Chelsea Seek Advice From Spurs to Avoid Pain in Spain
Soccer: With their trip to Valencia looming Chelsea have contacted Spurs for advice on how to avoid potential flashpoints between fans and the Spanish police.
Chelsea have approached Tottenham Hotspur for advice on avoiding the heavy-handed policing their travelling fans experienced in Seville during the Uefa Cup tie last week. Jose Mourinho's club play Valencia in their Champions League quarter-final, second leg at the Mestalla Stadium tomorrow, mindful of the clashes on Thursday night between Spanish riot police and Tottenham fans.
Chelsea and representatives of the UK football policing unit, who routinely travel with English clubs on overseas trips, had scheduled a meeting last night with the Valencia police. White Hart Lane officials had conveyed their concerns during informal talks at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Although the local police in Valencia have been helpful in their conversations with Chelsea, the municipality has little authority over the national riot police, whose officers were involved in the attacks in Seville.
Last Friday, John Alexander, Tottenham's club secretary, stated his belief that peaceful supporters were set on unjustly by riot police. He revealed eye-witness reports of attacks on disabled fans, the club's disability co-ordinator and two Tottenham stewards. Simon O'Brien, the police chief superintendent who travelled with the visitors to Seville, stated that Spurs' stewards had done a "remarkable and commendable job".
Chelsea, who enjoy a good relationship with Valencia and have remained in close contact with their Spanish counterparts about security arrangements, hope that by taking their own Spanish-speaking stewards to Valencia any inflammatory incidents may be calmed. There has also been dialogue between the co-ordinators of Valencia's London-based supporters group and the Chelsea Independent Supporters' Association.
Chelsea fans have a record of good behaviour in Europe. However they do have memories of suffering at the hands of armed police in Spain after their 3-0 European Cup Winners' Cup tie against Valencia in April 1995.
Foreign office travel advice urges fans to arrive at the stadium "as soon as possible" after it opens at 6.45pm tomorrow, reporting that "there will be Chelsea stewards and security staff on hand to guide fans to the designated areas".
Seven Tottenham fans arrested last Thursday night have been released after paying fines of between £600-£1000.
Chelsea and representatives of the UK football policing unit, who routinely travel with English clubs on overseas trips, had scheduled a meeting last night with the Valencia police. White Hart Lane officials had conveyed their concerns during informal talks at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Although the local police in Valencia have been helpful in their conversations with Chelsea, the municipality has little authority over the national riot police, whose officers were involved in the attacks in Seville.
Last Friday, John Alexander, Tottenham's club secretary, stated his belief that peaceful supporters were set on unjustly by riot police. He revealed eye-witness reports of attacks on disabled fans, the club's disability co-ordinator and two Tottenham stewards. Simon O'Brien, the police chief superintendent who travelled with the visitors to Seville, stated that Spurs' stewards had done a "remarkable and commendable job".
Chelsea, who enjoy a good relationship with Valencia and have remained in close contact with their Spanish counterparts about security arrangements, hope that by taking their own Spanish-speaking stewards to Valencia any inflammatory incidents may be calmed. There has also been dialogue between the co-ordinators of Valencia's London-based supporters group and the Chelsea Independent Supporters' Association.
Chelsea fans have a record of good behaviour in Europe. However they do have memories of suffering at the hands of armed police in Spain after their 3-0 European Cup Winners' Cup tie against Valencia in April 1995.
Foreign office travel advice urges fans to arrive at the stadium "as soon as possible" after it opens at 6.45pm tomorrow, reporting that "there will be Chelsea stewards and security staff on hand to guide fans to the designated areas".
Seven Tottenham fans arrested last Thursday night have been released after paying fines of between £600-£1000.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Weather in Spain
- Spain Becomes the Third European Country to Legalize Gay Marriage
- Retiring In Spain
- Study Spanish in Tenerife: Hold 101 Suns in Your Hand
- Spain Forces Us Treasure Hunting Boat Into Port
- Spain: Entire Village Questioned Over Mayor's Killing
- Spain's Opposition Party Accused of Xenophobia Ahead of Election
- Spain Exposes Eu Split As Us Leads Recognition
- Train in Spain Sets Out to Beat the Plane
- No Fuss, No Fanfare for Spain's Own Madeleine
- Village Wins £158m in El Gordo Lottery
- Family Reunions for Guantã¡namo Three, But Two Could Be Deported to Spain
- Woody Allen Quits Spain in Film Funds Row
- For Spain and for Sherry: Bulls Mark 50 Years of Roadside Ads
- Video Game of Spain's Civil War Causes Outrage
- Spain's Divorce Rate Soars After Rules Relaxed
- Spain Shown Perils of Climate Change
- Famous Spanish Conquistadors
- The Spanish Royal Family
- Facts on the Spanish Conquistadors
- Spanish Lottery Awards 3 Billion to Thousands of Lucky Winners
- Famous Spanish Actresses
- "Star Spangled Banner" Sung in Spanish to Be Released Friday