TOWSON, Maryland, Thursday, August 10, 2017 - The official opening match of Burnley's second straight Premier League season is but two days hence, but much of the news out of Lancashire this week is about last Saturday's tense match with the German Side Hannover 96. When Burnley scored in the waning moments of the first half of Saturday's final preseason friendly at Turf Moor, the players on both sides immediately gestured to the German fans who had accompanied their side to England for the match. The reason was the brawl then in progress. As many as 200 German fans, some obviously dressed to brawl, what with mouth guards, attire without shirts and other 'street fightin' garb, the Germans were looking for a tussle. They went out and got it.
Police were having little success in getting it under control and the club officials in charge wasted little time in deciding to abandon the match rather than risking heightened violence.
It was a wise decision.
Reports from the match indicate that one police officer and two stewards (ushers) were injured in the melee. Although both sides have blame to absorb, the German "ultra fans," as the Daily Mail called them, came looking for trouble. When Ben Mee scored the only goal of the first half, the trouble blasted out of control.
According to the Daily Mail, the German "visitors" started the brawl and tried hard to keep it going when a strong presence by Lancashire police stepped in. "Pictures and video showed bare-chested Hannover fans wearing bandannas and mouthguards involved as trouble flared in the Cricket Field Stand at the Lancashire side's home.
That section of the ground housed a number of Burnley supporters and around 390 fans who had travelled from Germany.
Chief superintendent Chris Bithell, of Lancashire Police, said: 'The decision was made following violent behaviour by a group of travelling Hannover fans, who attempted to attack fans in the home stands, as well as police officers and stewards.'
One fan was photographed wearing a black mouth guard, which police interpreted as firm indication of "pre-meditation."
Although the melee was under control by the close of halftime, and some thought was given to playing the second half, the powers that be decided otherwise. Sean Dyche, the Burnley manager, agreed with the decision.
The injured police officer sustained a head injury. He was treated, then released from a Lancashire Hospital. A Steward, however, sustained a separated shoulder and required more extensive hospital treatment.
Bithell, of the Lancashire Police, also said: "A group of travelling Hannover fans, attempted to attack fans in the home stands, as well as police officers and stewards.
According to the BBC, Bithell added: "Children and families were in attendance at what was a pre-season friendly match, which should have passed peacefully and without incident - but which ended up being abandoned due to the behaviour of some of the travelling Hannover fans."
Bithell also appealed for fans with mobile phone footage of the disturbances to contact police.
Seats were ripped up and thrown after visiting supporters surged towards the home fans in the Cricket Field Stand about five minutes before the end of the first half, the BBC reported.
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