Fascists Can't Stop The Party
Hamburg - Home and Away
Celtic recently played Hamburg SV in the first round of the UEFA Cup. In both games, home and away, we were gubbed 2-0; beaten 4-0 on aggregate. However, most of the excitement took place off the park, as the match became a rallying point for fascists from various parts of northern Germany.
Our friends at St. Pauli (HSV's city rivals) had warned us in advance of the two games, that it was likely that fascists would target the game due to the republican and anti-fascist element among the Celtic support. Also, the fact that there exists a strong rapport between Celtic fans and the anti-fascist St Pauli fans would have been deemed a good enough excuse for the fascists to attack us.
HSV fans have not exactly been idle when it comes to developing links with right-wing elements at other clubs. Just before the matches against Celtic, the main HSV fanzine, "Supporters News", published by the official fan project, ran a four-page article about a trip to Belfast by a group of HSV fans. The article included two pages of photographs under the headline, "Views of Belfast". These "views" consisted entirely of pictures of UVF, UFF and UDA wall murals. The HSV fans' hosts were supporters of Linfield, who aren't exactly noted for their non-sectarianism. This visit and the article have been defended by some HSV fans as an innocent and non-political exchange. If that were the case, then why run a series of pictures alongside the article which by any neutral observer's viewpoint could be construed as indicating support for the pro-British death squads in Ulster?!?
HSV fans already have proven links with Scotland's Shame FC, Chelsea and Linfield fans through the "Blues Brothers" fanzine which carried an article by a well known HSV fan not so long ago. Whilst it has to be pointed out that the HSV fan in question is not a fascist, it was politically naive of him to contribute an article to a fanzine which has right wing leanings as evidenced by the pictures of Chelsea fans with a "Chelsea Loyalists" flag in the same issue.
The "Blues Brothers" fanzine is a piece of toilet paper which has played on the loyalism of Scotland's Shame FC and Linfield fans and has extended its remit to Chelsea's right wing element. The editors deny that they are fascists but a cursory glance at most issues of their fanzine reveals the reality that their base among the supporters of the three clubs is among the right wing, fascist and loyalist element. HSV fans are either being used (as in the case of the previously mentioned contributor) or they are more than happy to be the political associates of loyalists and fascists.
When HSV hooligans came to Glasgow for the first leg of the UEFA Cup tie, their relationship with the worst element of Scotland's Shame FC fans was confirmed. The main "firm" spent most of the day in the notorious loyalist drinking den, The Louden Tavern, a pub frequented by UVF and Red Hand Commando loyalists. Some of the regulars of this pub were featured in the recent "Football, Faith and
Flutes" documentary, cursing everything from Catholics and the Pope to the IRA and Gerry Adams. One of the Louden regulars who was most vociferous was wearing a KKK T-shirt throughout the film.
After drinking all day with such people, the HSV hools then attacked, indiscriminately, Celtic supporters on their way to the game. Before the game, the only people that the HSV hooligans vented their anger on were old men and kids. Throughout the game, it was the hooligans who appeared to be coordinating most of the chanting and singing among the 2000 Hamburg fans. There were a few dodgy looking banners and flags and the obligatory nazi salutes that you would expect from this scum.
After the match about 20 of our casuals, the Celtic Soccer Crew (CSC), confronted about 40 HSV hooligans who were armed with batons and knuckle dusters. In the ensuing fight, one of the HSV mob was stabbed in the stomach. This was enough to unnerve the rest of his mates who took off double-quick. That was the end of round one. Round two followed two weeks later in Hamburg.
More than 4000 Celtic fans made the trip to Hamburg to see what was largely a meaningless game given that we had been roundly beaten at home. The mood among the fans was basically our usual when we go abroad, a good-humoured party atmosphere. Celtic fans have a great reputation at home and abroad for good behaviour but that doesn't mean that we are mugs. If another mob come looking for it, then they'll get it.
Most of the few days in Hamburg was spent drinking with the St Pauli fans. The night before the match, 40 fascists, believed to be from Berlin, attacked the main St Pauli pub, Zum Letzen Pfenig. There weren't that many in the pub and a couple of people got hit by bottles and glasses. The fash disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. A good mob gathered at the pub after the attack but by that time it was too late and the fascists secured a small, albeit temporary, victory.
At the game, the next day, the HSV hooligans had a big mob who taunted the Celtic supporters with chants of "Scotland's Shame FC" and "UDA" and, at one point, burned a tricolour, which provoked attempts by Celtic fans to fight their way through the riot cops to get at the Hamburg fans.
After the game, as we were escorted to the train station, small groups of HSV fans were chanting loyalist slogans at us; "UDA", "UFF" and "UVF". I wonder if their 'friends' in Belfast and Glasgow had anything to do with that?!? The police estimated that about 200 fascists were in and around the St Pauli area after the match. There were several minor skirmishes between the fascists and Celtic supporters on the Reeperbhan.
About 60 fascists again attacked Zum Letzen Pfenni, but this time the St Pauli and Celtic fans were waiting for them and it was the nazis who came off worst. As they approached the pub a big mob came out to meet them and pelted them with bottles and glasses. Some of them were pursued and beaten. Others were confronted on their way out of the vicinity of the pub by anti-fascist supporters who were on their way to give assistance to those in the Letzen Pfennig. One fascist bonehead and a couple of pals passed by a couple of what they thought were unwitting Celtic fans. The bonehead gave it the customary "UDA, UFF" and was beaten to a pulp by the "Psycho Killers", one of whom ended up in jail. It took much negotiations and over £200 in sureties before the German police would release him. Two fascists from Kiel, a strong fascist town about 100 miles away were cited as "independent witnesses" by the police. 30 fascists were arrested and charged by the Hamburg police after their failed attempt to attack the pub after the game.
