I've not seen any coverage of their game in Rotterdam, so no idea how many they took there, but Shaktar's real fans are in a bit of a difficult situation, I assume they mostly herald from the Donetsk region, which is in the disputed area of Ukraine, held by Russian separatists.
They can't play in Donetsk obviously, so play in Kharkiv, which is in Ukraine territory, so most fans probably can't travel to 'home' games easily, and given the situation, I doubt many in the Donetsk region have the economic means to travel away either.
Their last home league game had a crowd of under 3000, and just over 6000 for their previous home game.
They get decent crowds in the CL it seems, so I would think many locals just go to watch the game, rather than as real fans.
The group I was with were attacked walking to the buses by the port, I was chased by a prick with a knife who was wearing all black clothes, had a hood over his head and a scarf around his face, he wouldn't do anything in the open though, as soon as I ran to where some people were milling about the guy retreated back into the trees then disappeared, it was starting to get dark now as well.
The following is my recollection of what happened...
It all started when the very decent lads from Mary D's put their banner up outside a pub hight up overlooking the port and near a huge big square, there were maybe 50-60 city in there drinking and having a good time, not a hint of trouble so far. Then out of nowhere a guy walked up (who we know know to be a spotter) told us to take the banner down, he was basically told to bolt. Now this guy looked nothing like your typical stereotype hooligan, he was dressed very smartly had a short beard and glasses on, anyway he buggered off after a few minutes and nothing more was thought of it.
After having a good few bevies in there we headed down the hill to a another pub which was pretty much on the shore, we were having a beer there when we seen we were being watched by a group of lads across the road, however a police van rolled up outside and they quickly moved away. It was when we left the pub by the shore the "fun" started. Our group consisted of around 8 of us including one kid, we were walking away from the pub when we were confronted by about 4 idiots taunting us, including the original knobber who had said take the banner down in the first pub, one of them grabbed my scarf but I was too quick for him and yanked it back. They were told we didn't want any trouble and we are only here for a drink and the match, nothing else. A couple of them shot off on scooters and we thought that would be the end of it - no, the scooter boys turned out to be messengers it seems.
Shortly after that little confrontation down a winding street that takes you to the port where the buses are parked with a wall on one side and a wooded park area on our righthand side. It was then we could see a few dodgy looking folk hanging about in the park sitting/standing by a bench, its twilight now and we couldn't tell if they were looking at us or minding their own business. With out warning though they all ran at us at once, now I was about 10 feet in front of the rest of the group and one of the guys made a bolt in my direction so of course I took to my heels as well. Once I'd put a bit of distance between me and him (I'm no slouch) I turned round to face him and shouted at him f**k off but he was still chasing after me but he had a knife in his right had so I rand into the road and as soon as I did he disappeared back into the shadows. In the mean time all i could hear from the rest of the group was shouts of wow wow wow wow but I couldn't see what was happening through parked cars and poor lighting, It was only later when I met up with them in the ground I was told they had their banner stolen at knife point and right enough you could see them holding it upside down in the middle of Curva A about halfway up the stand.
I was then accosted by and very large group of Polizia outside the port entrance who were asking what had happened, myself and another blue tried to explain that there was about 10-12 hooligans with knives in the park area attacking innocent city fans, most of them ran off in that directions with batons drawn ready to tackle them, I've no idea if they caught them or not. A copper then took my passport and match ticket and took a picture of them before handing them back and saying go to your bus now, I went for one more pint before getting on my bus and heading to the game.
Being kept in for 90 minutes after the match was a joke but I can see why they done it, the surrounding area outside the ground was like a rabbit warren of streets and alley ways and it would have been very easy for city fans to have been ambushed, every street in the surrounding area was cleared of people with police cars at every junction to stop people getting anywhere near our buses.
The above is what happened to the best of my memory bearing in mind I'd had a good bevy during the day.
Naples - dump of a place, dump of a stadium and as for their fans, they are nothing but a bunch knife wielding shitebags who pick on innocent people and they do not discriminate. men, women and children all appear to be fair game. I won't be back, ever!
Thanks - is good to know you're ok. I really do despair and all in the name of football... I ask you?The group I was with were attacked walking to the buses by the port, I was chased by a prick with a knife who was wearing all black clothes, had a hood over his head and a scarf around his face, he wouldn't do anything in the open though, as soon as I ran to where some people were milling about the guy retreated back into the trees then disappeared, it was starting to get dark now as well.
The following is my recollection of what happened...
It all started when the very decent lads from Mary D's put their banner up outside a pub hight up overlooking the port and near a huge big square, there were maybe 50-60 city in there drinking and having a good time, not a hint of trouble so far. Then out of nowhere a guy walked up (who we know know to be a spotter) told us to take the banner down, he was basically told to bolt. Now this guy looked nothing like your typical stereotype hooligan, he was dressed very smartly had a short beard and glasses on, anyway he buggered off after a few minutes and nothing more was thought of it.
