Soccer: Riot police infuriate NZ fans

nzherald.co.nz
Stuart Dye
4:00 AM Saturday Jun 26, 2010

All Whites fans have accused South Africa police of being heavy-handed after they clashed following New Zealand's exit from the World Cup.

About 50 riot police with batons and shields began forcing a group of fans out of the stadium as they tried to stay behind to celebrate the All Whites' performance.

Heather Skinner, a tour leader with fan group White Noise, said the supporters were shocked by the "excessive" tactics of the police.

"They were pushing and shoving fans as they were singing and dancing," she said.

"We had stayed behind at every other stadium and showed our support, so a few of the guys were shocked that we were treated so differently here."

After the game in Polokwane, about 300km northwest of Johannesburg, players stayed on the field long after the final whistle to pay tribute to the travelling supporters.

The trouble began when All White Tommy Smith climbed a barrier to get to his mother, who was in the crowd.

"They would not let me get to my parents," said 20-year-old Smith. "I got through in the end.

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Had to fight a few off. It got a bit physical."

The altercation with police happened right in front of some All Whites fans and one of them said that had probably put the police on edge.

"But it was still a pretty heavy-handed way of dealing with it. We were just there to celebrate."

The players had gathered there to perform a haka to thank fans. However, defender Winston Reid said an exhausting campaign coupled with the disappointment of being knocked out stopped the players.

"We wanted to give something to the crowd but I looked at Rory [Fallon, who was in tears] and the other guys and they were pretty down."

A policeman on the pitch said officers had asked the fans to leave but they refused.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10654595

World Cup 2010: New Zealand fans clash with riot police after third draw

guardian.co.uk
Agencies/Steve Judge
Friday 25 June 2010

New Zealand fans and players clashed with police and security staff after the All Whites' remarkable World Cup run ended just one point short of a historic qualification for the knockout stages.

Fans on one side of the ground were forcibly removed by riot police, while players on the opposite side of the stadium had to wrestle with Fifa officials to get to their family and friends, according to reports in New Zealand last night.

About 20 minutes after the players had returned to the dressing rooms, police asked the New Zealand fans to leave. But about 100 of them refused to move and continued singing. Riot police then moved up the stands, pushing the fans back with their shields and batons and into the stairwells behind the stands.

Despite the clashes the police spokesman Colonel Hangwani Mulaudzi said it was a peaceful confrontation. "A group of New Zealand fans were singing inside the stadium after the match. They were happy that their team had drawn," Mulaudzi said. "Police told them to move on, that the game had finished and they obliged. Everything was friendly."

The goalless draw was enough to ensure Paraguay finished top of Group F. Despite the All Whites' elimination their coach, Ricki Herbert, was proud of his team's performances after remaining unbeaten and finishing ahead of the world champions, Italy.

"I am delighted with what the guys have done. I'll need to pinch myself," he said. "Probably tonight was always going to be based on those one or two chances and, if we got them, then great.

"We will not go through another World Cup unbeaten. It is only our second time at the World Cup so to come here and completely reverse what we did before [they lost all three matches in Spain in 1982] is amazing.

"Can you get any closer [to qualifying]? A lot of people thought we shouldn't have been here, that we had amateurs in the team that weren't good enough but I think that is dead and buried now."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/25/new-zealand-paraguay