Portugal toughens laws after players, fans brawl at league game
February 03, 2004
LISBON (AP) - Embarrassed by a flare-up of soccer violence at a domestic league game less than five months before it hosts Euro 2004, Portugal is cracking down on unruly fans and clubs.
The government and soccer authorities said after an emergency meeting late Monday they planned stadium bans for fans convicted of violence and intended to prohibit club officials from making inflammatory statements ahead of games.
The Professional Soccer League accused police of being disorganized and taking too long to halt the violence at a first division game between Guimaraes and Boavista on Sunday.
Players brawled on the pitch after the final whistle, then angry fans threw coins and chairs at match officials and later clashed with police outside the stadium. Several people were injured, including a Boavista player, and officials from the two clubs argued heatedly and shoved each other.
Professional Soccer League president Valentim Loureiro said the incidents brought "a bad image for Portugal and its soccer" and harmed the country's credibility.
Soccer Federation president Gilberto Madail said he was "concerned and embarrassed" by the fighting.
The government minister overseeing the organization of the European championship, Jose Luis Arnaut, said Portugal had "extra responsibilities" as host of the tournament and must show it could tackle soccer-related violence.
He promised new laws by the end of the month.
The Soccer League banned Guimaraes' stadium for 30 days and was considering a longer ban.
Players and fans contested the referee's performance. At the end players brawled and fans ripped up plastic seats, which they hurled at the referee and linesmen.
The 30,000-seat stadium is to host two group games during the Euro 2004 soccer championship starting in June.
The Soccer League's disciplinary committee said in a statement that "only luck prevented further violence, given the lack of action and regrettable lack of coordination of the police."
The statement added: "All this is to be condemned and goes beyond a simple league game, damaging Euro 2004's credibility."
The police claimed they intervened after 12 minutes and planned to view footage from security cameras to identify violent fans.
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