German Violence

[Keeper]

Violence cancels 70 German matches
October 27, 2006

SIEGEN, Germany (AP) -- A German county has cancelled 70 weekend matches to warn about escalating violence in Germany's lower leagues.

The matches were called off Friday in Siegen-Wittgenstein, a county affected by several violent incidents in recent months.

Officials have been beaten up, threatened or forced to hide in changing rooms to escape angry players from a youth team. Last weekend, a referee was hospitalized after the linesman stabbed him in the belly with a corner flag.

"In the lower leagues, the violence is growing constantly -- I hear that from other counties too," Siegen-Wittgenstein's soccer federation chairman Juergen Boecking said.

Boecking cancelled 70 of 100 matches in hopes of raising the issue of "fair play" in Germany. The trouble in his country is centered on only a handful of teams, he said.

"But enough is enough," Boecking said.

In August, a 17-year-old female referee working in the country quit after the treatment she received both on-and-off the field.

"The players and drunken fans abused me, and I wasn't taken seriously by the coaches either," Marina Schneider said.

Germany's top leagues, including the Bundesliga, have also been hit by violent or racist incidents in recent months.

A linesman was knocked unconscious by a fan swinging a full plastic cup during a German Cup match Wednesday. That led to the game being called 10 minutes before end between third division Stuttgart Kickers and visiting Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin.

Ghana-born Schalke player Gerald Asamoah and Moenchengladbach's Brazilian forward Kake were both targeted by racist chants from fans at Bundesliga and German Cup matches.

Germany's third division leagues have long been troubled by hooliganism and fan violence.

Many top clubs from the former East Germany now play in those regional leagues. They draw a few thousand fans -- a fraction of what they once attracted -- and can't afford good security, allowing troublemakers to flourish.

I'm thinking some FVSL Div. 2 teams should host a tournament with these guys.

[bluebird]

Originally Posted by Keeper

I'm thinking some FVSL Div. 2 teams should host a tournament with these guys.

Chairman Juergen Boecking ......they call him J.B. for short dont they