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Soccer Fans Turn Violent in Australia
By Associated Press
Posted April 18 2005, 8:55 AM EDT
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Fans jumped a fence and surged onto the field after a soccer game despite heavy security, throwing flares and bottles in an outburst that injured four police officers.
Police said Monday they arrested only two men because further intervention probably would have sparked more violence.
About 400 fans from an estimated crowd of 9,000 at Bob Jane Stadium clashed Sunday night. The Preston Lions, supported mostly by Macedonians from the former Yugoslavia, scored a 1-0 upset of the home team, South Melbourne, which is backed mainly by expatriate Greeks.
Four police officers, including two on horseback, sustained minor injuries. One man was charged with assault and another with firing a flare.
"The police could do little else than just control the crowd," Acting Supt. Chris Duthie said. "If we had gone in and made numerous arrests we would have lost our personnel."
In March, violence between Serbian and Croatian fans in Sydney caused a future game between two clubs to be postponed. Two people were arrested and two police officers injured.
By Associated Press
Posted April 18 2005, 8:55 AM EDT
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Fans jumped a fence and surged onto the field after a soccer game despite heavy security, throwing flares and bottles in an outburst that injured four police officers.
Police said Monday they arrested only two men because further intervention probably would have sparked more violence.
About 400 fans from an estimated crowd of 9,000 at Bob Jane Stadium clashed Sunday night. The Preston Lions, supported mostly by Macedonians from the former Yugoslavia, scored a 1-0 upset of the home team, South Melbourne, which is backed mainly by expatriate Greeks.
Four police officers, including two on horseback, sustained minor injuries. One man was charged with assault and another with firing a flare.
"The police could do little else than just control the crowd," Acting Supt. Chris Duthie said. "If we had gone in and made numerous arrests we would have lost our personnel."
In March, violence between Serbian and Croatian fans in Sydney caused a future game between two clubs to be postponed. Two people were arrested and two police officers injured.
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