Football hooliganism makes a return in England and Belgium

VIOLENCE and hooliganism returned at the weekend at football grounds in England and Belgium. Players were chased off the pitch by rampaging fans during the Bristol derby game yesterday and, in Belgium, police detained 123 people before the Belgium-Holland World Cup qualifying match in Brussels on Saturday.

The English FA have called for evidence from the match officials and local police after reports that Bristol Rovers players were assaulted by City fans after the final whistle at Ashton Gate.

The match, a 1-1 draw, had earlier been held up for five minutes when Rovers fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate Peter Beadle's injury-time equaliser against the home side, who had earlier had Rob Edwards sent off.

Bristol City chairman Scott Davidson has also launched an internal investigation but his club could face serious sanctions.

"Obviously it's a serious matter and we will be looking at it as a matter of urgency," said FA spokesman Steve Double. "We need to see the referee's report and what the police have to say. But we're particularly concerned about reports that players were attacked."

Mounted police restored order after the initial pitch invasion but once the last few seconds of play remaining had been completed, a mob of City followers went on to the pitch and pursued Rovers players as they raced to the dressing-room.

At least one supporter was stretchered away in a game screened live on satellite TV, while Chief-Inspector David Harper of Avon and Somerset police admitted many arrests had been made inside and outside the ground.

He said: "There was certainly adequate stewarding and policing under normal circumstances. The sad thing is, if there are a few people who are out to cause trouble, they will cause trouble. It's a minority who cannot accept a fair result at the end of the day.

"The vast majority of genuine football supporters always suffer. We have a pleasant ground here, an open ground, but it's quite easy for people to cause trouble if they want to. Luckily they were quite quickly brought under control."

Chief Inspector Harper said he would not be making any recommendations at this early stage, but added: "Certainly we don't want a return to fencing around grounds."

Meanwhile, Davidson has vowed to ban any supporters for life caught on the club's video system. He said: "We shall do everything possible to identify the culprits and in my view anyone seen on video to have invaded the pitch should be punished.

"I don't have any problem with banning them for life. I don't want to be associated with those people so either they go or I do."

Former pop star Davidson, who took charge of City last March, said it was a sad day: "So much work has gone into picking this club up. Now I have to wonder if it was worth it.

"We had problems with the fixture last season. That was all down to ticketing arrangements and fans being left out. There were no such problems this time and everything went very smoothly for 89 minutes.

Australian striker Paul Agostino had given City a 16th minute lead with a superb solo effort and the home side were clearly in control until the 62nd-minute sending-off of defender Edwards for chopping down Jason Harris, his second bookable offence.

Bristol Rovers player-manager Ian Holloway has blamed media hype for the crowd trouble. He said: "I don't want to make excuses for anyone, but the build-up to this game locally was unreal and I was affected by it as much as anyone else.

"You end up with too much bickering and too much confrontation over what is just a game of football.

"Joe Jordan (the Bristol City manager) and I were able to have a drink together after the match so why rival supporters can't do the same is beyond me.

"We had a great chance to show Bristol football in a good light through a wide satellite TV audience. There was some good action, yet all we end up talking about is crowd trouble.

Jordan said "We wanted so much, on a day when the match was being seen by the nation on television, to show what West Country football could offer. But it was all tarnished".

Meanwhile, also on Saturday, Ray Houghton was sent off for the first time in his long career as a brawl broke out near the end of Crystal Palace's 1-1 draw at Norwich.

Kevin Muscat's 88th minute foul on Darren Eadie promoted incredible scenes with referee Kevin Lynch taking well over a minute to restore order as virtually every player on the pitch joined the melee.

When peace was restored Muscat was ordered off for a second bookable offence, having already received a yellow card for a 25th minute foul, while Houghton also went for his shove on Eadie that instigated the mass brawl.

"Ray's gutted because it's the first time in 18 years that he's ever got sent off," said Palace boss Dave Bassett.

Norwich manager Mike Walker felt Houghton had instigated the brawl, saying: "He seemed to push Darren Eadie to the ground and that started things off. I'm surprised at him because he's a good pro and I can't think why he decided to do that."