ICC to take action after fans clash at Headingley
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LEEDS: The International Cricket Council has said it will take action against any fans involved in “scuffles” before the Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Headingley on Saturday.
Videos shared on social media showed supporters of both countries fighting outside the venue and security personnel being forced to intervene, while ESPNcricinfo reported that at least two fans had been evicted from the ground.
“We are aware of some scuffles among a minority of fans and are currently working with the venue security team and the local police force, West Yorkshire Police, to ensure there are no further incidents,” an ICC spokesperson said.
“We do not condone this type of behaviour, and will take appropriate action against any anti-social behaviour that spoils the enjoyment for the majority of fans.”
Police were forced to intervene as violent clashes between rival supporters marred the World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Leeds on Saturday.Eyewitnesses told AFP there were clashes in the stands at the start of the match, which spread outside the ground until security officers intervened.
“Thanks to the intervention from security personnel the situation did not go out of control,” said Ahmed Zai, who is from the Pakistani city of Peshawar, but lives in nearby Bradford.
A Pakistani journalist was also attacked by the crowd, stopping him from shooting video.
Local media reported that the trouble started when a plane towing the message ‘Justice for Balochistan’ flew over the venue. Balochistan is the largest province in Pakistan and borders Afghanistan to the north.
“We work with local police forces around the country to prevent this type of incident occurring and were assured that given Headingley is under the flight path for the Leeds Bradford Airport it would not be an issue,” the spokesperson added.
“We do not condone any sort of political messages at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and will work with West Yorkshire police to deal with and understand why this has happened and to ensure it does not happen again.”
West Yorkshire Police said they had been called in after “reports of some trouble outside the ground linked to people trying to get in”.
“Officers attended to disperse the group without any issues and remained on patrol in the area,” the police said in a statement.
Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019
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Comments (80) Closed
Jun 30, 2019 07:46am
There are no such incidents whenever or wherever Indo Pak matches are held.
It only shows feeling between citizens of both countries towards each other.
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Jun 30, 2019 10:38am
Police were forced to intervene as violent clashes between rival supporters marred the World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Some pakistani people were commenting on the match as blood brothers.
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Jun 30, 2019 10:42am
Lack of control of security forces over England if such planes are flying around freely.
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Jun 30, 2019 10:44am
The International Cricket Council has said it will take action against any fans involved in “scuffles” before the Cricket World Cup match between tribals at Headingley on Saturday.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:11am
I never heard of Pak- India Clashes despite both countries are remained arch- rival for decades , which is the trait of mature and civilized nation. its a long path for Afghanistan to transform from tribe hoards to mature nation.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:23am
Very sad incident incited by some politically motivated individuals to create cheap publicity and division among two brotherly neighbours. Critics and foreign agents are opportunist to encourage such disgraceful incidents and money plays a major part to incite people.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:28am
Looks like our neighbors have been investing heavily in anti Pakistan propaganda.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:30am
Now cricket also going the football way.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:46am
Pakistan and Afghanistan should have been natural allies, I do not understand the rivalry among them.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:50am
Why a politically motivated banner should be flown at a sports event? It shows the mentality of the people, the organisations and their cause behind this.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:52am
Scuffle between crowd is common in sports where emotions run high. We have seen this many times in soccer mainly from England fans too. Though ,not justifying this hooliganism but at the same time no need to make a mountain out of molehills.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:53am
Indians and Pakistanis Respect each other and their players but this neighbor is something else.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:54am
Hearts are won only through love and love alone. Our brothers, Afghans, have been through a lot lately. Pakistanis should show a bigger heart here and let it all ago. Moreover, people like Shoaib Akhtar, the real culprits behind this fiasco must apologise.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:56am
Why the banner with Balochistan and Pakistan's match with Afghanistan was chosen for the day?
This clearly indicates the hostility of a particular country/organisation against Pakistan.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:57am
Who was the mastermind behind plane with Banner? I bet same mastermind is behind creating frictions between Afghans and Pakistan.
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Jun 30, 2019 12:00pm
What a master stroke!!! Spreading hatred by and creating fight both by using plane with hate banner!!!
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Jun 30, 2019 12:03pm
If strict security is not provided then Bangladesh and Pakistan match can witness more such events.
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Jun 30, 2019 12:19pm
We accept it not Balochistan will be freed one day.
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Jun 30, 2019 01:09pm
What a grave, gruesome, gigantic, gross and great tragedy?
