouble. |
| He said: he was worried that this would "incite the Roma hotheads who are not very well educated." | He said: he was worried that this would "incite the Roma hotheads who are not very well educated." |
| He also waved photographs of clashes involving Tottenham fans in Seville, and said the complaint from the British was the same. | He also waved photographs of clashes involving Tottenham fans in Seville, and said the complaint from the British was the same. |
| Following the incidents, three English fans have been banned from football stadia in Italy for three years, local media reported. | Following the incidents, three English fans have been banned from football stadia in Italy for three years, local media reported. |
| The three fans have been released from custody but will face trial in November, an Italian newspaper said. The reports could not immediately be confirmed. | The three fans have been released from custody but will face trial in November, an Italian newspaper said. The reports could not immediately be confirmed. |
| Uefa is to investigate the trouble involving many fans from both sides and campaign group Amnesty International backed calls for an inquiry. | Uefa is to investigate the trouble involving many fans from both sides and campaign group Amnesty International backed calls for an inquiry. |
| In February the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) suspended all matches after a policeman was killed at a game between Catania and Palermo. | In February the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) suspended all matches after a policeman was killed at a game between Catania and Palermo. |
| Three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and 10 others hurt during fights with Roma fans at a Uefa Cup quarter-final last year. | Three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and 10 others hurt during fights with Roma fans at a Uefa Cup quarter-final last year. |