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Two arrests as Luton fans clash with Oxford United supporters


TWO arrests were made tonight as rival football fans clashed in Luton town centre during a tense stand-off involving Oxford United fans.

Bottles and glasses were thrown as around 100 supporters from both teams traded insults and chants as the U’s travelling support left the George II pub on their way to the ground before the 7.45pm kick-off.

It is not yet known if it was Luton or Oxford fans arrested for public order offences.

There were also reports of a window on an Oxford United supporters’ bus being smashed outside the Kenilworth Road stadium.

There was a heavy police presence in Luton town centre with five police horses and around 100 uniformed officers from Thames Valley, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and the Metropolitan Police on the streets to quell any trouble.

Rival fans were also kept apart before the game at the away end as an estimated 1,500 supporters made their way inside the ground.

Police mounted tonight’s operation after trouble flared before a match in September between fans outside at the Kassam stadium.


Comments(4)

Mark Sennett says...
9:29am Wed 10 Feb 10

I'm sorry but this story is absoulute rubbish there was no trouble before the game at the George II. I and some of my firneds arrived at 18:00 and we told the only place we could drink was the George but we would be escorted to the ground within plenty of time. At 18:30 mounted police charged a group of OUFC fans into the pub and blocked them in for no reason.

We weren't allowed to leave the area and the police made no attempts to move us to the ground. Everyone formed outside with no Luton fans in sight. A lot of OUFC songs were being sung and police made no attempt to move us. People were getting more an more annoyed that no attempt was being made to move us and the arrogance of some officers did not help the situation.

Eventyally some fans got so annoyed they began trying to push past the police as they wanted to get to the game. This actually spring police into action and they began to move the fans. Not without man-handling a few innocent fans in the meantime.

They then took us the longest way possible to the ground and lied to us saying the game had been delayed (i knew it hadn't as i was listening to it on the radio) By 20:05 we were only a few yards from the ground and fans were getting very annoyed that we had already missed 20 mins.

When we finally got there they made no attempt to get people into the ground quickly and there was plenty of pushing and shoving by police.

I finally got in to the ground at 20:15 and that was the first time I saw Luton fans all night. So I paid £18 to watch an hour of football.

I am furious that the police lied to me and advised me to go in to a pub that was earmarked to trap fans inside. One officer confessed that he knew that the police had no intention of letting the fans in the pub in to the game on time. So why advise innocent Oxford fans to drink in there???

It's tactics like this that give the police a bad reputation.

Jay & Robin says...
1:58pm Wed 10 Feb 10

COPIED FROM OTHER PAGE: Just a comment on the disabled supporters area.This was situated inside the Luton terraces. It was very intimidating being surrounded by Luton fans and only a thin plywood wall separating us. We felt we could not shout and support our team because of the close proximity of the Luton fans. During the second half of the game riot police had to quell trouble in the stand behind us resulting in the police being attacked. We were left feeling very nervous throughout the rest of the match. At the final whistle the Luton fans jumped over the fence and surrounded us in a very threatening manner, tormenting our supporters and screaming abuse. We had to be escorted from the ground by stewards. This is not a suitable situation for wheelchair users in this ground! Terry Priest, Greater Leys, Oxford.
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Agree Kleptotel with the situation in the disability area, very intimidating... after their 2nd goal I had a tug at my collar as if to pull me back but just moved froward and did'nt look behind me again... also at the final wistle I just wanted us to be lifted over the wall as their fans were rioting all around us. A ground I will never take children or a wheel chair to again, my boys were almost in tears walking to the car in fear from all those Coke's up fight anything hooligans, never again, Luton are giving this league a very bad name!
A team a stadium and fans stuck in the 80's!!!

Joe Cooke says...
3:46pm Wed 10 Feb 10

They shouldn't be allowed to make you drink in a certain pub, what would have happened if you would of insisted on having a drink in another pub? surely it's up to the individual where you spend your money?

Pter mcvey says...
5:38pm Wed 10 Feb 10

Mark. As in earlier posts that have been deleted. If what you say is true, then this was a deliberate attempt by the police to "incite" violence from the oxford fans concerned, to give them (the police) an excuse to use violence against you and your fellow fans with no comeback. If I was in your position I would make an official complaint as it would be interesting to hear what possible excuse they give for their actions. Had you and the fans kicked off the police would have justified their actions with the statement. (the police acted to restore order in the face of drunken, rioting football fans outside a pub) And anybody reading it without knowing the truth would believe it.


Crowd scenes at last night's Luton game. phtoo by David Flemming. Crowd scenes at last night's Luton game. photo by David Flemming.

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