Football violence “intolerable” says Blair
Tony Blair has told the House of Commons that the violence surrounding England fans in Portugal is “completely intolerable.”
Dozens of English supporters have been arrested in Portugal after a second night of alcohol-fuelled violence.
Prior to the Euro 2004 tournament, UEFA had threatened to throw out the English team if fans became involved in hooliganism.
UK police launched a huge operation to prevent known troublemakers from travelling to Portugal and sent representatives to support the Portuguese authorities.
The senior police representative in Portugal, David Smith, said: “What we have is English yobs getting drunk and disgracing the country. The connection with the game is non-existent.”
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Question Time, Mr Blair said that the “police should come down very heavily and make sure that those who engage in this disorder face heavy penalties.”
Mr Blair emphasised that those involved “are a very small minority” and said he didn’t “believe they are true English football fans at all.”
Sports Minister Richard Caborn has said that every effort is being taken to stamp out trouble.
He told ITV’s Lunchtime News that: “From talking to the Portuguese authorities, to UEFA and my colleagues in the Football Association, they know that we have taken every step possible to root out this rogue element.
Mr Caborn added that when disorder occurs, “It is not just English football but football in general which then gets the bad name.”
