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The sourest nights are those which have the sweetest goals |
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June 18, 2000
CHARLEROI, Belgium, (AP) - Even the sweetest goals could not prevent Euro 2000 from turning sour.
After an opening week of fun and games, a hooligan riot left a trail of destruction through Brussels, Belgium, and left 137 Englishmen in jail even before Saturday's kickoff of the much-feared game between Germany and England in Charleroi.
The skills, beauty and goals put on show by France and the Netherlands as they advanced to the quarterfinals paled in comparison with the violence and racist taunts which wrote another chapter in the sad history of soccer hooliganism.
France eliminated the Czech Republic with a 2-1 win and co-host the Netherlands sent Denmark packing immediately afterwards with a 3-0 blanking.
Germany and England, both struggling in Group A, will be looking anxiously at the result too of group leader Portugal against Romania, who meet in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Most eyes unfortunately center on those who ran amok through the historic center of Brussels leaving a trail of ransacked shops and bars. A massive police presence was able to detain 137 Englishmen, of whom 35 were charged.
Police had anticipated the worst of violence would occur in Charleroi before or after Saturday's game.
About a dozen people were hospitalized with light injuries after the riot, which had police cornering and clubbing English hooligans. In Charleroi, police surrounded the main square where English fans were drinking, while some were chanting anti-Turkish racist songs. Police picked some rowdy fans from the crowds and took them away. An actual fight with police never materialized. Belgium had tightened border controls and at least 24 known hooligans or drunken fans were sent back to England, bringing the total of people forced to leave since the tournament opened to 56.It was not enough, however, to stop the violence.
"I know we have a reputation but it is not all of us," said English fan George Scotland. "I have a ticket for the Charleroi game but it is making me think twice about going."
"The Czechs are one of the toughest sides in the tournament, they don't deserve to go out," said French forward Thierry Henry, who scored Friday's opener for France. "Had we converted all our scoring chances, thing would have looked differently," said Czech coach Jozef Chovanec. "But for a good result, we needed to be the first to score, anyway." "We had bad luck again, but I also have to say my team played rather badly."
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