Carnival atmosphere mars opening weekend of Euro 2008

SWITZERLAND AND Austria are assessing the damage this morning after wild scenes of good-natured hedonism swept through city centres during the opening games of Euro 2008. Over 400 balloons were released into the Klagenfurt sky, while terrified onlookers in Vienna witnessed an out-of-control conga line of Croatia fans, which rose to 23 revellers at its peak.

A number of arrests were made outside the grounds, with face paints, klaxons, and rubber Luiz Felipe Scolari masks among the items confiscated from fans. One shaken fan at the Turkey v Portugal game said: “I saw torn up newspaper thrown into the air, giant foam hands, and even an overweight man wearing a Viking hat with fake blonde hair plaits – terrible, terrible scenes. It was the first time I’ve taken my seven-year-old to football; he won’t come again.”

Tournament official Sébastien Twüng said that there was little organisers could do to eliminate the trouble: “We have done all we can to cut down on ‘the carnival problem’, including appointing a deliberately underwhelming tournament mascot and under-preparing the host nations for international level football, but there’s always a minority who ruin it for normal fans.

“Supporters came to enjoy Poland’s efficient offside trap in peace, how can they when it’s against a constant backdrop of playful singing and so-called ‘Mexican’ waves?”

Police eventually quelled many of the offenders with tear gas and a mass telling-off, but by then Vienna had suffered up to €100 of damage. To prevent further unchecked celebrations organisers have ordered matches to begin with chilled-out versions of the national anthems played by pop music’s Zero 7.

It isn’t the first time an international tournament has been ruined by such scenes. England’s spectacular run to the quarter-finals in Mexico ‘86 was overshadowed by pictures of English “fans” partying in comically oversized sombreros and novelty moustaches. While Denmark’s Euro ‘92 victory will be always be remembered less for John Jensen’s command of the midfield and more for the horrific scenes of Danes goading Germans after the game with handshakes and hugs.

Published August 16, 2008

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