Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., November 27, 2006 Kislev 6, 5767 | | Israel Time: 02:20 (EST+6)
Haaretz israel news English
Search site 
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National Arts & Leisure Anglo File Sports Travel  
Magazine Week's End
Q&A
Business Underground Jewish World Real Estate Advertising  
Bookmark to del.icio.us
France toughens after fan dies in melee against TA supporter
By DPA

PARIS - The French government moved yesterday to clamp down on racist football fan violence following the death of a Paris St. Germain supporter who was shot by a plainclothes policeman following the team's UEFA Cup home loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv Thursday. The policeman said he was protecting a Jewish supporter of Hapoel from a mob of about 100 PSG fans outside the stadium.

At a crisis meeting between Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, soccer clubs and supporters' clubs yesterday, Sarkozy called on local authorities to draw up lists of troublemakers to be banned from soccer stadiums.

Sarkozy also called on fan clubs that do not cooperate with police and legal authorities on security in and around stadiums to be banned.

Advertisement

Match tickets for fan sections on the grounds should be sold only via official supporters' clubs, Sarkozy said.

"We want to sweep the racist elements out of the stadiums," he said. "We don't want any Nazi salutes or monkey noises when black players are on the ball."

Paris St. Germain President Alain Cayzac welcomed the measures, saying "everyone is aware of the seriousness of the situation."

Residents living around the Parc des Princes Stadium, meanwhile, called for the club to be dissolved. Media criticism yesterday said the club had tolerated for too long its notorious racist fan element.

"When soccer kills" was the banner headline of the French sports daily L'Equipe. It was written in white letters on a totally black front page.

"The death of a PSG supporter... tragically is a reminder that French soccer has failed to eradicate violence and racism from the stands of some of its clubs, which is unforgivable," it wrote.

Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal proposed shutting down the stands where the gangs congregate. "The club must accept its responsibility and shut down the stands where these unacceptable bursts of violence, racism and anti-Semitism occur," she said at a campaign event in Bondy, northeast of Paris.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation against the police officer, who remains in custody, on a charge of "causing death with a weapon," which could be mitigated by an act of "legitimate self-defense," Paris prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin said.

The police officer, Antoine Granomort, originally from the Caribbean, opened fire on the PSG fans, leading to the death of a 24-year-old.

A second fan was seriously injured.

Prosecutors said cries of "Dirty nigger" were hurled at the policeman by some 100 youths, who also shouted "Dirty Jew" at the Hapoel supporter whom he was aiding.

Five PSG supporters were detained on suspicion of "racist and anti-Semitic abuse."

Meanwhile, Paris city sports official Pascal Cherki called on PSG to close the Boulogne stand in the stadium where its most notorious fans gather to watch games. "If the police had not acted, we would have experienced a Jew being lynched."

Bookmark to del.icio.us
Hardly sportsmanlike
France confronts soccer violence after a scuffle between St. Germain and Hapoel T.A. fans.
What about Ehud B?
Barak may try to fulfill, for the second time, his prophesy of 'there is no partner.'
 Today Online
PA forces deploy in Gaza to prevent Qassam fire
Responses: 308
Int'l peace petition denounces IDF, but ignores Qassams
Responses: 88
IDF officials: Mines in Lebanon could belong to Syria, Hezbollah
Responses: 105
Gideon Levy: Peretz no worse than other defense ministers
Responses: 25
Ban on Palestinians traveling in Israeli cars limited to Green Line
Responses: 36


More Headlines
02:12 IDF chief tells troops not to fire on Qassam crews
02:01 Meshal abandons six-month deadline for Palestinian state
02:17 Right-wing MKs lambaste PM for accepting Gaza cease-fire deal
01:17 Witness reports seeing escaped rapist Sela in Sharon region
01:12 2,000 complaints lodged against employers violating labor laws
01:53 Report: 33 percent of Sderot kids suffer post-traumatic stress
21:28 Jordan's king calls Israeli-Arab conflict 'core' of Mideast issues
22:22 Group for captive IDF soldiers' release to pressure European states to help
20:47 Vienna Jewish leaders: School vandalism is worst anti-Semitic incident in 20 years
21:47 Hezbollah: We will continue protests to topple Lebanese government
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
ZAKA
Saving those who can be saved, honouring those who cannot
Supporting Israel's Independence
Get Israel's Independence kit - A unique and unforgettable presentation pack
Bar Ilan University
One year MBA Taught entirely in English
JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM
The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here!
Isrotel Chain
Eleven quality hotels in Israel's best locations
Learn Hebrew Online
Learn Hebrew from the best teachers in Israel live over the Internet
HAARETZ SMS
Register Now to receive your daily news by SMS
Home| Print Edition| Diplomacy| Opinion| Arts & Leisure| Sports| Jewish World| Underground| Site rules|
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved