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Blood stains streets as rioting Chelsea fans fight each other
Jack Lefley and Justin Davenport22.05.08
Riot police fought running battles with football hooligans as violence erupted in London after Chelsea's Champions League Final defeat.
Around 200 drunken fans clashed with police outside Fulham Broadway Tube station, close to the club's Stamford Bridge ground.
The trouble started soon after Chelsea's defeat on penalties against Manchester United in Moscow.
Hundreds of Chelsea supporters who had been watching the game on TV in pubs and bars on Fulham Broadway poured onto the streets.
The scene turned ugly when a huge crowd who had been noisy and abusive and chanting songs began hurling objects at police and passers-by.
Shortly after 11pm, dozens of police riot vans raced to the scene with sirens blaring.
A squad of around 100 officers sealed off the street and contained the crowd outside the Tube station.
Blood stained the pavement outside the building which houses the station and a shopping centre.
As the stand-off developed hooligans - including several young women - hurled bottles and dustbins at police before running back into the crowd.
Many thugs covered their faces with scarves as they taunted police. Officers in riot gear and wielding batons charged the crowd to disperse them as missiles rained down.
Security guard Raheem Khan tried to protect terrified passengers using the Tube station. He said: "I saw Chelsea fans fighting each other, throwing punches and kicks. There was blood everywhere. The police were trying to control the number of people coming into the station but it got out of hand.
"They were throwing bottles and anything they could get their hands on at police and staff. We locked the doors to keep the hooligans out but they were trying to force their way in.
"Normal passengers and fans were screaming, children were crying, and I was getting as many as I could to safety out of a back exit. Outside it was like a full-scale riot. All over a game of football - it's unbelievable."
A police helicopter hovered overhead monitoring the trouble and spotting ringleaders. There were dramatic scenes as police snatch squads then cornered individuals in the street and dragged them into police vans.
At one point a suspected drunk driver attempted to drive down Fulham Broadway and collided with a football supporter. The fan suffered a broken leg and the driver was pulled from his car for his own safety after being surrounded by angry supporters.
Police arrested the driver for drink driving, grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving. Officers also fought running battles with smaller groups in side streets as they tried to regain control. Several supporters suffered head injuries after being hit by flying bottles or being struck by police batons.
Twelve people were arrested for public order offences. The ambulance service took 14 people to hospital and treated four others at the scene. Most injuries were relatively minor head wounds and facial injuries. No police officers were injured.
Some fans claimed they were targeted indiscriminately and accused police of "heavy-handed" tactics but officers insisted they were specifically targeting troublemakers.
Student Peter Simmons, 20, of Fulham, said: "They were just lashing out at anyone. It was outrageous. I was trying to get a girl out of there because she was frightened but one officer went for me anyway."
Supporters also pelted police cars and ambulances with missiles. Some were seen to empty bins searching for bottles to hurl. Glass and debris scattered the street outside the station and a car was also badly damaged.
Around 100 riot police eventually dispersed the crowd. A Scotland Yard spokesman said the main disturbance was under control by around midnight.
He added: "There were around 200 people gathered in Fulham Broadway who became noisy and abusive. Disorder started with objects being thrown.
"Officers from the Territorial Support Group provided assistance to local officers. A number of arrests were made before the remainder of crowd were dispersed." The disturbance came a week after thousands of Glasgow Rangers fans rioted in Manchester city centre following their UEFA Cup Final defeat.
Reader views (10)
Lara, I agree this is shameful and depressing but im not sure what makes you think its only the unemployed get involved with football hooliganism. Many of these yobs have jobs. Tarring all the unemployed with the same brush as hooligans is unfair. Your use of the term 'tax-payers' is therefore inappropriate.
But I do agree its a depressing situation.
- Nathan Hazlett, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
So sad that these thugs have nothing better to do. Makes me absolutely ashamed to be English. If only the police had been more heavy handed and taken them off the streets for good! Would save us all a lot of trouble and, ultimately tax payers' money!
- Lara, Sydney, Australia
Motorbike vandalised, The Pelican bar's window smashed and an annoying helicopter flying over my house, what a let down for the face of Chelsea and Stamford Bridge.
- Abs, Moore Park, Fulham Broadway, London
They sing "Blue is the Colour" and then paint the town red with blood.
Morons!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London
Another nail in the coffin of England getting the world cup perhaps? As a Chelsea fan of 30 odd years I was disappointed of course but enjoyed the game enough not to fight with anyone. (Mind you I was the only blue in a pub full of Mancs in Nantwich which may have had something to do with it)
- Phil,Sussex, west sussex,uk
The government introduced banning orders to stop football hooliganism within stadia and the surrounding areas and to a great degree this has had the required effect, well the effect they wanted but not the effect the British public wanted.
Does a football hooligan cease to be one overnight because he or she is banned from a ground or grounds? Do they stop watching football? Do they stop drinking? Do they no longer have the urge to fight?
All they have achieved with banning orders is to move the trouble to every high street in every town up and down the land. Most high street bars have multiple TV screens showing football 24/7 and of course plenty to drink. Where would you go if you were a football hooligan who was subject to a banning order?
- Charioteer, Sidcup, England.
How come after every football related riot supporters always say the police were heavy handed? Rangers fans in Manchester spring to mind, if you riot in public spaces the police are entitled to get heavy.
Chop their goolies off the lot of'em.
- Darrren, London
This rabble seem not unlike the team they purport to follow. Arrogant, ignorant and ultimately...defeated.
- David, London, England
Well, well. Isn't it a good thing the Russian police forces carefully controlled the English football fans last night here is Moscow. Only 5 English fans were arrested. The rest were peacefully bused in and out, the Russian's knowing the appalling reputation of UK football supporters.
The Uk's poor crime and order record could learn a great deal from the way things are done here in Russia, as could the impotent UK police force.
- Philip, Moscow, Russia
What a bunch of absolute idiots! Can someone please explain the logic of this - your team loses so you fight amongst each other and throw things at the police. And to suggest the police started this is simply not true, I saw what happened. Just goes to show what a great combination alcohol, lack of brains and football are. All those arrested should face automatic exclusion from English football grounds - end of story. Chelsea has enough problems to face without so called 'fans' like you, you are not wanted.
- Steve, London
