"England and Germany football fans clash in Stuttgart city center, June 24, 2006." (Toby Melville/Reuters)
Posted on 06/24/2006 1:46:24 PM PDT by BenLurkin
STUTTGART (Reuters) - Riot police detained a group of around 100 rowdy England soccer fans in a square in the center of Stuttgart on Saturday after they had clashed with German fans, throwing bottles and chairs and trading punches.
Tens of thousands of English and German fans had gathered in the area, many drinking throughout the day, to watch Germany's 2-0 second-round World Cup win over Sweden on big screen TVs. Trouble broke out shortly after the end of the game.
England fans were in the city for their country's second-round match against Ecuador on Sunday.
Some 150 fans on both sides threw bottles and chairs before riot police moved into the area to separate them.
After an uneasy standoff and a brief lull, the two sets of fans again threw glass bottles at each other, prompting the riot police to move the German fans out of the area.
They then moved in to arrest the English supporters.
"Most of them will be arrested, because it's like a theater here, and if we don't arrest them there'll be trouble here all night," Stuttgart police spokesman Stefan Kielbach told reporters.
He said the trouble had been started by both sets of fans. Some German supporters were also seen being dragged away by riot police while one German man left the area with blood on his face.
VIOLENT HISTORY
The English have a long history of soccer-related violence but there has been little trouble in Germany so far, with only a small number of arrests for mostly drunken behavior or people trying to get into a stadium without a ticket.
However 122 people were detained in Stuttgart on Friday night for drunken and aggressive behavior and they are expected to be held until the game on Sunday has been played.
Under German law police can detain individuals for threatening behavior or if they suspect they are likely to commit a crime and it does not constitute a full arrest.
Earlier, Germany had beaten Sweden in Munich to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
"England and Germany football fans clash in Stuttgart city center, June 24, 2006." (Toby Melville/Reuters)
English soccer matches are like fight club
The Sport of Peace... ;)
LOL!
"English soccer matches are like fight club"
They really aren't.
"VIOLENT HISTORY"
When those two get together.... Who knew!
This would have been more interesting if it was German fans clashing with the French ones.
The Germans would be in possession of Paris by now if that happened.
As a person of Anglo-Bavarian descent, which side should I pull for?
We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down
Pi$$ing the night away
He drinks a whisky drink
He drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink
He drinks a cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him
Of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him
Of the better times:
"Oh Danny Boy
Danny Boy
Danny Boy..."
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down
Pi$$ing the night away
He drinks a whisky drink
He drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink
He drinks a cider drink
He sings the songs that remind him
Of the good times
He sings the songs that remind him
Of the better times:
"Don't cry for me
Next door neighbour..."
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down
We'll be singing
When we're winning
We'll be singing
"Tubthumper"
by: Chumbawamba
Americans are uncouth violent cowboys, but Europeans are sophistcated and peaceful!/extreme sarcasm off
It's the final round, and now it's single elimination.
GOAL! Argentina leads
Steel toe boots baby!
Somebody mentioned the war.
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