Post by Webster on Jan 28, 2019 18:08:09 GMT
The Guardian: Police Condemn FA Cup Violence Between Milwall & Everton Fans
The Metropolitan police have condemned the “abhorrent behaviour” of rival fans at Millwall’s FA Cup match against Everton on Saturday which had led to “some of the most shocking football violence we have seen for some time”.
Dozens of supporters brawled before the match, during which one Everton supporter was slashed across the face, while videos also emerged ap
pearing to show racist chanting during the game, which Millwall won 3-2.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard, deputy assistant commissioner Matt Twist said police had originally deployed 200 officers for the match but had to call in specially trained reinforcements once the fighting escalated. He said: “The disorder which occurred before, during and after the Millwall v Everton FA Cup match was some of the most shocking football violence we have seen for some time. The abhorrent behaviour lasted a number of hours, involved dozens of people and resulted in at least one serious injury. One man was taken to hospital with a horrific, life-changing injury to his face. One of our officers was also injured and has now been discharged from hospital.”
The injured man named himself on social media as Everton fan Jay Burns, posting an image showing a long scar down the right side of his face.
Twist confirmed that a number of Everton coaches carrying supporters were targeted in the attacks, which he said would have been a great deal worse without the bravery of his officers: “Their determination in restoring order was outstanding despite furniture, bottles and glass being launched at them as they attempted to disperse the crowd. Dedicated evidence gatherers put themselves in the way of danger and obtained a substantial amount of footage of the violent disorder.”
Questioned about how the violence started, Twist added: “At the moment it would seem likely there were an arranged meet.” He also said he was confident the perpetrators would be brought to justice and the Met would try to ensure they could not attend matches in future.
“We have a highly skilled team closely reviewing this evidence and I am confident we will soon know the identities of those involved,” he added. “We will use this evidence and all tools within our power to locate the individuals involved in this ridiculous behaviour, whether they come from London, Liverpool or elsewhere. We will bring them to justice.”
Millwall’s chief executive, Steve Kavanagh, has promised to ban any fans involved in discriminatory behaviour for life – but insisted that it was a “very, very small minority” that had caused any issues.
He said: “The majority of fans were absolutely fantastic on Saturday and created an atmosphere and helped create a result the FA should be proud of for the competition, and yet we’re giving these idiots the oxygen after what they did, and that’s just crazy.
“If we can get these people, we’ll ban them, we’ll deal with them. We’ll do whatever we can do. The vast majority of the fans are fantastic people, they’re proud of their club and they create an unbelievable atmosphere. They don’t want to cross that line, but there are a few uneducated people who don’t understand.
“And let’s be straight, this isn’t just a Millwall issue,” he told TalkSport. “Chelsea have had a lot of issues recently and there was a banana thrown [by a Tottenham fan] recently.”
Dozens of supporters brawled before the match, during which one Everton supporter was slashed across the face, while videos also emerged ap
pearing to show racist chanting during the game, which Millwall won 3-2.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard, deputy assistant commissioner Matt Twist said police had originally deployed 200 officers for the match but had to call in specially trained reinforcements once the fighting escalated. He said: “The disorder which occurred before, during and after the Millwall v Everton FA Cup match was some of the most shocking football violence we have seen for some time. The abhorrent behaviour lasted a number of hours, involved dozens of people and resulted in at least one serious injury. One man was taken to hospital with a horrific, life-changing injury to his face. One of our officers was also injured and has now been discharged from hospital.”
The injured man named himself on social media as Everton fan Jay Burns, posting an image showing a long scar down the right side of his face.
Twist confirmed that a number of Everton coaches carrying supporters were targeted in the attacks, which he said would have been a great deal worse without the bravery of his officers: “Their determination in restoring order was outstanding despite furniture, bottles and glass being launched at them as they attempted to disperse the crowd. Dedicated evidence gatherers put themselves in the way of danger and obtained a substantial amount of footage of the violent disorder.”
Questioned about how the violence started, Twist added: “At the moment it would seem likely there were an arranged meet.” He also said he was confident the perpetrators would be brought to justice and the Met would try to ensure they could not attend matches in future.
“We have a highly skilled team closely reviewing this evidence and I am confident we will soon know the identities of those involved,” he added. “We will use this evidence and all tools within our power to locate the individuals involved in this ridiculous behaviour, whether they come from London, Liverpool or elsewhere. We will bring them to justice.”
Millwall’s chief executive, Steve Kavanagh, has promised to ban any fans involved in discriminatory behaviour for life – but insisted that it was a “very, very small minority” that had caused any issues.
He said: “The majority of fans were absolutely fantastic on Saturday and created an atmosphere and helped create a result the FA should be proud of for the competition, and yet we’re giving these idiots the oxygen after what they did, and that’s just crazy.
“If we can get these people, we’ll ban them, we’ll deal with them. We’ll do whatever we can do. The vast majority of the fans are fantastic people, they’re proud of their club and they create an unbelievable atmosphere. They don’t want to cross that line, but there are a few uneducated people who don’t understand.
“And let’s be straight, this isn’t just a Millwall issue,” he told TalkSport. “Chelsea have had a lot of issues recently and there was a banana thrown [by a Tottenham fan] recently.”