Scandal in Switzerland

Crazy! Fan hooligans force police to surrender

(Bild: GIAN EHRENZELLER / Keystone / picturedesk.com)

Great excitement in Swiss soccer: fan hooligans "hijacked" the away sector of FC St. Gallen's clash with FC Luzern on Easter Monday, which had actually been closed after earlier riots! A small "Easter miracle"? Not at all! The police let the Lucerne ultras have their way, literally capitulating to the away fans ... 

Review: After unpleasant scenes and riots between supporters of the two clubs in May 2023, the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors decided to only hold matches between St. Gallen and Lucerne without away fans. The decision was formally implemented by blocking the away sectors ...

On Easter Monday, however, the Luzern fans outwitted the authorities, as reported by "Blick", by purchasing hundreds of tickets for sectors adjacent to the away sector - and forcing their way into "their corner" shortly after kick-off.

They were able to do this because the police capitulated: "In order to ensure safety in the stadium, the police were forced to release the closed-off guest sector at short notice after consultation with FC St. Gallen," it says. A questionable decision - despite around 800 Lucerne fans arriving in defiance of the ban ...