It’s not cricket: sport stunned as Pakistan and Afghanistan fans clash at World Cup game
BRAWLING fans traded punches and kicks in violent clashes at the cricket World Cup yesterday.
Afghanistan and Pakistan fans were seen wielding steel barriers and flagsticks as weapons in a brutal melee at Headingley in Leeds.
As fans brawled inside the ground, dozens of screaming thugs outside tried to storm through an entrance gate that was being shut by overwhelmed security staff.
Police were called and dispersed the crowd without making any arrests. The ugly scenes were reminiscent of the darkest days of football hooliganism. Violence is almost unheard of at cricket matches and opposing fans are not segregated.
Last night, it was claimed tensions boiled over after a light aircraft
‘Fans were wielding flagsticks as weapons’
flew over Headingley carrying a banner that read: ‘Help end disappearances in Pakistan’ and ‘Justice for Balochistan’. Balochistan is a region split between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Baloch nationalists have long battled with Pakistan and Iran for independence.
Human rights groups say thousands of Baloch men have gone missing at the hands of the Pakistani authorities since 2001. The trouble flared after the aircraft flew over around midday, an hour into yesterday’s match. Sets of opposing fans in the Carnegie Pavilion Stand traded verbal insults before fists started to fly. Security personnel evicted some of the fans from the ground. A short while later supporters started fighting in the walkway at the back of the stadium.
One man was filmed being repeatedly punched by a gang of men dressed in the black, red and green colours of the Afghanistan flag.
Journalists trying to film the fight were reportedly assaulted, and one topless hooligan was seen lashing out after being tackled by two members of security personnel.
The International Cricket Council condemned the trouble in a statement: ‘We do not condone this type of behaviour, and will take appropriate action against any anti-social behaviour that spoils the enjoyment for the majority of fans.’