FOOTBALL: Our fans are Neanderthals... we'd prefer the Tartan Army; Butcher's so ashamed by rampaging English louts.
TERRY BUTCHER was the pumped-up England player Scots loved to hate when he lined up for the Auld Enemy.He always gave 100 per cent with three lions on his shirt but Scotland is now his adopted home after he fell in love with the country during his career with Rangers.
Butcher remains as patriotic an England fan as you can get but he is becoming pig-sick of following a team which carries the unwanted baggage of a support which is addicted to causing trouble wherever they travel.
Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Germany, even little Luxembourg - you name it and England fans have been there and done it over.
Butcher wishes the louts would simply go away and he is praying they behave themselves tonight.
England take on Romania in their final Group A game in Charleroi needing a point to reach the last eight but they have the threat of expulsion from Euro 2000 hanging over their heads.
A repeat of the ugly scenes which have blackened the tournament so far will see UEFA kick Kevin Keegan's side back across the English Channel.
Even if they survive to Saturday the stage will be set for a potentially-explosive meeting with Italy in the site of the Heysel Stadium.
In 1985, 39 Italians were killed when a wall collapsed as they fled from fighting during the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus.
The ground, which has been rebuilt, is now called the King Badouin Stadium.
Butcher, who is in Belgium working with Radio Five, has been deeply saddened by the events which have rocked the tournament and last night he launched a blistering attack on the England fans.
He said: "Apart from the hooliganism, the championship has gone very well. I always love England to do well and I've watched every game in the last four years.
"But the situation has got so bad with all the trouble in the last 15 or so years that sometimes I don't really want to go."
Around 800 England fans have been arrested and most of these were not previously known to the police as troublemakers.
Either their data system has failed or more people are getting involved in hooliganism.
Butcher added: "What we are talking about is a Neanderthal element. People like that have not come to Belgium to support England.
"They have come here to create violence, to fight, it's as simple as that.
"They don't care about the football team and they are a disgrace to their country.
"They are morons, thugs and only animals would act in the way have done, not just in Brussels but elsewhere in Europe.
"It's just a shame the Tartan Army is not over here. The Scots fans follow their team because they love their country and football.
"Football does not come into it for these English hooligans, it's the violence they are in to."
Butcher believes there will be no need for water cannons or tear gas when England meet Romania.
He said: "I think this one will be OK. "There has never been any history of violence between the two countries.
"Essentially, Euro 2000 has been a festival of football. The No.1 flashpoint has involved the English and Turkish supporters who are based in Brussels.
"Obviously there's a problem because of the two Leeds fans who were killed before the Galatasaray game.
"The attitude of the Belgium authorities has been one of zero tolerance and they are doing what they can.
"One thing they could do is restrict the number of England fans travelling.
"The ultimate sanction would be to ban them completely which would be terrible for all the decent England fans.
"It was great to see the smiling faces after the victory over Germany at the weekend but there was still trouble.
"Can you imagine what it's like being an ordinary person going for a drink or something to eat in one of the local cafes when suddenly a bunch of thugs come screaming through the door?
"It might not scar you for life but there's no way anyone should feel terrorised in their own country."
UEFA officials, who have spelled out that England's European quest will be over should there be any further outbreaks of trouble, will be scanning events in Charleroi.
An England result would spell curtains for defending champions Germany, who must beat Portugal and hope for a miracle.
It would seem their best chance of progression would depend on England fans behaving badly but coach Erich Ribbeck doesn't want to reach the last eight through the back door.
He said: "I belong to the generation that still thinks sportsmanlike. Therefore I don't waste any thoughts on that."
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| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Author: | Docherty, John |
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Jun 20, 2000 |
| Words: | 781 |
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