Football : un mort dans le sud Liban – avril 2010

1 Killed, 7 Wounded in Clashes between Football Fans, Army in Ansar

naharnet.com

Beirut, 05 Apr 10

A teenager was killed and seven other people were wounded, including two Lebanese army soldiers, in clashes between supporters and troops during a football match in the southern town of Ansar.
The state-run National News Agency identified the victim as 17-year-old Kamel Mohammed Najem.

In the 60th minute in the game, NNA said, cheering between the two teams developed into a hassle and soon into clashes at Ansar Stadium.

The two teams were playing to decide which team will play in Division 4.

The referee stopped the game to give the army time to get the fans out of the stadium, NNA said.

It said things dramatically developed outside the stadium, where fighting took place between a number of fans and army soldiers tasked with keeping law and order at the arena.

NNA said shooting sparked stampede in which Najem was killed and five other fans were injured. Two army soldiers also were wounded.

1 killed, 7 injured in clashes in southern Lebanon

peopledaily.com.cn

April 06, 2010

One person was killed and seven others injured on Monday during clashes between football fans and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in southern Lebanon.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that a 17- year-old man was shot dead during the clashes, adding five citizens and two army members were injured.

The report said football fans from two southern villages of Harouf and A’ankoun, clashed during a soccer game held in the village of Nsar, close to Nabatiye in south Lebanon.

The Lebanese army interfered and tried to contain the situation, and the soldiers were forced to fire in the air to disperse the fans, said the report.

A witness told Xinhua that during the clashes, the army detained a number of people, adding that some people tried to free those detained and attacked military jeeps, which forced the army to open fire to the crowd.

The report also said that after the incident, clashes erupted again between the army and some citizens, but the soldiers were able to contain the situation and restore calm.

Teen killed as soccer fans clash in south Lebanon

The Daily Star

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

A well-placed security source told The Daily Star the army intervened as tensions rose. “There was a lot of enthusiasm before the game that sadly spilled over as the game went on,” said the source. “The army intervened by evacuating supporters for their own safety.”

“The army then fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd,” the source added.

Security sources also said there is to be a full investigation into the incident.

Najem’s death comes as a blow to soccer in Lebanon just weeks after a proposal to lift a ban on supporters was submitted to the government. There was hope the ban would be lifted as of the new season.

It remains to be seen whether this tragic incident will affect the government’s decision to allow fans back into the stadiums. Security sources said it is unlikely to affect the outcome as neither side is affiliated with the FA.