27 May 2008

GENEVA - Will Swiss hooligans spoil Euro 2008? That is the question that some of the nation's media has been asking following a spate of violence at several games.

Those responsible for Euro 2008 insist they are up to the job and extra manpower and security checks will reduce the risk of any trouble.

Swiss police are less than a fortnight away from a major policing challenge when Euro 2008, played in Austria and Switzerland, kicks off in Basle on 7 June.

In the latest incident, seats were ripped out and a goal post wrenched from the ground after St Gallen faced the prospect of relegation following a 2-0 defeat to Bellinzona on 20 May.

St Gallen was the third incident in a month that saw violent clashes with police who twice resorted to rubber bullets and tear gas.

On 2 May, FC Zurich fans in the stands lobbed lighted fireworks at rival Basle fans part way through the game Basle won 4-0. After the match there was more trouble outside the stadium, with 45 people injured and 12 arrested.

On the same night in Berne, around 100 people were involved in violence after local club Young Boys lost 3-1 to Xamax Neuchatel.

"Will hooligans ruin Euro 2008?" asked the headline in mass circulation paper Blick, one of the German language dailies.

How were fans able to smuggle fireworks into the ground in Basel where Switzerland will play all three group matches, asked the Sonntag newspaper.

The Swiss government's Euro 2008 representative Benedikt Weibel told the paper he remained "convinced" everything concerning security was under control.

The Swiss head of security for Euro 2008, Maertin Jaggi, told a news conference in December he believed hooliganism was unlikely to occur.

He said the family atmosphere of the international tournament, as opposed to national games which are attended by not so many women and children, would temper any violence.

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