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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bolton complain over Spain police | Bolton complain over Spain police |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Bolton Wanderers have made an official complaint about "overzealous and disproportionate" treatment of their supporters by Spanish police. | Bolton Wanderers have made an official complaint about "overzealous and disproportionate" treatment of their supporters by Spanish police. |
| The club contacted European football's governing body Uefa after the 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Cup. | The club contacted European football's governing body Uefa after the 0-0 draw at Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Cup. |
| Bolton say there were "a number of assaults and unprovoked baton charges before, during, and after the game". | Bolton say there were "a number of assaults and unprovoked baton charges before, during, and after the game". |
| British police who travelled to the game also criticised their Spanish counterparts' heavy-handed tactics. | British police who travelled to the game also criticised their Spanish counterparts' heavy-handed tactics. |
| At least two fans were taken to hospital with head wounds, and other supporters reported other injuries. | At least two fans were taken to hospital with head wounds, and other supporters reported other injuries. |
| James Kirk, a Bolton fan from Fife, said: "We came out of the stadium and just as we came down loads of police with shields and batons rushed back just where we'd come from. | James Kirk, a Bolton fan from Fife, said: "We came out of the stadium and just as we came down loads of police with shields and batons rushed back just where we'd come from. |
| ... unfortunately the Madrid police have a reputation for not taking dissent very well Ch Supt Dave Lea, Greater Manchester Police | ... unfortunately the Madrid police have a reputation for not taking dissent very well Ch Supt Dave Lea, Greater Manchester Police |
| "They were battering people to the ground - it was absolutely brutal and appalling. I've been to Spain many, many times but I tell you I don't want to go again." | "They were battering people to the ground - it was absolutely brutal and appalling. I've been to Spain many, many times but I tell you I don't want to go again." |
| Another fan said: "I've been all over the country watching Bolton and the police in Spain behaved like animals. I have never seen anything like it." | |
| Club chairman Phil Gartside said he would take the issue to the "highest level" to get an explanation. | Club chairman Phil Gartside said he would take the issue to the "highest level" to get an explanation. |
| Mr Gartside said: "I have great sympathy for any of our supporters who have been injured by what is clearly an overreaction by the Spanish police. | Mr Gartside said: "I have great sympathy for any of our supporters who have been injured by what is clearly an overreaction by the Spanish police. |
| "Bolton Wanderers Football Club will be pursuing the matter at the highest level and seeking an explanation from the Spanish authorities." | "Bolton Wanderers Football Club will be pursuing the matter at the highest level and seeking an explanation from the Spanish authorities." |
| The football club is liaising with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the British Embassy to try to establish what happened. | The football club is liaising with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the British Embassy to try to establish what happened. |
| Junior officers | Junior officers |
| Ch Supt Dave Lea, of GMP, said the problems started when police baton charged hundreds of Madrid fans out of the stadium. | Ch Supt Dave Lea, of GMP, said the problems started when police baton charged hundreds of Madrid fans out of the stadium. |
| "That incident has probably set the tone for the policing of the whole match and unfortunately the Madrid police have a reputation for not taking dissent very well," he said. | "That incident has probably set the tone for the policing of the whole match and unfortunately the Madrid police have a reputation for not taking dissent very well," he said. |
| The police chief said a number of sporadic incidents followed which resulted in police being "very heavy-handed" with the Bolton fans, and he blamed senior officers for the problems. | The police chief said a number of sporadic incidents followed which resulted in police being "very heavy-handed" with the Bolton fans, and he blamed senior officers for the problems. |
| "They didn't have enough control over their junior officers who were far too quick to use their batons rather than talking to the fans who would comply with their instructions. | "They didn't have enough control over their junior officers who were far too quick to use their batons rather than talking to the fans who would comply with their instructions. |
| "Lessons need to be learned and I will make sure that my observations will be captured in a full report for the Uefa security investigation that I know is going to be forthcoming," he added. | "Lessons need to be learned and I will make sure that my observations will be captured in a full report for the Uefa security investigation that I know is going to be forthcoming," he added. |
| Next stage | Next stage |
| The result of the match at the Vicente Calderon stadium meant Bolton won the tie 1-0 on aggregate to reach the last-16 stage of the competition. | The result of the match at the Vicente Calderon stadium meant Bolton won the tie 1-0 on aggregate to reach the last-16 stage of the competition. |
| Before their Uefa Cup match against Red Star Belgrade in December, Bolton fans were detained at a hotel in the Serbian capital. | Before their Uefa Cup match against Red Star Belgrade in December, Bolton fans were detained at a hotel in the Serbian capital. |
| Local police acted amid security fears after trouble involving Red Star supporters the previous weekend. | Local police acted amid security fears after trouble involving Red Star supporters the previous weekend. |
| Last April, a number of Tottenham fans were injured at their Uefa Cup tie in Seville in violent clashes with Spanish riot police. | Last April, a number of Tottenham fans were injured at their Uefa Cup tie in Seville in violent clashes with Spanish riot police. |