Walgelijke actie!
Geplaatst: 20-01-2003 14:00
Ik weet dat er bij ons wel gediscusseerd wordt over het gebruik van fakkels. En wij weten er wel verstandig mee om te gaan. Voorkomen is beter dan genezen. Dit pikte ik op van het Sheffield Wednesday forum. Hier ging het wel fout, waarbij een fakkel uit een United vak in een Wednesday vak werd gegooid en een 13-jarig meisje het slachtoffer werd.
THE scarred face of young Emma Jayne Barker bears testimony to the madness of Sheffield's football thugs.
The 13-year-old Wednesday fan was injured by a flare hurled by maniacs in Bramall Lane's Laver Stand as she innocently watched last night's derby with her dad.
She was treated by Sheffield United's doctor for her injuries.
Police say a nine-year-old girl was also hurt by one of at least three flares ignited during the game, but did not need to go to hospital.
Today Emma's dad Tony, aged 41, of Middlewood Close, Middlewood, described the hooligans as 'pathetic' and said he would be contacting United to ask why home fans had not been searched in the same way he and his two children were.
Tony, who works at Fletchers Bakers, told The Star: "She begged me to take her to an away game and they don't come any bigger than the derby. But she says she never wants to go again now. She is terrified by what has happened.
"I know there's bound to be ill feeling at a derby game and it's one thing fighting on the streets and another to be throwing flares into a crowd where there's women and children."
The incidents were the worst features of a derby night of shame, which saw large gangs clash on West Street and, later, yobs turn on police four miles away in Hillsborough.
In all, there were 21 football-related arrests. All but one those arrests was away from Bramall Lane.
The Blades now face a hefty fine for the incident at their ground, which is to be included in referee Rob Stiles' report to the FA and was condemned by Bramall Lane officials today.
The flare injuries were followed by ugly scenes in Sheffield city centre, where around 40 Wednesday fans tried to storm the Varsity pub in West Street, where hardcore Blades Business Crew (BBC) members were said to be drinking.
Glasses and bricks were thrown in the street, but scores of police were quickly on the scene to surround the Wednesday fans and escort them out of the city.
About 40 Owls fans later clashed with police at Hillsborough corner, after officers responded to reports of a disturbance at the Deep End pub.
They were said to turn on officers en masse as they stepped in to break up a fight between a small number of people.
The pre-match tension to the biggest derby in years was stoked further by the murder of Blades fan and alleged BBC associate Lester Divers, who was shot in the head outside his Walkley home on New Year's Day.
Blades fans pledged over the internet to give Mr Divers a 'good send-off', while Wednesday fans were searched for banners taunting his killing.
Chief Supt Dave Turner, match commander, said he was pleased with the policing operation.
He said: "We are pleased that the high-profile operation prevented has proved a success. We stopped any serious public order problems arising and dealt with minor public order issues that did arise.
"The success of the operation can be measured by our ability to prevent public order, arrest offenders and ensure people in Sheffield city centre were able to enjoy their evening without serious disruption from football hooligans."