Hamburg - Home and Away
Celtic recently played Hamburg SV in the first round of the UEFA Cup. In both games, home and away, we were gubbed 2-0; beaten 4-0 on aggregate. However, most of the excitement took place off the park, as the match became a rallying point for fascists from various parts of northern Germany.
Our friends at St. Pauli (HSV's city rivals) had warned us in advance of the two games, that it was likely that fascists would target the game due to the republican and anti-fascist element among the Celtic support. Also, the fact that there exists a strong rapport between Celtic fans and the anti-fascist St Pauli fans would have been deemed a good enough excuse for the fascists to attack us.
HSV fans have not exactly been idle when it comes to developing links with right-wing elements at other clubs. Just before the matches against Celtic, the main HSV fanzine, "Supporters News", published by the official fan project, ran a four-page article about a trip to Belfast by a group of HSV fans. The article included two pages of photographs under the headline, "Views of Belfast". These "views" consisted entirely of pictures of UVF, UFF and UDA wall murals. The HSV fans' hosts were supporters of Linfield, who aren't exactly noted for their non-sectarianism. This visit and the article have been defended by some HSV fans as an innocent and non-political exchange. If that were the case, then why run a series of pictures alongside the article which by any neutral observer's viewpoint could be construed as indicating support for the pro-British death squads in Ulster?!?
HSV fans already have proven links with Scotland's Shame FC, Chelsea and Linfield fans through the "Blues Brothers" fanzine which carried an article by a well known HSV fan not so long ago. Whilst it has to be pointed out that the HSV fan in question is not a fascist, it was politically naive of him to contribute an article to a fanzine which has right wing leanings as evidenced by the pictures of Chelsea fans with a "Chelsea Loyalists" flag in the same issue.
The "Blues Brothers" fanzine is a piece of toilet paper which has played on the loyalism of Scotland's Shame FC and Linfield fans and has extended its remit to Chelsea's right wing element. The editors deny that they are fascists but a cursory glance at most issues of their fanzine reveals the reality that their base among the supporters of the three clubs is among the right wing, fascist and loyalist element. HSV fans are either being used (as in the case of the previously mentioned contributor) or they are more than happy to be the political associates of loyalists and fascists.
When HSV hooligans came to Glasgow for the first leg of the UEFA Cup tie, their relationship with the worst element of Scotland's Shame FC fans was confirmed. The main "firm" spent most of the day in the notorious loyalist drinking den, The Louden Tavern, a pub frequented by UVF and Red Hand Commando loyalists. Some of the regulars of this pub were featured in the recent "Football, Faith and
Flutes" documentary, cursing everything from Catholics and the Pope to the IRA and Gerry Adams. One of the Louden regulars who was most vociferous was wearing a KKK T-shirt throughout the film.
After drinking all day with such people, the HSV hools then attacked, indiscriminately, Celtic supporters on their way to the game. Before the game, the only people that the HSV hooligans vented their anger on were old men and kids. Throughout the game, it was the hooligans who appeared to be coordinating most of the chanting and singing among the 2000 Hamburg fans. There were a few dodgy looking banners and flags and the obligatory nazi salutes that you would expect from this scum.
After the match about 20 of our casuals, the Celtic Soccer Crew (CSC), confronted about 40 HSV hooligans who were armed with batons and knuckle dusters. In the ensuing fight, one of the HSV mob was stabbed in the stomach. This was enough to unnerve the rest of his mates who took off double-quick. That was the end of round one. Round two followed two weeks later in Hamburg.
More than 4000 Celtic fans made the trip to Hamburg to see what was largely a meaningless game given that we had been roundly beaten at home. The mood among the fans was basically our usual when we go abroad, a good-humoured party atmosphere. Celtic fans have a great reputation at home and abroad for good behaviour but that doesn't mean that we are mugs. If another mob come looking for it, then they'll get it.
Most of the few days in Hamburg was spent drinking with the St Pauli fans. The night before the match, 40 fascists, believed to be from Berlin, attacked the main St Pauli pub, Zum Letzen Pfenig. There weren't that many in the pub and a couple of people got hit by bottles and glasses. The fash disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. A good mob gathered at the pub after the attack but by that time it was too late and the fascists secured a small, albeit temporary, victory.
At the game, the next day, the HSV hooligans had a big mob who taunted the Celtic supporters with chants of "Scotland's Shame FC" and "UDA" and, at one point, burned a tricolour, which provoked attempts by Celtic fans to fight their way through the riot cops to get at the Hamburg fans.
After the game, as we were escorted to the train station, small groups of HSV fans were chanting loyalist slogans at us; "UDA", "UFF" and "UVF". I wonder if their 'friends' in Belfast and Glasgow had anything to do with that?!? The police estimated that about 200 fascists were in and around the St Pauli area after the match. There were several minor skirmishes between the fascists and Celtic supporters on the Reeperbhan.
About 60 fascists again attacked Zum Letzen Pfenni, but this time the St Pauli and Celtic fans were waiting for them and it was the nazis who came off worst. As they approached the pub a big mob came out to meet them and pelted them with bottles and glasses. Some of them were pursued and beaten. Others were confronted on their way out of the vicinity of the pub by anti-fascist supporters who were on their way to give assistance to those in the Letzen Pfennig. One fascist bonehead and a couple of pals passed by a couple of what they thought were unwitting Celtic fans. The bonehead gave it the customary "UDA, UFF" and was beaten to a pulp by the "Psycho Killers", one of whom ended up in jail. It took much negotiations and over £200 in sureties before the German police would release him. Two fascists from Kiel, a strong fascist town about 100 miles away were cited as "independent witnesses" by the police. 30 fascists were arrested and charged by the Hamburg police after their failed attempt to attack the pub after the game.
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