DENMARK: SPORADIC FIGHTING ERUPTS BETWEEN ENGLISH AND TURKISH SOCCER FANS AHEAD OF UEFA CUP FINAL BETWEEN ARSENAL AND GALATASARAY IN COPENHAGEN

Record ID: 375825

  • Title: DENMARK: SPORADIC FIGHTING ERUPTS BETWEEN ENGLISH AND TURKISH SOCCER FANS AHEAD OF UEFA CUP FINAL BETWEEN ARSENAL AND GALATASARAY IN COPENHAGEN
  • Date: 17th May 2000
  • Summary: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (MAY 17, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF ARSENAL FANS AND GALATASARAY FANS WITH HUGE FLAG (4 SHOTS) 0.20 2. VARIOUS: SCUFFLES BREAK OUT, SHOW WINDOW BROKEN 0.33 3. PULL OUT: ARSENAL FANS OUTSIDE BAR CHANTING 0.47 4. TV/HAS: MASS OF GALATASARAY SUPPORTERS BEING HELD BACK BY POLICE (2 SHOTS) 1.02 5.
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
  • Country: Denmark
  • Reuters ID: LVAECOLMDFQW2SECBOCELKWYXJUX
  • Story Text: Sporadic fights erupted between rival Turkish and
    English soccer fans in downtown Copenhagen on Wednesday, five
    hours before the UEFA Cup final between Arsenal of England and
    Turkey's Galatasaray.

    "There were a few minor fights," a police officer said,
    confirming eyewitness reports about afternoon clashes
    following overnight riots which left seven injured, one of
    them seriously.

    A Reuters correspondent on the scene saw glasses of beer
    being thrown by English supporters at Turkish rivals near the
    central City Hall square.A chain of police in riot gear
    struggled to keep the two sides apart.

    "Now they are clearing the street.They have brought out
    the dogs.Everybody is leaving," he added.

    Overnight, one Arsenal supporter was stabbed and seven
    other people injured after clashes in City Hall square between
    the two sets of fans.Ten people, six Turks and four British,
    were arrested.

    Danish police were out in force after the night's riots.

    Eyewitnesses said tensions ran high on several downtown
    locations as rival fans jeered each other.

    In all, more than 10,000 Galatasaray and some 12,500
    Arsenal supporters were expected to arrive for the UEFA Cup
    final -- one of the highlights of the European club soccer
    season.

    Last month, two fans of English Leeds United, eliminated
    by Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-finals, were stabbed to
    death in Istanbul, raising fears in Denmark that English
    soccer hooligans would come to Copenhagen seeking revenge.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register