After having a good few bevies in there we headed down the hill to a another pub which was pretty much on the shore, we were having a beer there when we seen we were being watched by a group of lads across the road, however a police van rolled up outside and they quickly moved away. It was when we left the pub by the shore the "fun" started. Our group consisted of around 8 of us including one kid, we were walking away from the pub when we were confronted by about 4 idiots taunting us, including the original knobber who had said take the banner down in the first pub, one of them grabbed my scarf but I was too quick for him and yanked it back. They were told we didn't want any trouble and we are only here for a drink and the match, nothing else. A couple of them shot off on scooters and we thought that would be the end of it - no, the scooter boys turned out to be messengers it seems.
Shortly after that little confrontation down a winding street that takes you to the port where the buses are parked with a wall on one side and a wooded park area on our righthand side. It was then we could see a few dodgy looking folk hanging about in the park sitting/standing by a bench, its twilight now and we couldn't tell if they were looking at us or minding their own business. With out warning though they all ran at us at once, now I was about 10 feet in front of the rest of the group and one of the guys made a bolt in my direction so of course I took to my heels as well. Once I'd put a bit of distance between me and him (I'm no slouch) I turned round to face him and shouted at him f**k off but he was still chasing after me but he had a knife in his right had so I rand into the road and as soon as I did he disappeared back into the shadows. In the mean time all i could hear from the rest of the group was shouts of wow wow wow wow but I couldn't see what was happening through parked cars and poor lighting, It was only later when I met up with them in the ground I was told they had their banner stolen at knife point and right enough you could see them holding it upside down in the middle of Curva A about halfway up the stand.
I was then accosted by and very large group of Polizia outside the port entrance who were asking what had happened, myself and another blue tried to explain that there was about 10-12 hooligans with knives in the park area attacking innocent city fans, most of them ran off in that directions with batons drawn ready to tackle them, I've no idea if they caught them or not. A copper then took my passport and match ticket and took a picture of them before handing them back and saying go to your bus now, I went for one more pint before getting on my bus and heading to the game.
Being kept in for 90 minutes after the match was a joke but I can see why they done it, the surrounding area outside the ground was like a rabbit warren of streets and alley ways and it would have been very easy for city fans to have been ambushed, every street in the surrounding area was cleared of people with police cars at every junction to stop people getting anywhere near our buses.
The above is what happened to the best of my memory bearing in mind I'd had a good bevy during the day.
Naples - dump of a place, dump of a stadium and as for their fans, they are nothing but a bunch knife wielding shitebags who pick on innocent people and they do not discriminate. men, women and children all appear to be fair game. I won't be back, ever!
Hope you and your mates are ok what a shit experience have sent you a pmThe group I was with were attacked walking to the buses by the port, I was chased by a prick with a knife who was wearing all black clothes, had a hood over his head and a scarf around his face, he wouldn't do anything in the open though, as soon as I ran to where some people were milling about the guy retreated back into the trees then disappeared, it was starting to get dark now as well.
The following is my recollection of what happened...
It all started when the very decent lads from Mary D's put their banner up outside a pub hight up overlooking the port and near a huge big square, there were maybe 50-60 city in there drinking and having a good time, not a hint of trouble so far. Then out of nowhere a guy walked up (who we know know to be a spotter) told us to take the banner down, he was basically told to bolt. Now this guy looked nothing like your typical stereotype hooligan, he was dressed very smartly had a short beard and glasses on, anyway he buggered off after a few minutes and nothing more was thought of it.
After having a good few bevies in there we headed down the hill to a another pub which was pretty much on the shore, we were having a beer there when we seen we were being watched by a group of lads across the road, however a police van rolled up outside and they quickly moved away. It was when we left the pub by the shore the "fun" started. Our group consisted of around 8 of us including one kid, we were walking away from the pub when we were confronted by about 4 idiots taunting us, including the original knobber who had said take the banner down in the first pub, one of them grabbed my scarf but I was too quick for him and yanked it back. They were told we didn't want any trouble and we are only here for a drink and the match, nothing else. A couple of them shot off on scooters and we thought that would be the end of it - no, the scooter boys turned out to be messengers it seems.
Shortly after that little confrontation down a winding street that takes you to the port where the buses are parked with a wall on one side and a wooded park area on our righthand side. It was then we could see a few dodgy looking folk hanging about in the park sitting/standing by a bench, its twilight now and we couldn't tell if they were looking at us or minding their own business. With out warning though they all ran at us at once, now I was about 10 feet in front of the rest of the group and one of the guys made a bolt in my direction so of course I took to my heels as well. Once I'd put a bit of distance between me and him (I'm no slouch) I turned round to face him and shouted at him f**k off but he was still chasing after me but he had a knife in his right had so I rand into the road and as soon as I did he disappeared back into the shadows. In the mean time all i could hear from the rest of the group was shouts of wow wow wow wow but I couldn't see what was happening through parked cars and poor lighting, It was only later when I met up with them in the ground I was told they had their banner stolen at knife point and right enough you could see them holding it upside down in the middle of Curva A about halfway up the stand.
I was then accosted by and very large group of Polizia outside the port entrance who were asking what had happened, myself and another blue tried to explain that there was about 10-12 hooligans with knives in the park area attacking innocent city fans, most of them ran off in that directions with batons drawn ready to tackle them, I've no idea if they caught them or not. A copper then took my passport and match ticket and took a picture of them before handing them back and saying go to your bus now, I went for one more pint before getting on my bus and heading to the game.
