Millwall v Iran match likely to be called off amid fears of racist attacks

[T_i_B]

In case you are wondering Millwall are an English football club noted mainly for their hooligans.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1531424,00.html

A long arranged soccer match between the Iranian national team and Millwall in south-east London is almost certain to be cancelled today because the organisers fear the game will be targeted by far right extremists.

Three days after the Guardian revealed fears of far right extremists and football hooligans acting jointly to attack Muslims and "avenge" the London bus and tube bombs, administrators at Millwall are preparing to cancel the fixture amid fears that Iranian fans may be attacked going to and from the ground.

The club was expecting up to 10,000 Iranian fans to watch the game. Iran is on a sporting high, having qualified for next year's World Cup.

Last year Millwall became the first club to be charged by the Football Association over racist behaviour by supporters. The governing body took the unprecedented action after it was claimed that a Liverpool player was subjected to monkey noises. A £25,000 fine was imposed, along with a suspended order that Millwall's ground be closed to all spectators for one senior home match if there was a repetition.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I would have predicted trouble before the bombings

Now, it would have the potential to be the second football match to kick off a war. Mention 'Muslim' to some of the nutters who frequent Millwall games, and they'll go bananas.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

2. Millwall V Iran

Yeah that was smart, :eyes:

[T_i_B]

3. I was thinking that...

...whose idea was it to have Iran play a match against the most notorious club in Britain for hooligans?

[SemperEadem]

4. IF they wanted to box

that would be one thing...

But using football as a ruse to instigate assaults by gangs? Millwall should be stripped of its right to play at all.

[T_i_B]

5. Hooliganism goes back a long way

It was a big problem in England in the 70's and 80's, and quite a lot of football clubs have hooligan "firms". It's just that Millwall are the club most notorious for hooligans and all the problems that you get with that element.

And if you think it's bad in Blighty at present, just wait till you see the Hooligan firms in Belgrade!