Tough controls for hooligans

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 72

Tough controls for hooligans

NZPA-PA London The British Government is to introduce tough new laws to curb football hooliganism in England and Wales. The announcement came after Wednesday’s rampage by English soccer hooligans in Brussels which led the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, to apologise to Belgium. George Younger, the Scottish Secretary, told the Scottish Conservative Conference in Perth: “We put through our own laws curbing football hooliganism. “Tbrse are now working most successfully and England is proposing to follow

our lead.” The law in Scotland, which has successfully cut hooliganism, includes a ban on the sale of alcohol inside sports grounds, and also outlaws taking drink into the ground. Mrs Thatcher told the House of Commons that the violence caused by Tottenham Hotspurs supporters in Brussels was “a disgrace to Britain.” The Prime Minister added: “We deeply and utterly condemn it and we deeply apologise for it.” Spurs fans ran wild after their team drew 1-1 with Anderlecht in the first leg of the U.E.F.A. Cup final on

Wednesday night. Two policemen were stabbed, several cars overturned and set alight, a bar was wrecked and damage caused to a brothel. Much of the violence was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old, Brian Flanagan, in a Brussels red-light district street on Wednesday. A car owner, Albert Neuckermans, aged 32, who police claim confessed to the shooting, was remanded in custody yesterday charged with manslaughter. Two more Spurs fans were also shot and wounded in separate incidents near the Anderlecht ground after the game.

More than 1000 riot police were on duty and many of the 8000 Spurs fans were escorted to and from the game. About 1500 were thrown into the cells on their arrival in Brussels and sent home when the match was over. Of about 200 British fans arrested before, during and after the game, all but five had been released yesterday. They may be charged with criminal damage and grievous bodily harm. Seven Brussels policemen were injured. Two were stabbed and two hurt when their car was overturned by Spurs fans. Three suffered broken bones while trying to arrest supporters.