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Hooligan summit ends in brawl
Posted Sat, 27 May 2006

Football hooligans from 10 Belgian clubs held an ill-fated "summit" this week in the eastern city of Hasselt to prepare for next month's World Cup, the Het Belang van Limburg newspaper reported on Saturday.

Groups of hooligans from around the globe are reported to be preparing a "third world war" for football's showcase event, which Germany is hosting from June 9 to July 9.

The Belgian daily said the hooligans, avowed enemies during the normal season, gathered on Wednesday to try to form a "united front" against violent supporters from other countries.

It said the summit, held in a bar where a World Cup warm-up match between Belgium and Turkey was being screened, collapsed amid disaccord. The match ended in a 3-3 draw.

Fights broke out and the violence escalated as the hooligans called in reinforcements with their mobile telephones. They reunited when police arrived, turning together on the local constabulary.

Twelve people were arrested, the newspaper said.

AFP