More Fighting After England’s Loss : Thatcher Calls It ‘a Disgrace’ as Soccer Fans Keep Rioting

Police in Duesseldorf detained about 200 people Wednesday night after another round of violence by soccer fans--mainly British--whose behavior has appalled West Germany, the host country for the European Soccer Championships.

British fans have been so destructive that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has called a special cabinet meeting for today on the question of whether Britain should continue to participate in international soccer competition.

Thatcher described the incidents in West Germany as “a disgrace to civilized society . . . (that) made us thoroughly ashamed.”

England’s national team lost, 3-1, to the Netherlands Wednesday and was effectively eliminated from contention for the championship. Thousands of unhappy English left Duesseldorf Stadium in a sullen frame of mind, and about 2,300 police officers stood by to move against any new disorder.

Associated Press reported sporadic fighting in the streets but police were able to hold most of the estimated 30,000 Dutch and 7,000 British fans in check. The 200 detained were expected to be released late Wednesday night.

For the last five days, mobs of soccer fans have caused havoc in the streets of Stuttgart, Cologne and Duesseldorf, both before and after soccer matches.

“The new invasion,” a newspaper in Essen, West Germany headlined its story on the rioting.

A relatively small number of West Germans, Dutch and Irish have been involved, but the worst trail of destruction has been left by the British, who have hurled bottles and insults, smashed windows, waged street battles and threatened citizens.

The most-serious trouble occurred Saturday in Stuttgart, when British fans ran amok after the English team had lost its first game to Ireland, 1-0. Mobs of Britons roamed through the streets, tearing up bars.

There was more trouble Tuesday in Duesseldorf, site of Wednesday’s game between England and the Netherlands. About 90 Britons were arrested by the police in Duesseldorf before the match.

Some drunken fans fought with West Germans near the main railroad station, then rampaged through the city, heaving bottles and beer cans and threatening everyone they encountered.

The London Times said in an editorial that the English team should be withdrawn from competition and that British soccer’s ruling body, the Football Assn., should order the team home if the government does not.

England’s club teams have been banned from European competition since 1985, when 39 persons were killed in riots at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, scene of the European Club Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus of Turin, Italy.

The police attributed the deaths in Brussels to provocation by screaming, pushing British fans.

England’s national team was not covered by the ban, however, and thousands of British fans cross the English Channel to watch England play international matches in Europe.

“Our position is that we say there is no reason to pull out,” English Football Assn. spokesman Glen Kirton told the Associated Press shortly before Wednesday’s match.

“In fact, we say that (pulling out) would be a positive encouragement toward further trouble. It would be surrendering to the bands.

“The people who cause the trouble are just a very small minority among the genuine fans who follow England.”

Next to the World Cup, played every four years, the European Championships is the most closely followed soccer event on the continent.

This year, the finalists are Denmark, England, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, the Soviet Union, Spain, and West Germany. The eight teams are divided into two groups, and two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals.

Though the loss Wednesday eliminated England from advancing to the semifinals, it will play a final game against the Soviet Union in Frankfurt Saturday unless it is summoned home.

The Soviet Union and Ireland played to a 1-1 tie Wednesday, and share the lead in their group.

The Soviets, who beat the Netherlands, 1-0, in the first round, need a draw against England to assure qualifying.

Ireland plays Holland Saturday in Gelsenkirchen.