UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier fan attack

Infobox civilian attack
title = 2008 UEFA Qualifier fan attack


caption = Parken Stadium
location = Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
target = Herbert Fandel
date = 2 June 2007
time = 21:50
timezone = CEST
type = Assault
fatalities =
injuries =
perps = Anonymous 29-year old Dane
susperps =
weapons =

A fan attack occurred at the Euro 2008 qualifying match between the national football teams of Sweden and Denmark, at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on 2 June 2007. A Danish supporter ran onto the pitch and attacked referee Herbert Fandel, after the referee had awarded Sweden a penalty in the 89th minute of the match, because Danish player Christian Poulsen had punched Swedish player Markus Rosenberg in his stomach.

The match was subsequently abandoned, and on 8 June 2007, UEFA held a hearing, awarding Sweden the match 3–0 and banning Poulsen for three competitive matches, and giving other punishments relating to Denmark international matches. The decision was appealed by the Danish Football Association [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Denmark appeal UEFA verdicts
work =UEFA
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-11
url =http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/news/kind=1/newsid=549676.html
accessdate =2007-06-11 ] and reduced on 5 July 2007. A CHF 100,000 (€66,000) fine was lowered to CHF 50,000; also, Denmark's two subsequent matches needed to be played at least convert|140|km from Copenhagen.cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =UEFA mildner Danmarks straf
work =TV2 website
pages =
language = Danish
publisher =
date =2007-07-05
url =http://sporten.tv2.dk/fodbold/article.php/id-7481778.html?forside
accessdate =2007-07-05]

The match was the first ever UEFA qualifying fixture between Sweden and Denmark, [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Nordic neighbors resume rivalry
work =UEFA
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-2
url =http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/news/kind=1/newsid=544514.html
accessdate =2007-06-11 ] and the first time a UEFA championship qualifier has been abandoned due to spectator interference.Fact|date=June 2007

Match

Sweden led 3–0 after 26 minutes of the Group F game, but Denmark bounced back and made the score 3–3 going into the final stages. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =UEFA official match report (minute by minute)
work =UEFA
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-02
url =http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=2241/match=83725/report=mbm.html
accessdate =2007-06-11 ]

Poulsen-Rosenberg incident

In the 89th minute, Denmark's Christian Poulsen and Sweden's Markus Rosenberg engaged in a tussle in the Danish penalty area; Rosenberg struck Poulsen, who in turn punched Rosenberg in the stomach. [
*Rosenberg: "We are in a tussle inside the [Danish penalty] area, pulling and pushing each other. I am not completely innocent in the situation, because I also hit him a bit, but not as hard as he hits me. And what the referees see, is when he hits me"; Source: cite news
last =Helmer
first =Jesper
coauthors =
title =Rosenberg: Jeg slog også Poulsen
work =Nyhedsavisen
pages =
language =Danish
publisher =
date =2007-06-02
url =http://avisen.dk/rosenberg-slog-ogsaa-poulsen-020607.aspx
accessdate =2007-06-06
*Poulsen: "I was involved in a tussle with the Swedish player, who I felt had provoked me twice. I saw red and I hit him"; Source: cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Denmark-Sweden Euro tie abandoned
work =BBC Sport
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-04
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6715785.stm
accessdate =2007-06-09
*Copenhagen Post: "Denmark's Christian Poulsen started the fiasco in the match's final minutes when he punched Sweden's Markus Rosenberg in the stomach after Rosenberg apparently struck him in the face. The line judge saw only Poulsen's retaliation,"; Source: cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =The comeback that never was
work =Copenhagen Post
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-04
url =http://www.cphpost.dk/get/101988.html
accessdate =2007-06-09
cite news
last =Burlund
first =Martin
coauthors =
title =UEFA to decide on Denmark-Sweden abandonment
work =The Guardian
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-02
url =http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6679435,00.html
accessdate =2007-06-09 ]

Fan attack

Seconds later, a Danish fan rushed onto the field and attacked the referee, grabbed his neck, [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=2241/match=83725/report=rp.html Copenhagen contest called off] UEFA official match report.] but was intercepted by the Danish defender Michael Gravgaard shortly after this. The officials - Fandel, assistant referees and the fourth official - walked off the field, and Danish Football Association spokesman Lars Berendt within minutes announced Sweden was awarded a 3–0 victory.

