Croat shame

The incidents at the Malta - Croatia World Cup qualifier and the arrest of 103 Croat football fans were widely reported by the international media. A Reuters report stated that the Croatian media condemned both the Croatian team and their fans following the disappointing result in Malta. The same report was picked up and prominently featured by CNN International. In addition, Singapore's Today Online and The Turkish weekly reported that the Maltese police arrested 103 Croatians for causing stadium violence. Russia's Pravda concentrated on the efforts by the authorities of Croatia to track down the soccer hooligans after the riots.

The response by a few of the Maltese football fans yesterday at the stadium was far from meek and my sources tell me that the police are considering the arrest of a number of Maltese hooligans as well. Meanwhile, today's Times editorial concentrated on another shameful aspect of the evening at the Ta' Qali national stadium. From today's Times editorial:

But there was another significant incident, a sub-plot, if you like, involving press photographers - both Maltese and foreign - and a number of uniformed police officers and men in plain clothes who at one time claimed to be police officers.

Without showing any identification documents, these men ordered the photographers to hand over to them the memory cards of their digital cameras. This, they insisted, was to ensure no damage is done to the country. The photographers were told they should hand over the cards voluntarily or else they will be forcibly taken away from them or "taqilghuha", a warning in Maltese which the photographer of The Times at least interpreted as a threat of being beaten up!

Eventually, The Times photographer was approached by a man, who identified himself by name and said he was a security officer employed by the Malta Football Association, who again demanded the memory cards. This incident can by no means overshadow the violence that occurred on the stands but, apart from raising serious legal and human rights issues, reveals a group of people who, although charged with ensuring safety and security, are evidently ill-prepared to handle such situations.

Ordering a journalist in a free and democratic country to hand over images is a very serious matter, a move that attacks head-on the freedom of the press. Because of this, the untrained "security men" have given visiting, and Maltese, journalists a reason why to point an accusing finger at the Maltese authorities. Steve Wellman's equaliser was thus turned into a defeat in this case. What a pity! The courts may have to look into more than just the behaviour of football supporters.

MFA assesses damage plus Swedish delight

Impressive Malta catch Croatia cold - from UEFA.com and more from maltafootball.com