IRELAND: DUBLIN: ENGLISH SOCCER HOOLIGANS ON RAMPAGE

English/Nat

England soccer fans are heading home in shame after going on the rampage at a supposedly friendly exhibition match with Ireland in Dublin.

Trouble flared when Ireland scored at the Lansdowne Road football ground last night (Wednesday) and the violence was so bad the game had to be abandoned.

The English supporters chanted "No surrender to the I-R-A" and hurled seats onto the pitch.

One man in his sixties collapsed and died after leaving the match and twenty others had to be treated in hospital.

Forty English fans were arrested and are expected to appear in court today (Thursday).
The first shipload of the disgraced supporters arrived at the port of Holyhead early this morning (Thursday).

Irish police had been warned that hard core troublemakers might be among the English fans, according to the head of Britain's National Intelligence Football Unit.

After the aborted match police moved to block off roads, separate the crowd, and herd fans towards trains. While Irish fans were moved out of danger English fans who had caused the disruption cheered and waved.

Police rode trains crammed with English fans as they heading to the port where ferries waited to take them back to Britain.

Other supporters had a much shorter journey - to police cells.

Forty England supporter were arrested and are expected in court later.

The scene at the ferry terminal in Dun Laoghaire was chaotic. Despite the show of force by the police, English fans continued to chant slogans.

The violence raises questions about England's participation in international games. England is due to host the European soccer championships in 1996.

One Irish soccer fan collapsed while leaving Lansdowne Road when the match was abandoned. Twenty people needed hospital treatment - including one who suffered a skull fracture.

As the second of two ships left a few minutes after midnight, the port area was suddenly calm. About thirty police joined the ferry to keep order aboard.

Sports authorities and politicians expressed disgust. One player described it as "a sad night for football."
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