Perpetrator

The attacker was identified as a 29-year-old Dane living and working in Gothenburg, Sweden, [ [http://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/1.706487 Nu berättar skandalsupportern] The Expressen, June 3, 2007] but his name is being kept secret, [ [http://www.expressen.se/nyheter/1.706822 "Förlåt, Sverige"] The "Expressen", 3 June 2007.] due to a Danish court order. [cite news
last =Dam
first =Camilla
coauthors =
title =Nu siger han undskyld
work =Danmarks Radio
pages =
language =Danish
publisher =
date =2007-06-04
url =http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Fodbold/Landsholdet/2007/06/04/083025.htm?wbc_purpose=updatehttp..
accessdate =2007-06-06 ] Prior to that, his full name and residential status was published in online edition of the Danish tabloid "B.T.",Fact|date=June 2007 which, among other newspapers, ran an unprecedented petition asking the public for assistance to identify him. The Danish newspaper "Ekstra Bladet" has identified him by the initial "R", while other news media decided not to publish his name citing "the serious threat" against him.Fact|date=June 2007

Aftermath

UEFA action against Danish FA

[
convert|140|and|250|km|abbr=on radii from Copenhagen, with relevant stadiums shown:
• Parken, Copenhagen – the site of the incident
• Fionia Park, Odense (convert|141|km|abbr=on|disp=s from Parken) – site of a 2006 Denmark friendly match against Poland
• NRGi Park, Aarhus (convert|147|km|abbr=on|disp=s from Parken) – site of a 2006 Denmark friendly match against Paraguay; chosen as the site for the two matches
• Aalborg Stadion, Aalborg (convert|224|km|abbr=on|disp=s from Parken) – mentioned as an alternative
• Blue Water Arena, Esbjerg (convert|261|km|abbr=on|disp=s from Parken) – mentioned as the only real option within Denmark and outside the convert|250|km|abbr=on perimeter
• AOL Arena, 288|km|abbr=on|disp=s from Parken) – mentioned as an alternative outside DenmarkThe result was not confirmed until an investigation by UEFA's disciplinary committee was carried out. The hearing took place on 8 June 2007 to officially confirm whether the match should be forfeited 3-0 to Sweden. [ [http://politiken.dk/fodbold/article317266.ece Rosenberg: Jeg provokerede Poulsen] The "Politiken", 4 June 2007.] The Danish Football Association (DBU) suspended ticket sales for its next two European qualifiers at Parken Stadium pending UEFA's decision. It had already sold 18,200 tickets for the 12 September match against Liechtenstein, but said it would reimburse fans if UEFA changed the venue. [ [http://www.dbu.dk/news/newsShow.aspx?id=239273 Press release] The Danish Football Association, 4 June 2007.]

On 8 June 2007 the hearing was held, awarding Sweden the match 3–0, fining Denmark CHF 100,000 (€66,000), plus the punishment that Denmark should play their next four home qualification matches (effectively the rest of the competition) at least convert|250|km away from Copenhagen, with the next match against Liechtenstein behind closed doors. Poulsen was banned for three competitive matches. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Copenhagen contest goes to Sweden
work =UEFA
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-08
url =http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/news/kind=1/newsid=548881.html
accessdate =2007-06-11 ]

The president of the Swedish Football Association, Lars-Åke Lagrell expressed his satisfaction with the ruling calling it "a clear decision", adding that "there were no alternatives". [cite news
last =AFP
first =
coauthors =
title =Danes unhappy with UEFA ruling
work =Independent Online
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-08
url =http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=2831&art_id=nw20070608144243781C477679
accessdate =2007-06-11 ] The Danish FA immediately announced its intention to appeal.cite news
last =The Associated Press
first =
coauthors =Jan M. Olsen
title =UEFA awards Sweden 3-0 win over Denmark after Danish fan attack on referee
work =International Herald Tribune
pages =
language =
publisher =
date =2007-06-08
url =http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/08/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-UEFA-Referee-Attack.php
accessdate =2007-06-11 ] Jim Stjerne Hansen, secretary general of the DBU, said he was "shocked by the scope of the rulings", and that "It seems that they didn't look at the geography when they made their decision. Denmark is a small country."

Two of the three members of UEFA's disciplinary committee gave press interviews following the decision. Joël Wollf, General Secretary of the Luxembourg Football Federation and committee member, said:

"The 250 kilometres were just to make sure that they would play away from Copenhagen. [...] My opinion is that it should be made possible for these matches to be played in Denmark. I have not seen the ruling in writing, so I don't know what it says."cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =UEFA-folk trækker i land
work =TV 2
pages =
language =Danish
publisher =
date =2007-06-09
url =http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-7212656.html?forside
accessdate =2007-06-09 ]

Rainer Koch, German member of UEFA's disciplinary committee:

"Denmark can just play in Aalborg. They have a race track "(sic)" up there, don't they? [...] Well I don't know the distances in Denmark. This will be a matter of a discussion."

The distance between Aalborg and Copenhagen is convert|224|km, thus it was not a viable option at the time. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Distance between Copenhagen and Aalborg
work =
publisher =Mapcrow.info
date =
url =http://www.mapcrow.info/cgi-bin/cities_distance_airpt.cgi?city3=-3810472%2C02&city4=-3800928%2C02
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-06-11 ] Aalborg Stadium does not feature a race track. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Aalborg Stadion
work =
publisher =The Stadium Guide
date =
url =http://www.stadiumguide.com/aalborgstadion.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-06-11 ] [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Aalborg Stadion
work =
publisher =World Stadiums
date =
url =http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/denmark/aalborg_stadion.shtml
format =
doi =
accessdate =2007-06-11 ]

Final UEFA ruling

On 5 July 2007 UEFA eased the decision:

*Denmark only have to play two matches away from Copenhagen, reduced from four
*The closed-doors ban for the Liechtenstein match was lifted
*The radius from Copenhagen was only 140 km, as opposed to 250 km
*The fine was halved from CHF 100,000 to CHF 50,000.