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Jun 30, 2019 01:10pm
Put the violent Afghani hooligans behind bars. They are mannerless, and unthankful people. And send the Afghan refugees who are living in Pakistan back to their country. They always bite the hands that feeds them.
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Jun 30, 2019 01:16pm
Banners carrying message must be taken seriously before this collapses into chaos altogether.
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Jun 30, 2019 01:40pm
The Love of Cricket. The agony of being a die-hard fan.
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Jun 30, 2019 01:44pm
@Akram, yes, blame it on the neighbours!
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Jun 30, 2019 01:54pm
@An Indian, but this was within the first 30 mins or so
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Jun 30, 2019 02:10pm
@Original Zak brand, what is being discussed here.. ??
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Jun 30, 2019 02:42pm
This is unacceptable behaviour.
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Jun 30, 2019 02:53pm
Yes do catch those who displayed political messages.
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Jun 30, 2019 03:17pm
It is just cricket. We love our players. On top of that every life is important. Pakistan government to take take up the matter with British authorities to beef up security of Pakistani players on/ off the field.
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Jun 30, 2019 03:21pm
@An Indian, “Scuffle between crowd is common in sports where emotions run high”
Show me an incident where the Indian and Pakistani fans had a fight. And i am sure you know we dont like each other.
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Jun 30, 2019 03:37pm
Cricket should not be allowed to become soccer. Such trouble makers should be identified, charged and banned from all cricket venues for a few years. It should remain a gentleman's game.
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Jun 30, 2019 04:00pm
Literacy rate matters.
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Jun 30, 2019 04:10pm
It’s just a game. No need for incidents like this. Both teams played best match of the tournament. Enjoy the excitement
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Jun 30, 2019 04:46pm
I request to ICC to improve the security of players and fans also
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Jun 30, 2019 05:01pm
@Sak99, very true even pak indians fan enjoy their presence and enjoy the match.
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Jun 30, 2019 05:06pm
It is quite evident from all the pictures and videos that who are the trouble makers. Cricket has always been a gentleman's game until now.
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Jun 30, 2019 05:19pm
@SkyHawk, you can't paint everyone with the same brush.
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Jun 30, 2019 05:19pm
Who is ICC to take action? Action has to be taken by UK authorities. ICC can just lodge a complaint with UK authorities.
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Jun 30, 2019 05:43pm
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani, not just brothers bro...blood brothers.
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Jun 30, 2019 06:04pm
afghans should be banned from cricket so they can learn to behave as humans
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Jun 30, 2019 06:25pm
@Capt C M Khan, - Political banner offended Pakistani fans and they reacted, not the other way around.
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Jun 30, 2019 06:40pm
May be some commotion among the spectators that is not connected to cricket. Should not be blown out of proportion
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Jun 30, 2019 06:41pm
Uncivilized means uncivilized. Not even cricket will change them
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Jun 30, 2019 06:47pm
It's a serious security failure... How on earth an unauthorized plane was flying over the stadium? What if it carried something more dangerous than just a message?
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Jun 30, 2019 06:52pm
Afghans think a few good matches will make them a great nation . Well I think they are far from there !
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Jun 30, 2019 06:54pm
@Capt C M Khan, are you saying only Afghanistan responsible for this?
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Jun 30, 2019 07:16pm
@Akram, Amusing how easily it becomes a third parties fault. Anyways, looks like we have a new rivalry in world cricket!
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Jun 30, 2019 07:51pm
@Pervez , from all the videos on social media the answer to your question is yes the afghan fans were the aggressors...
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Jun 30, 2019 08:07pm
It’s rivalry, ever seen a calm football match in England ?
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Jun 30, 2019 08:52pm
It is extremely easy to find out who leased that plane and who filed the flight plan and get to the culprit. Everything is traceable these days and I hope the Pakistani authorities can do that and take appropriate action against the instigator.
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Jun 30, 2019 10:33pm
@Pervez , yes
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Jun 30, 2019 10:34pm
Afghans need to grow up..try acting like that infront of Americans and Russians who destroyed your country
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Jun 30, 2019 10:52pm
Also sue the person who flew the plane and expose who was funding them.
