Platini ponders response to surge in crowd violence

The new president of Uefa, Michel Platini, is reportedly struggling to find a solution to increasing fan violence in and around Europe's stadiums. Crowd trouble in France, Greece and Serbia last weekend followed violent incidents in Germany and Italy.

"If you have solutions, give them to me," Platini said in an interview with L'Equipe yesterday. "But who deals with the problem of violence? It's not Fifa or Uefa, except for their competitions, who are responsible for security. Everyone is a little responsible. Today, a match is so crucial. As if sport has become more important than life. How to fight it? I don't know.

"There has always been violence in football. Why is it manifesting itself more and more often? And why football, when in rugby, basketball and other sports there isn't such behaviour? I find it hard to understand."

Platini said last month that it was "a very good idea" for referees to have the authority to stop matches when violence broke out in the stands.

Ten fans and five policemen were injured during a First Division match in Serbia between Banat Zrenjanin and Red Star Belgrade last Saturday, after clashes between baton-wielding police and stone-hurling fans. Hooligans from the Dutch side Utrecht travelled to France to fight at Sedan with fans from Paris St Germain.

Platini suggested police forces across Europe needed to work together more effectively. "If there is no co-operation between the police forces, how do you stop the Utrecht supporters coming to Sedan?" he said.

While PSG played in Sedan, the club's reserves took on local rivals Red Star in a match at the Camp des Loges training ground. Reports said there was no security presence to stop around 50 PSG fans fighting Red Star supporters.

Saint-Etienne's home game with Lyon was interrupted on Saturday after 51 minutes, when tear gas wafted across the field. Rival fans had been shooting firecrackers at one another, forcing police to intervene. The match resumed after a 20-minute break.

Fans from Greek rivals Olympiakos and Panathinaikos fought in Athens on Sunday.

More serious incidents have occurred this season. These included the death of a police officer in Catania, Italy, on 2 February; riots in Leipzig, Germany, that injured dozens of police a week later; and the death of a fan, shot by a police officer who was protecting a Hapoel Tel Aviv supporter from rioters outside a PSG game at the Parc des Princes on 23 November.

"What happens in the street, like in Paris or Catania, I don't see how a football club can control this type of event," Platini said. "I'd be in favour of a sort of Interpol, if we can organise it."

Platini said he hoped talks involving European police chiefs could provide a clearer idea how to stamp out hooliganism. Talks will take place in Nyon, Switzerland, on 19 March.

Platini said he was unlikely to attend the meeting because of Fifa commitments.