Being kept in for 90 minutes after the match was a joke but I can see why they done it, the surrounding area outside the ground was like a rabbit warren of streets and alley ways and it would have been very easy for city fans to have been ambushed, every street in the surrounding area was cleared of people with police cars at every junction to stop people getting anywhere near our buses.
The above is what happened to the best of my memory bearing in mind I'd had a good bevy during the day.
Naples - dump of a place, dump of a stadium and as for their fans, they are nothing but a bunch knife wielding shitebags who pick on innocent people and they do not discriminate. men, women and children all appear to be fair game. I won't be back, ever!
Its not really about football,they are just thugs that use football as a vehicle for their twisted violence. Low life scum, nothing more no thing less.Thanks - is good to know you're ok. I really do despair and all in the name of football... I ask you?
Because UEFA wash their hands of anything away from the stadium . The clubs could put pressure on uefa but seem disinclined to do so and apart from the action Bayern are apparently taking after their fans were attacked by the police in Madrid do not seem prepared to stand up for their fans .It makes me laugh that the Italians and the Turks year in year out stab opposition fans, ambush opposition fans and assault the away fans in bigger numbers. How can UEFA turn a blind eye on this yet fine us at the drop of a hat for booing the champions league tune, laughing at hulk the overweight forward and accusing us of kicking off late?
It's been happening for so many years now that it's getting beyond a joke.
No fines, no cautions, no bans. Well done UEFA.
How many City fans did we take to Napoli ? They could be heard on the tele,loud and proud, but very rarely seen.
The Lions would be Pussycats over there
The group I was with were attacked walking to the buses by the port, I was chased by a prick with a knife who was wearing all black clothes, had a hood over his head and a scarf around his face, he wouldn't do anything in the open though, as soon as I ran to where some people were milling about the guy retreated back into the trees then disappeared, it was starting to get dark now as well.
The following is my recollection of what happened...
It all started when the very decent lads from Mary D's put their banner up outside a pub hight up overlooking the port and near a huge big square, there were maybe 50-60 city in there drinking and having a good time, not a hint of trouble so far. Then out of nowhere a guy walked up (who we know know to be a spotter) told us to take the banner down, he was basically told to bolt. Now this guy looked nothing like your typical stereotype hooligan, he was dressed very smartly had a short beard and glasses on, anyway he buggered off after a few minutes and nothing more was thought of it.
After having a good few bevies in there we headed down the hill to a another pub which was pretty much on the shore, we were having a beer there when we seen we were being watched by a group of lads across the road, however a police van rolled up outside and they quickly moved away. It was when we left the pub by the shore the "fun" started. Our group consisted of around 8 of us including one kid, we were walking away from the pub when we were confronted by about 4 idiots taunting us, including the original knobber who had said take the banner down in the first pub, one of them grabbed my scarf but I was too quick for him and yanked it back. They were told we didn't want any trouble and we are only here for a drink and the match, nothing else. A couple of them shot off on scooters and we thought that would be the end of it - no, the scooter boys turned out to be messengers it seems.
Shortly after that little confrontation down a winding street that takes you to the port where the buses are parked with a wall on one side and a wooded park area on our righthand side. It was then we could see a few dodgy looking folk hanging about in the park sitting/standing by a bench, its twilight now and we couldn't tell if they were looking at us or minding their own business. With out warning though they all ran at us at once, now I was about 10 feet in front of the rest of the group and one of the guys made a bolt in my direction so of course I took to my heels as well. Once I'd put a bit of distance between me and him (I'm no slouch) I turned round to face him and shouted at him f**k off but he was still chasing after me but he had a knife in his right had so I rand into the road and as soon as I did he disappeared back into the shadows. In the mean time all i could hear from the rest of the group was shouts of wow wow wow wow but I couldn't see what was happening through parked cars and poor lighting, It was only later when I met up with them in the ground I was told they had their banner stolen at knife point and right enough you could see them holding it upside down in the middle of Curva A about halfway up the stand.
I was then accosted by and very large group of Polizia outside the port entrance who were asking what had happened, myself and another blue tried to explain that there was about 10-12 hooligans with knives in the park area attacking innocent city fans, most of them ran off in that directions with batons drawn ready to tackle them, I've no idea if they caught them or not. A copper then took my passport and match ticket and took a picture of them before handing them back and saying go to your bus now, I went for one more pint before getting on my bus and heading to the game.
Being kept in for 90 minutes after the match was a joke but I can see why they done it, the surrounding area outside the ground was like a rabbit warren of streets and alley ways and it would have been very easy for city fans to have been ambushed, every street in the surrounding area was cleared of people with police cars at every junction to stop people getting anywhere near our buses.
The above is what happened to the best of my memory bearing in mind I'd had a good bevy during the day.
Naples - dump of a place, dump of a stadium and as for their fans, they are nothing but a bunch knife wielding shitebags who pick on innocent people and they do not discriminate. men, women and children all appear to be fair game. I won't be back, ever!