Portugese Police want England fans stoned not drunk

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-06-11 06:05am

It's OK to smoke dope, England fans told

Paul Kelso in Lisbon
Friday June 11, 2004
The Guardian

Portuguese police officers will turn a blind eye to England supporters who openly smoke cannabis during Euro 2004, having decided that a stoned crowd is easier to control than a drunk one.
Lisbon police confirmed yesterday that England fans will not be arrested for puffing on joints on the streets of the Portuguese capital, following a recommendation from the Dutch authorities responsible for policing the English during Euro 2000.

Four years ago England's match in Eindhoven, ironically against Portugal, passed off peacefully as many supporters took advantage of the Netherlands' liberal drugs laws. By contrast the game against Germany in the Belgian town of Charleroi was marred by violence, much of it fuelled by alcohol.

Portugal has similarly relaxed legislation to the Dutch and the authorities hope it will help them police the 50,000 supporters expected to arrive in the country in the next few days.

Possession of small amounts of cannabis is not illegal in Portugal but, technically, consumption is. However, having liaised with the Dutch, police will not act except in extreme circumstances.

Isabel Canelas, a spokeswoman for the Portuguese police, said cannabis would be a low priority during the tournament. "Everyone knows that here everyone can smoke. The police are doing another kind of job and their priorities are different.

"We won't be hiding behind doors waiting for someone to smoke a joint. We have to use common sense. If people are smoking but not kicking each other, not beating each other, and not making a problem, why on earth would an officer go and ask 'Is that cannabis?'

"If you are quietly smoking and a police officer is 10 metres away, what's the big risk in your behaviour? I'm not going to tap you on the shoulder and ask 'What are you smoking?' if you are posing no menace to others. Our priority is alcohol.

"Of course, if people cause a problem through using drugs and become a menace to others, police will be expected to take action. It would be totally different when a police officer realises there's someone trying to sell."

Visitors to Lisbon do not have to try too hard to buy the drug. The city does not have "coffee shops" in the Dutch style, but tourists are likely to be offered cannabis by street vendors.

Organisers have not restricted the amount of alcohol on sale during the tournament despite the Football Association's concerns. Beer costs just 66p a glass and will be freely available around stadiums and at big screen locations.

Eindhoven police spokesman Johann Beelan said cannabis was a positive influence on public order at Euro 2000. "Cannabis ... was part of the conditions which meant everyone had a good time," he said.

British police estimated around 3,000 English supporters had arrived in Portugal by last night, but there have been no reports of disorder and no arrests.

Could they make a bigger statement about the relative merits of cannabis and alcohol, will the British Gov follow through and do the logical thing and allow those of us who aren’t football hooligans to use it by legalising cannabis?

Gunshy · Post by **Gunshy** » 2004-06-11 06:16am

Class A. Because I'm not British, Mwhahahaha! Legal everywhere else though.

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-06-11 06:27am

I meant this to be a slightly more general discussion than just about the UK, I only put that bit in the poll because "a leave it as" option would otherwise have meant almost anything depending upon the location of the voter.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-06-11 06:31am

whoa! The Portugese Police think its a good idea for thousands of British soccer hooligans to be fucking stoned off their asses? how is this a good idea?

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-06-11 06:42am

because thousands of stoned fans will take a more relaxed view to the thrashing france will give us on sunday than thousands of drunk fans

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-06-11 06:42am

The UEFA had been selling tickets independly of the FA on the internet. This is bad since hooligans can go around FA's anti-hooligan checks by buying their tickets onliine.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-06-11 07:24am

Col. Crackpot wrote:whoa! The Portugese Police think its a good idea for thousands of British soccer hooligans to be fucking stoned off their asses? how is this a good idea?

Cos when your stoned you barely have the will power to go for a walk without giggling your ass off for no reason.

A drunk hooligan is a lot more dangerous than a stoned one.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-06-11 09:55am

Col. Crackpot wrote:whoa! The Portugese Police think its a good idea for thousands of British soccer hooligans to be fucking stoned off their asses? how is this a good idea?

because that´s how you get fans to bring and even pay for their own crowd controll meassures. a very elegant way actually.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-06-11 10:15am

Zac Naloen wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote:whoa! The Portugese Police think its a good idea for thousands of British soccer hooligans to be fucking stoned off their asses? how is this a good idea?
Cos when your stoned you barely have the will power to go for a walk without giggling your ass off for no reason.

