zonelistener
ONE love, blood, life
This Topic fascinates me. Here is a clip from an article I read. Sounds as if it is much calmer than years past.
From Associated Press.....
The atmosphere was refreshingly relaxed and festive preceding Argentina vs. England, which often brings out the worst in soccer fans.
About 1,000 England fans and 200 Argentina followers mingled in a park, sunbathing, dancing and attracting the attention of photographers and television cameras.
Authorities kept it peaceful. A total of 7,000 police officers from around the nation were in Sapporo. Many were armed with water cannons and ``netguns,'' which could snare potential troublemakers.
Police arrested four more England fans, bringing to eight the number of Britons accused of minor crimes in Japan since soccer's showcase event began May 31.
Two men were detained Thursday for trying to steal Mexican and German soccer jerseys from a shop in Sapporo. Another Englishman was held on suspicion of trying to defraud a convenience store worker. A fourth was arrested for punching a Japanese man through the open window of a taxi.
A suspected British hooligan was among a group of ``suspicious foreigners'' gathered around a park fountain in Sapporo. Police found his name on a list of soccer troublemakers and he was handed over to Japanese immigration officials.
At Japan's airports, authorities have turned away 38 England supporters who have a history of hooliganism. Three more have been denied entry to co-host South Korea.
From Associated Press.....
The atmosphere was refreshingly relaxed and festive preceding Argentina vs. England, which often brings out the worst in soccer fans.
About 1,000 England fans and 200 Argentina followers mingled in a park, sunbathing, dancing and attracting the attention of photographers and television cameras.
Authorities kept it peaceful. A total of 7,000 police officers from around the nation were in Sapporo. Many were armed with water cannons and ``netguns,'' which could snare potential troublemakers.
Police arrested four more England fans, bringing to eight the number of Britons accused of minor crimes in Japan since soccer's showcase event began May 31.
Two men were detained Thursday for trying to steal Mexican and German soccer jerseys from a shop in Sapporo. Another Englishman was held on suspicion of trying to defraud a convenience store worker. A fourth was arrested for punching a Japanese man through the open window of a taxi.
A suspected British hooligan was among a group of ``suspicious foreigners'' gathered around a park fountain in Sapporo. Police found his name on a list of soccer troublemakers and he was handed over to Japanese immigration officials.
At Japan's airports, authorities have turned away 38 England supporters who have a history of hooliganism. Three more have been denied entry to co-host South Korea.