Four men charged over soccer violence in Belfast

FOUR men have been charged with disorderly behaviour following trouble before Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Poland in Belfast on Saturday.

The four men, aged between 22 and 30, were among nine arrested. Five were released. One of the men was also charged with possession of a firework without a licence. They are due to appear at Laganside Magistrates Court this morning.

Police are also continuing to study CCTV footage to identify football hooligans involved in the serious disturbances that left 11 police officers injured.

Northern Ireland sports minister Gregory Campbell, who was at the game, said some Polish fans displayed banners supporting the dissident republicans who killed a PSNI officer and two British army engineers earlier this month.

“There were some Polish fans who introduced one of the Irish republican flags, that are supportive of the group that killed the soldiers and the policeman a few weeks ago, which obviously then led to even more tension,” Mr Campbell said.

Rival fans fought with each other and clashed with riot police in several flash-points across the city before the match. A city centre bar was badly damaged when chairs were thrown through the window and the Tates Avenue area close to the ground was sealed off as police came under attack from fireworks, traffic cones, bricks, bottles and other missiles.

A number of homes were also targeted in what police described as racially motivated incidents.

While Northern Ireland has a sizeable resident Polish population, police believe the troublemakers on the Polish side represented a “hard core” element who did not live in the country, who were intent on causing trouble and travelled to the game without tickets.

Local police commander Superintendent Chris Noble said he was concerned about reprisal attacks against the Polish community.

“We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets, but with a very clear intent to cause trouble,” he said.

“Unfortunately their actions may well have put the safety of law abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy.” He appealed for calm.

There was also trouble inside Windsor Park when a linesman was hit by missile thrown from a crowd of Northern Ireland supporters in the North Stand just after Poland scored.

The game was halted while assistant referee Stefan Wittberg received treatment to a head wound. The Irish Football Association (IFA), which condemned the actions of the missile thrower, could now suffer recriminations from FIFA. “What happened was totally unacceptable,” an IFA spokesman said. “The individual was identified and evicted from the stadium at half-time. Appropriate action will now be taken. But this was an isolated incident.”

Polish fans were also involved in disturbances in the closing stages of the match.

Several tried to climb the perimeter fence after leaving the South Stand to reach the terracing, but police moved to stop them.

Supt Noble said officers are analysing CCTV footage in an effort to catch all of those involved in the trouble

“My officers came under attack from bottles, bricks, fireworks and other missiles. At this stage we have reports of 11 officers injured. A number of fans, both Northern Ireland and Polish supporters, also received a number of injuries.

“I condemn the behaviour of the so-called supporters of football who have destroyed what should have been an enjoyable evening... and have tarnished the reputation of genuine law abiding football supporters,” said Supt Noble.