Violent incidents worry Slovakian fans

Hooliganism is rearing its ugly head in Slovakia with two recent Superliga games being overshadowed by violence among supporters.

Violent scenes
Approximately 600 ŠK Slovan Bratislava fans started to fight with FC Spartak Trnava hooligans ten minutes before the end of the 1-1 draw between the clubs on 30 September. Policemen had to form a barrier between supporters and the pitch to ensure security as the rival hooligans threw stones, bricks and chairs at each other.

Extreme measures
The unrest continued long after the final whistle, with the damage done to the stadium being estimated at €12,000 by Spartak Trnava officials. More disturbingly, fans caused damage to 14 police cars while seven police officers were injured. For the first time, water cannons were used to dispel the trouble.

'We don't need them'
"These extremist fans harm our club," said Slovan vice-president Ľudovít Černák. "We don't need them. We will try to co-operate with the police and use mobile camera systems to identify all the culprits. For sure, we want to have them all expelled from our stadium."

Trenčín battle
On 6 October, the hooligan element were in the spotlight again. Forty rogue MŠK Žilina supporters invaded the pitch ten minutes before the end of their match at AS Trenčín, a 2-2 draw. The Trenčín fans' home flag was stolen and several people were injured in the resulting disturbance. "I am disgusted," said Trenčín general secretary Róbert Rybníček. "These insects have spoiled the whole occasion."

Climate of fear
Some sources have blamed Slovan Bratislava fans for the incidents at Trenčín, but the club have denied this. "They weren't our fans," said spokesman Martin Urmanič. "We would like to dissociate ourselves from this group." Both incidents are being investigated by the footballing authorities with spectators increasingly fearful about safety at local stadiums.