Football in dock after fans shot during mob violence

Published on Saturday 25 November 2006 00:09

FRENCH politicians urged the football authorities to clean up their sport yesterday after a black policeman killed one man and injured another while under attack from fans shouting racist comments.

Witnesses said the officer opened fire on a mob of fans of French first division side Paris St Germain who were chasing a Jewish supporter of the Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv late on Thursday.

"It seems like quite serious racist insults were used," a Paris prosecutor said.

According to police, the Hapoel supporter was being pursued by about 100 PSG fans when Antoine Granomort, a plain-clothes officer, intervened. At first, he let off a tear gas canister to try to disperse the mob, but then he came under attack and was kicked to the ground.

Witnesses said he shouted "police, police" before opening fire, killing Julien Quemener, 25, and injuring Mounir Bouchaer, 26.

Jacques Chirac, the French president, condemned the thugs. "Such violence is shocking. Racist remarks of whatever nature are shameful and outrageous and must be condemned," he said.