QUEST'UOMO È UNO SCIOCCO» - Secondo quanto si legge sul quotidiano britannico, all’indirizzo del tecnico portoghese dell’Inter sarebbero state rivolte numerose minacce, pubblicate su siti internet islamici. Un fanatico musulmano, ha spiegato: «Quest’uomo è uno sciocco. Dovrebbe essere eliminato». Giovedì la Casa della Fatwa d’Egitto, la più alta autorità religiosa islamica in materia di editti, con una sentenza senza precedenti, ha autorizzato i giocatori di calcio ad interrompere il digiuno obbligatorio durante il Ramadan, nel caso in cui siano impegnati in gare ufficiali. Domenica scorsa, nel corso di Inter-Bari, prima giornata di serie A, il tecnico nerazzurro, dopo nemmeno mezz’ora, era stato costretto a sostituire Sulley Muntari, fuori forma a causa del digiuno religioso. «Muntari era in evidente difficoltà» aveva spiegato, subito dopo la partita finita 1-1. «È il mese del Ramadan e ciò ha influito sulla sua prestazione, per questo ho deciso di sostituirlo. Purtroppo il Ramadan arriva in un periodo negativo per un calciatore», ha aggiunto il tecnico sollevando un vespaio di polemiche.

(corrieredellasera)

Mutual appreciation between the Millwall fans and the players after the match

Rampage of the cyberthugs: How veteran hooligans used the internet to set up bloody battle

The internet is fuelling a terrifying resurgence in football violence involving veteran hooligans, say police sources.

Fans officially banned from grounds up and down the country are using mobile phones and the web to choreograph punch-ups before and after matches.

The trend has gathered momentum amid a flood of films and books recalling the mayhem-scarred Seventies and Eighties - when Saturday afternoon meant violence.

Police yesterday described football hooliganism as a 'lingering menace' after a man was stabbed and 13 arrests were made in East London on Tuesday night.

Six hours of confrontations before, during and after the Carling Cup match between West Ham and Millwall were arranged by mobile phone following weeks of taunts on internet football forums.

Officers believe a number of those arrested had been the subject of previous banning orders to stop them attending games. Inside the ground fans fought with police and stewards. Play was suspended when supporters invaded the pitch.

At one stage during the bedlam, one fan appeared to join in the taunts on the pitch while his young son was on his shoulders.

Amid concerns that the violent scenes could damage England's chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said they were 'disgraceful'.

He added: 'What happened at Upton Park was serious. We will not be returning to the days when a hooligan minority shamed the name of football.

But although the authorities were keen to paint the flare-up as a oneoff, the truth is that outbreaks of violence remain a sporadic problem around the country.

Only last Saturday a Stoke City fan was critically injured in an attack by a Birmingham City mob.

Eric Dunning, Emeritus Professor at the University of Leicester, said: 'The fans have grown with the times and they are aware that CCTV can trap them

'This is why they have turned to technology such as the mobile phone and internet. They are still very organised and arrange meets away from football grounds to avoid detection.

'The use of the internet also debunks the myth that all the fans are working class - there are middle-class people involved in football hooliganism.'

Older West Ham and Millwall fans helped fuel the Upton Park violence after posting messages on rival websites with one reading: 'Make sure you bring your bats and don't bring your kids.'

Only last month members of West Ham's notorious Inter City Firm (ICF) held a 30th-anniversary 'reunion' at which the Millwall cup tie was highlighted as a target.

Trouble flared shortly after 6pm as thousands of fans headed for the ground. Bottles and bricks were thrown as rival gangs faced each other.

In the continuing mayhem, three people were taken to hospital including a 44-year old man who was stabbed in the chest and was yesterday in a stable condition.

John Williams, senior lecturer in sociology at Leicester University, said: 'Any football fan would know that the enmity between West Ham and Millwall goes back many years.

'I would have rated this game as the most dangerous in terms of possibility of violence for many years. I believe the police and football authorities took their eye off the ball.'

Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe described Tuesday's scenes as a 'disgrace to football' and added: 'We will not tolerate any return to the dark days of the 70s and 80s when hooliganism plagued the game.'

Yesterday police were examining CCTV footage and promised those involved would face football banning orders once they had gone before the courts.

The penalty for breaching such an order is up to six months in jail, a fine of up to £5,000 or both.

Currently 3,172 fans are banned for between two and ten years.

(dailymail)