New Hillsborough Inquests Underway At Liverpool

((HT: Sky Sports))

For those of you unfamiliar, it was one of the darkest days in all of football...

96 fans lost their lives and another 766 people were injured after a crush in an enclosed and overcrowded terrace at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium on April 15, 1989. This happened during the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest...

Here's how ITV News covered the disaster


In some of the most shameful cover-ups ever, it was discovered by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September 2012 that no Liverpool fans were responsible for the deaths. Attempts had been made by local police authorities to conceal what happened- including the changing the content of 116 witness statements relating to the disaster.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police- David Crompton, Football Association Chairman- David Bernstein, and Kelvin MacKenzie, then-editor of The Sun newspaper, all apologized at the time.

Here's how BBC's "Panorama" program covered all the shenanigans...


In September 2012, the Panel concluded that up to 41 of the 96 fatalities might have been avoided had they received prompt medical treatment.

A new series of inquests were ordered in December 2012 when the High Court set aside the original death verdicts. The proceedings are expected to last up to 12 months as families hope they finally get the answers they have been chasing for a quarter-century.

The Ministry of Justice has built the biggest courtroom in England and Wales in an office building near the town of Warrington, to host them. A jury will hear the evidence and will be asked to decide on the verdict- an unusual step in inquests like these.

This Is How Rivalries In Soccer Can Get Out Of Control

Turkish league...

Fenerbahce and Tranzonspor...

Just watch...
)

The match hosted by Trabzonspor was stopped twice in the first half after home fans threw stuff onto the pitch- including a door handle.

CNN-Turk television reported clashes between police and fans after the match was postponed.
Like this...
)

Classy folks...

No word on a make-up date and whether or not the stadium will be empty when it happens...

Just How Bad Will It Get For Atletico After CR7 Crowned By Lighter...???

((HT: RUSport/La Liga))

First off, this is flat stupid by Atleti fans during their Copa loss to Real Madrid...


Something could have happened that could have seriously injured one of the world's greatest footballers...

"I think the consequences could be serious because it could have hurt a player," Real's keeper, Iker Casillas, told Real's website. "There is always someone who tries to smear the image of a club like Atletico and it doesn’t reflect how the majority of their fans are."

The match ref put the crowning in his post-match report and Atleti could be fined up to €30,000 and have their ground closed for one to three games...

Brazilian Soccer Riots Explode In Stadium

((HT: TheBest))

There is already, plenty, to be concerned about as the World gravitates toward Brazil for the World Cup in the summer...

Other than the corruption, the stadia that may or may not make their deadlines (and may or may not meet spec when the ARE done), and the violence in the streets... the country seems prepared for just about anything...

Except more rioting inside a soccer stadium...

Today, a match between Atlético Paranaense and Vasco da Gama led to nothing short of mayhem

Evidence below...


And it makes you wonder about how security will be when the world's best soccer players are all over a country in civil unrest...

Three fans injured were taken to hospital in critical condition...
Here's a longer version with interviews on the field in Portuguese...

Another Fan Violence Story Out Of San Francisco

((HT: KGO-TV))

Two men have been arrested after a fatal stabbing near AT&T Park following last night's Dodgers-Giants game.

An argument between two groups of Giants and Dodgers fans broke out, and a verbal disagreement led to an incident involving a knife. Jonathan Denver was stabbed during the fight and died at hospital.

San Francisco police said Denver's father and brother were wearing Dodger gear. Denver himself, however, was not wearing Dodgers gear. The two men under arrest were described by police as Giants fans.

A teenager was attacked at Candlestick Park over the weekend during the 49ers loss to the Colts. There were other incidents as well- despite an increase in security.

Here's the story from AT&T Park


Stadium security and fan behavior has been under the microscope in Northern and Southern California since the Brian Stow beating during the season opener for the Giants in the 2011 season. Stow suffered a traumatic brain injury after being beaten by two men dressed in Dodgers gear. He spent several months in hospital and has had to undergo extensive rehab since...