Thursday, December 18, 2014

Soccer Wars: 37 Held in Connection with Deadly Brawl by Soccer Hooligans in Spain

12/18/2014

MADRID – Spanish police made another arrest on Wednesday that raises to 37 the number of suspects detained in connection with last month’s deadly brawl between gangs of radical soccer hooligans in which one fan was killed.

Violent clashes erupted on Nov. 30 near the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, as local soccer team Atletico Madrid prepared to face off against visiting Deportivo La Coruña, from northwestern Spain.

Police said they believe they have identified two men involved in the homicide of Francisco Javier Romero, a Deportivo fan nicknamed “Jimmy” who was beaten with an iron bar and dumped in the Manzanares river.

One of the suspects is a taxi driver and father of two children, they added.

Sources close to the investigation confirmed to Efe that among those detained were a member of the Spanish Armed Forces’ Military Emergencies Unit (UME) and a member of the Civil Guards.

Also, three minors and a woman were taken into custody as well as the two main suspects of the homicide.

Videos provided by residents of the neighborhood where the massive street fight took place have been crucial in identifying those most directly involved in the violence.

The clash between the radically politicized fandoms of Spanish teams with deep animosity towards each other, in which 11 people were also injured, did not affect the match between Atletico Madrid and Deportivo that ended with a 2-0 win for Atletico. 


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