Chicago, IL, June 17, 1994 --Law enforcement and other emergency planners have been meeting in some communities for several months. Riot/Crowd control training simulations have been taking place in Florida and California, and at several other designated venues where the coming World Cup Soccer championships will be played. Intelligence experts say that there is a "better than even chance" of violence at one or more of the venues in the United States.
"Hooliganism" is a term used by security officials in Europe, where soccer inspired violence is a well know phenomena. It is used to describe those that use a soccer game as an excuse to commit act of unmitigated violence against fans of the other teams, or for no reason at all. In fact, crowd violence is almost a commonplace occurrence in England, Ireland, German, and other countries where soccer is the national game. Numerous injuries and even deaths have occurred all too frequently in recent years in Europe.
The question remains, is it possible for that violence to be imported to the United States? The answer, obviously, remains to be seen, but some security and counter-terrorist experts think that it is possible that a purposeful plot is underway to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the World Cup. One intelligence report suggests that as many as 10,000 "hooligans" have been sent to several venues from undisclosed locations in South America. Another suggests that Islamic Terrorists will strike at one of the games. A third says that terrorism is unlikely, but that at least one game will end in a riot caused by the fans. Certainly, the history of the World Cup offers a clue as to the likelihood of disorder.
Unfortunately, that history is also dismal. In all too many years that the World Cup has been held, one or more games has ended in a riot, accidents, injuries, and even deaths. According to historians, soccer games have even been the causative factors in the start of armed conflicts. Examples include a 1989 soccer stampede in Sheffield, England that killed 94 fans (1) and injured another 170, a tragic fire in 1985 that took 56 lives at a stadium in Bradford, England, and a 1985 stampede in Heysel Stadium in Brussels that crushed the life out of 39 fans. Numerous other games have resulted in a lesser number of deaths, but have been violent just the same.
Both emergency managers and fans are hoping that the experts are wrong, and that this year's games will defy the odds and be riot free. However, police and other emergency officials say that they are prepared should history repeat itself. Only time will tell.
(c) EmergencyNet News Service, 1994, All Rights Reserved.
(1) Special
Report, Hillsborough 10 years on, BBC Retrospective (added
May, 2000, upon a reader request)
Chicago, IL, June 26, 1994 -- Although relegated to a mere 1 1/2 inch by one column item on page 15B of the local Chicago sports page, police officers in Huntington Park, CA report that fans celebrating a Mexican 2-1 victory over Ireland, on Friday, caused a "situation that was out of control". According to a police spokesman, Huntington Park police were subjected to more than an hour and a half (1 1/2) of "taking rocks and bottles". Reportedly, several police cars were damaged by flying missiles and at least one police windshield was smashed. One police officer was injured and taken to a local hospital after being hit by a car full of World Cup revelers.
Approximately 5,000 fans were also reportedly involved in the smashing of store windows and looting in a largely Hispanic area near the Pasadena Rose Bowl, where World Cup games are being held. Police say that approximately one hundred (100) police officers, in full riot gear, were finally needed to stop the looting and attempt to control the crowds. Reportedly, that's when the rock and bottle throwing began. According to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman, as many as ten thousand fans may have been on the street and celebrating at 11:30 p.m., when the police began their sweeps to clear the streets and end the chaotic behavior.
Most interesting, according to police intelligence source, is the fact that no soccer game was held in Pasadena on Friday. The riot was caused by a Mexican victory in a game in Orlando, FL. More interesting than the riot in Huntington Park was the larger riot in Mexico City caused by the same soccer victory.
According to the Associated Press (AP), twenty (20) police officers and another sixteen civilians were injured in clashes between celebrating fans and riot police in downtown Mexico City, on Friday. Several dozen people were arrested as hundreds of fans pummeled police officers with sticks, rocks, and beer bottles. A large crowd also pelted officers that were guarding the U.S. Embassy and several were injured. A major disturbance also erupted at a monument on the Paseo de la Reforma and caused some fans to be trampled as people tried to escape from the surging fistfight. More than 300 riot police were needed to quell the disturbances, that went on through the night in various parts of Mexico City.
One might ask...why are there riots at places other than the games? And, what are the prospects of additional violence at other games leading to the July 17th finale in Los Angeles? European soccer experts say that Americans just don't understand the intensity or ruthlessness of either European or South American soccer "hooligans". Secondarily, national pride and "bragging rights" are at stake in many World Cup games.
Tourism dollars and future promotional opportunities are often tied to soccer victories. Soccer fans in some countries are considered "fanatics" in other countries. Spontaneous celebrations or sympathy riots are likely to break out in a variety of countries, depending on the outcome of certain games. It should be remembered that wars have been fought in Europe over the outcome of soccer games.
European experts also say that the normal American sportsmanship and hospitality may lull local planning authorities into a false sense of security, that "it can't happen here". Unfortunately, that is already the attitude of all too many emergency planners and government officials, according to Clark Staten of Chicago's Emergency Response & Research Institute.
"Far to many Fire, Police, EMS, and elected officials in America fail to plan for a riot, a multiple shooting, a terrorist event, a major hazardous materials release, or other deadly calamity simply because it has never happened before in their jurisdiction", Staten said. "We have...collectively...in this country, been extremely lucky", he continued. "But somehow, we continue to believe that the violence and mayhem that has happened everywhere else in the world...can't happen here", the veteran emergency analyst said.
"I hope that maybe...to some extent...the World Trade Center bombing has finally brought home the idea that anything and everything that has happened elsewhere can happen here...and that we need to plan, equip, and prepare for these terrible eventualities", Staten added. "To do otherwise is folly...it will lead to unnecessary injuries and even deaths", the emergency think-tank director said.
"While I'm certainly not preaching 'apocalypse now', I am a major advocate of preparedness and training to stem the rising tide of anarchy that is sweeping across the world", Staten said. "Unfortunately, the World Cup games afford those that would purposefully perpetrate unlawful acts both the motivation, and a world-wide stage for further disorder...we must be prepared", Staten concluded.
Staten said that he was especially concerned about games to be held on both June 28th and 29th in the New York area, as specific threats have already been identified by experts in Great Britain and elsewhere. The games that have been identified as potential causes of violence are Italy versus Mexico and Ireland versus Norway. He also said that games involving Columbia, Brazil, and Holland may have violent implications, as they all have fans with a history of "hooliganism".
So, the games go on. Local stadium and tourism officials at all of the venues predict record crowds, sunny weather, and little, if any, violence. Nothing bad can happen here. Or can it?
(c)EmergencyNet NEWS Service, 1994
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