Britain Cracks Down on Soccer Hooligans
LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story, again, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan condemns the outbreak of violence that followed the L.A. Lakers' victory in the NBA championships last night. Crowds gathered outside the arena, turning violent, setting police cars alight, smashing the windows at a car dealership, looting a computer store and setting other fires. At least a dozen people were arrested, and it took hundreds of police to restore order. Riordan says the violence endangered law-abiding fans and the families living in the area, and calls it reprehensible. Fan violence is an international concern. Britain is apologizing for the weekend lawlessness of English soccer fans attending a European tournament in Belgium, but many international soccer officials say apologies are not enough. Paul Davies of Independent Television News reports, the British government has announced new measures to control rowdy fans in the future.</s>PAUL DAVIES, ITN REPORTER (voice-over): England supporters in Belgium have been facing up to the possible consequences of the weekend violence. The government has promised action to make life more difficult for the hooligans. First though, the prime minister has had to apologize to his Belgian opposite number for the behavior of those involved.</s>TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I will certainly deeply regret what has happened, because I think that's important. But now we have to make sure that we are doing everything possible for the future matches. We're sending more police over, from the U.K. to Belgium.</s>DAVIES: The deployment of more English police was part of an anti-hooligan package announced by the home secretary. Jack Straw outlined four principle new measures to combat the problem. In the future there will be life bans, from club and international matches in England, for those convicted or even strongly suspected of hooliganism. Port security will be intensified to prevent deported fans returning to Holland or Belgium. British police will offer even more assistance to their Dutch and Belgian counterparts. And in the long-term, courts will be urged to impose international banning orders to stop offenders traveling. Even this was not enough to appease the opposition.</s>ANNIE WIDDECOMB, BRITISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER: UEFA has criticized government in action. The Football Association has criticized government in action. The National Federation of Football Supporters' Pubs has criticized government in action. Will the government now admit that it has, indeed, been inactive.</s>DAVIES: The fans responsible for this and similar scenes in Charleroi and Brussels, were branded losers by Kevin Keegan.</s>KEVIN KEEGAN, ENGLAND COACH: I think that ones that were letting us down are losers, and, you know, they've got to see the light. Because we've got a fantastic opportunity to go forward as a nation.</s>DAVIES (on camera): Appeals for good behavior from Kevin Keegan and others have been ignored in recent days. The Home Office is now hoping the threat of a life-ban from not only following England, but also their own clubside, will make even determined hooligans think again. Paul Davies, ITN, at the Home Office.