A drunk hooligan is a lot more dangerous than a stoned one.

just as long as it's only pot.

*ponders the the thought of several thousand hooligans raging on laced weed.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-06-11 10:53am

Reminds me of a Bill Hicks skit about how stonners are the most unaggressive people ever.

Stoned England Fan 1 - France jst made us look like a under 14 soccer side

Stoned England Fan 2 - Well we are *giggles* lets get some chrisps and skittles

Problem solved.

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2004-06-11 10:56am

Not necessary really since we will bury France.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-06-11 10:57am

They should just spike the water cannon tanks on those APCs with diazepam and fire away.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-06-11 10:58am

TheDarkling wrote:Not necessary really since we will bury France.

Of course, half the Premiership teams seem to be French...

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2004-06-11 11:01am

Admiral Valdemar wrote:
Of course, half the Premiership teams seem to be French...

Well since the bulk of the French national side is African that doesn't worry me.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-06-11 11:02am

Lord Pounder wrote:Reminds me of a Bill Hicks skit about how stonners are the most unaggressive people ever.

Stoned England Fan 1 - France jst made us look like a under 14 soccer side

Stoned England Fan 2 - Well we are *giggles* lets get some chrisps and skittles

Problem solved.

Reminds me of a party i went to a couple of months ago. By the morning there wasn't any food snack food i.e crisps, bacon, sweets left anywhere in the house

Back on topic, i think this is a really good idea, The Streets have a point with a little diddy called "The Irony of it all"

Although the streets themselves are a joke (if a bit catchy) this song explains why you'll never see a stoned hooligan.

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-06-11 11:06am

TheDarkling wrote:Not necessary really since we will bury France.

Your right there's nothing to worry about they may have an attacking line up of Zidane, Henry, Pires and Trezeguet but we’ve got Ledley King clean sheet guaranteed

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2004-06-11 11:08am

Plekhanov wrote: Your right there's nothing to worry about they may have an attacking line up of Zidane, Henry, Pires and Trezeguet but we’ve got Ledley King clean sheet guaranteed

Just let me live in my own little fantasy world for a few more days, that is all I ask.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-06-11 11:09am

TheDarkling wrote:
Plekhanov wrote: Your right there's nothing to worry about they may have an attacking line up of Zidane, Henry, Pires and Trezeguet but we’ve got Ledley King clean sheet guaranteed
Just let me live in my own little fantasy world for a few more days, that is all I ask.

Then can I laugh at you?

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-06-11 11:11am

Lord Pounder wrote:
TheDarkling wrote:
Plekhanov wrote: Your right there's nothing to worry about they may have an attacking line up of Zidane, Henry, Pires and Trezeguet but we’ve got Ledley King clean sheet guaranteed
Just let me live in my own little fantasy world for a few more days, that is all I ask.
Then can I laugh at you?

No, cos we've got David Beckham saviour of the EMPIRE!!!!!

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-06-11 11:14am

You optimism gladens my heart. Soon you will know better.

Still as a Northern Ireland fan i can't critizise,

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-06-11 11:18am

Lord Pounder wrote:You optimism gladens my heart. Soon you will know better.

Still as a Northern Ireland fan i can't critizise,

NI has a football team?

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-06-11 11:19am

Only at weekends or their real bosses get the hump.

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2004-06-11 11:26am

Admiral Valdemar wrote: NI has a football team?

Yes, they rank a mighty 110th in the world.

And in case I didn't ridicule them enough...

Wales ranks 60th.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2004-06-11 11:29am

TheDarkling wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote: NI has a football team?
Yes, they rank a mighty 110th in the world.

And in case I didn't ridicule them enough...

Wales ranks 60th.

out of interest, where England currently ranked?

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-06-11 11:36am

in any event, it's about time you started calling the sport its proper name: Soccer. Silly Europeans.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Portugese Police want England fans stoned not drunk

Cannabis should be:

Portugese Police want England fans stoned not drunk