Hooliganism, discipline and police action

As a Maltese sports lover I was disgusted with the vandalism and totally unsporting attitude of the Croatian supporters at the Ta' Qali Stadium in the Malta vs Croatia match on September 7.

As a lawyer and a Maltese I was not pleased with the final outcome.

The Croatians were charged in the Magistrates' Court and admitted to the charges filed against them. They were meted out a suspended sentence (when they could have been sent to prison for a few months) and sent back home. I am sure that all concerned have their good reasons for acting in the manner they did. However, the ultimate message to the outsider is that hooliganism can be perpetrated by guests hosted in Malta without the fear of any real tangible punishment. This news travels fast - especially on the underworld cybernet.

The principle now also applies to individuals or groups of tourists, to Maltese, whether at sporting activities or otherwise, whether at the regatta or at a football pitch, or whether at a festa or at any other similar activity. In my view such an outcome undermines police authority and morale. It stamps Malta as a country where outsiders can come, run amok, break the law and nothing happens as a disciplinary measure.

What could have been done? I think that a minimum imprisonment of a few days (even if then interrupted interim) would have given a totally different message to locals and foreigners alike. It would also have given Malta an image of discipline, stability and maturity. Hosting a few people for a few days - when we host so many illegal immigrants (who similarly abuse of our generous system) - would not have been an unbearable financial burden to Malta. In the meantime, negotiations could have been held with the Croatian government and the Croatian Football Association to ensure that all the financial damages caused to Malta and to the Maltese (ministers, officials, the police, MFA, etc included) would be paid.

One would ensure that when these criminals are sent back to Croatia they would serve their prison sentence or, more improbable, be subjected to further criminal proceedings. But such hooligans have to be punished - otherwise repetitions would be inevitable. Examples are also salutary. Malta has to instil discipline and not promote further unruly behaviour in certain somewhat undisciplined individuals or segments of Maltese society where, apparently, physical violence and might is right.

I refer to Zoran Crvk's intervention. Mr Crvk - the Croatian Football Federation's security commissioner - has criticised the police for an unprofessional approach at the stadium. He referred to police retaliation from the enclosure.

If I read correctly the TV footage, it is true that there were one or two policemen who threw back a few objects at the Croatian supporters. In this Mr Crvk was right. But these natural reactions (also possibly in self-defence) by one or two officers are petty and insignificant in comparison with the whole police action.

The police managed to isolate the women and children and to escort them out of the enclosure, without any harm to anybody being caused. The police isolated the hooligans and did not use disproportionate measures (such as tear gas, baton charges etc which are used abroad) and escorted the wrongdoers out of the stadium peacefully.

In general, therefore, police action was orderly and they responded excellently to the unruly situation created by the Croatians; and they should be praised for this.

I therefore take extreme offence at Mr Crvk's attack on the police. I cannot imagine that Mr Crvk is not aware of the overall situation. Yet, he points to a minor shortcoming by the police when the stress should have been elsewhere.

Mr Crvk's tactic is well known and successful with the gullible. His tactic is simply to divert attention from the real issue and to obfuscate the proceedings. The real issue is the Croats' hooliganism; but deeper still Mr Crvk's association did nothing in the past to curb and control their supporter members who have elsewhere and on various occasions shown their illegal behaviour.

Other countries have had similar - and indeed bigger - problems but with the active intervention of the national football association and help from their police authorities such hooligans were controlled. It is clear that Mr Crvk's association has not carried out this duty and therefore, in an attempt to distract attention from the source of the problem, Mr Crvk attacks the Malta Police on a matter which is totally irrelevant to the whole issue.

Mr Crvk should have made an unconditional apology; he should have indicated what measures his association has taken in the past to control hooliganism and what measures his association will take in the near future to eradicate it. He should have also declared that his association will make good for all damages caused by its supporter members. That Mr Crvk chose not to say the above but to attack the poor panic-stricken policeman/men on the spot is therefore extremely unfair and objectionable.

As a non-politician and therefore speaking not with a forked tongue, in my view Mr Crvk has shown a serious lack of maturity and responsibility in this matter and he should resign his post. If the Croatian's concept of accountability is Mr Crvk's attitude then Croatia's application to hold the 2012 European Championship should be withdrawn; in any case Malta should definitely not back it.

As to Croatia's entry into the EU... that is another issue - or is it?