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Jun 30, 2019 11:01pm
If Pakistan considers Afghanistan friendly then this was proof how friendly
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Jun 30, 2019 11:06pm
Afghans have lost their ways to live like a civilize nation due to 30-40 years non stop wars. Sad to see whole youth is disturb. It is a long way for them to behave like a civilize nation. May be if they start from today, we would see changes in their 3rd generation. Thanks for the US for destroying youth of a nation. Pakistan raised voice due to humanity and killing of innocents, but due to their behavior it is better to let them engage with wars, they are just a lost Nation.
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Jul 01, 2019 01:35am
What happened to my comments? Seems like Dawn only publishes one sided biased comments from Pakistanis at home and abroad. The problem here is that colonial mindsets among brown sahibs don’t understand organic behavior of Afghans.
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Jul 01, 2019 02:13am
Bharat is written all over those flying messages. Let's see if icc takes action
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Jul 01, 2019 03:21am
@An Indian, It is not “mountain out of a molehill” - it is a gentlemen’s game and the Afghanistan’s fans are way out of control and of course Indian backing to this hooliganism for Afghanistan has lead to this hostility against Pakistani fans.
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Jul 01, 2019 03:24am
Take action against the people who flew the plane and put them in jails.
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Jul 01, 2019 04:37am
It started when 6 Afghan goons attacked 1 Pakistani with Pakistan tea shirt on, who fought bravely till security arrived.
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Jul 01, 2019 04:40am
@thinking, only one incident, rest of the fans mingled and were friendly, like brothers. Infact we have no hesitation in supporting Bangladesh or Afghanistan, after us.
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Jul 01, 2019 04:45am
@Ali Sikandar Chachar , Indian subversion.
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Jul 01, 2019 04:45am
@Zia, This is proof or the 3 million refugees in Pakistan.
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Jul 01, 2019 04:46am
@joe, Never mind India lost to England.
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Jul 01, 2019 09:32am
How on earth England allowed that plane to fly over just above the ground? PCB should protest against it with ICC and the responsible people should be dealt seriously.
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Jul 01, 2019 09:49am
@Zak, India lost by design.... Let them continue to plan
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Jul 01, 2019 12:10pm
This was a planned attack by Afghan hooligans and on numerous occasions they attacked unsuspecting Pakistani fans. A number of Afghans shouted anti Pak slogans and swore at Pakistani fans as they arrived into stadiums.
A truly horrific state of affairs that the PCB played down instead of demanding an inquiry into hooliganism amd safety for its fans and players.
A sad day in cricket!
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Jul 01, 2019 12:15pm
@Shahryar Shirazi, : You may not be liking Indians, but there are lot of Pakistanis and Indian, who get along well
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Jul 01, 2019 12:45pm
It was very uncomfortable & scary for the peaceful spectators who had come with families. A strict check / action is immanent by the LEAs. ICC is also requested to take action for the attempted usage of sports event for political purposes.
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Jul 01, 2019 12:58pm
Will ICC take any action on fixing yesterday's match between Eng/Ind?
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Jul 01, 2019 01:14pm
It would be nice if the plane incident is also investigated by the authorities. Sporting events are supposed to be free from all politics.
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Jul 01, 2019 01:32pm
Pakistanis are not brawl inviting people, it only shows the attitude of afghanis.....only
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Jul 01, 2019 01:51pm
@Original Zak brand, YES freed from people like you. Balouchistan will get rid of all traitors like you
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Jul 01, 2019 06:19pm
Why the media is silent
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Jul 01, 2019 07:27pm
So Pakistani started the brawl and when get thrashed, they started complaining???
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Jul 01, 2019 07:30pm
Afghanis dont deserve this gentlemen's sport.
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Jul 01, 2019 07:43pm
This is just emotional outburst & moment of heat like it often happens in football grounds. No need to be over hyped due to media.
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Jul 01, 2019 08:14pm
Most Pakistanis I know from the UK are not even aware of what goes on in Balochistan and hence they seem surprised by the protests!
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Jul 01, 2019 10:12pm
Thankless nation of Afghanistan
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Jul 01, 2019 10:28pm
PCB & Pakistan Govt. should file an official complaint to UK authorities and make sure the culprits in both the airplane display case and stadium scuffle case get arrested and prosecuted,
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Jul 01, 2019 11:43pm
@Bakht, You kidding me? How much more "bigger hearts" should Pakistan continue to show? Why do always WE have to be the bigger hearts and let all go? The comments being made continuously by their Government and their Cricket board are absurd, and should be dealt with EXACTLY how Shoaib Akhtar responded. They need to change their mindset towards the country that helped them in need.
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