However, the initial 0–3-ruling of the result was upheld.

Reactions

To the match in general

His Royal Highness Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, criticized the behaviour of both Christian Poulsen and the fan who attacked the referee: "It was terrible and a very embarrassing behavior on the Danish side." [cite news
last =Christensen
first =Mia
coauthors =
title =Kronprins Frederik raser over skandalekamp
work =Nyhedsavisen
pages =
language =Danish
publisher =
date =2007-06-08
url =http://avisen.dk/kronprins-frederik-raser-fodboldkamp-080607.aspx
accessdate =2007-06-09 ]

To Christian Poulsen's behaviour

Copenhagen police spokesperson chief inspector [Flemming Steen Munch's Danish rank is "Vicepolitiinspektør".] Flemming Steen Munch gave the following comment:

"It is about time to set an example ... It has almost become acceptable to be violent on the pitch, but violence should not be accepted on the pitch or in society. The TV images clearly show how the Swede is punched in the stomach. My immediate opinion is that according to the penal code the act will lead to a 30 day imprisonment". [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Politikommissær: Christian Poulsen bør sigtes for vold
work =24timer
pages =
language =Danish
publisher =
date =2007-06-04
url =http://www.24timer.dk/24t/forums/show/46/162.page
accessdate =2007-06-11 ]

Copenhagen police chief superintendent [Per Larsen's Danish rank is "Chefpolitiinspektør". That is the highest rank below Chief Officer levels, which all require law degrees. Per Larsen does not hold a law degree but is a graduate of the Danish police academy and startet his career as a police constable in 1965.] Per Larsen later said that all comments of possible charges were premature. "Football is a contact sport, so the starting point is that the sport's own courts should handle this," Larsen told Danish news agency Ritzau. Munch noted that it was "unusual" for violence on the field or hockey rink to be tried in a court of law. [ [http://www.eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=9274 Poulsen faces possible charges over punch, apologizes] DPA, 5 June 2007] See violence in ice hockey for some exceptions.

The Danish Justice Minister, Lene Espersen, called for an involuntary national team-hiatus to be given to Christian Poulsen. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Justitsminister: Poulsen skal af landsholdet
work =Politiken
pages =
language =Danish
publisher =
date =2007-06-04
url =http://politiken.dk/fodbold/article318835.ece
accessdate =2007-06-05 ]

To security at the Parken Stadium

The Parken Stadium was included in UEFA's list of in 1993, making it eligible for hosting UEFA Cup finals. [ [http://www.parken.dk/script/site/page.asp?artid=146 Welcome to Parken (about the stadium)] Parken Stadium, official website.]

After the fan attack, the level of security at the stadium was questioned, and considered further by the UEFA disciplinary committee. An editorial in the Danish daily "Jyllands-Posten" criticized the safety arrangements at Parken, saying it could have serious consequences for Denmark, but praised referee Fandel's decision to abandon the match. [ [http://jp.dk/sport/fodbold/article958269.ece Set fra sidelinien: Den sorteste dag] Christian Thye-Petersen, The Jyllands-Posten, 2 June 2007.]

To the perpetrator

The attacker stated in court that he was intoxicated by the consumption of alcohol, to a degree that he could not recall attacking the referee. The criminal court dealt out a suspended sentence of 30 days in prison. The prosecution appealed to the High Court of Eastern Denmark, which changed the sentence to 20 days, which had to be served. [" [http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2007/12/11/113150.htm Fodboldtossen skal i fængsel] ", "Danmarks Radio", 11-12-2007. Retrieved on 03-07-2008.]

The Danish Football Association first decided to sue the man for the commercial damage should Danish disqualification be confirmed. [ [http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/article304926.ece Tilskueren fra Parken er løsladt] "Ekstrabladet" June 3, 2007.]

Parken Sport & Entertainment first announced it decision to sue the man for DKK 7,000,000 (€940,000) for loss of ticket sales, and the Danish FA will sue the 29-year-old for DKK 1,900,000 (€255,000). [" [http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Fodbold/Landsholdet/2007/08/31/170031.htm DBU kræver 1,9 mio. fra "fan"] ", "Danmarks Radio", 2007-08-31. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.] That decision was later reverted on the advice of council.

ee also

*2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group F
*Denmark and Sweden football rivalry
*Roligan

External links

* [http://spil.kathart.dk/fodbold/ FodboldFjolset (in English: "the soccer fool", online game based on the incident]

References