Swansea director’s secret hooligan past

I never knew this

Swansea director’s secret hooligan past

A FOOTBALL director at Swansea City FC has a violent hooligan past and spent time in jail for attacking rival fans, The Sun can reveal.

John Van Zweden, who sits on the board of the Premiership club, was part of a
gang of Den Haag fans convicted of throwing explosives into a rival
supporters’ stand.

The wallpaper salesman from Holland has also boasted of giving a policeman “a hiding” and “hating the English”.

In a new biography, sold only in the Netherlands, Van Zweden tells how he was banged up after two “bombs” were thrown into a stand of Ajax supporters.

Despite claiming he was innocent, Van Zweden was arrested following the incident on January 9, 1983.

Den Haag and fans

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In the book – titled Behangkoning in de Premier League (Wallpaper King in the
Premier League), which has not been authorised by Swansea City – he
revealed: “I remember the days after I was arrested after the bomb incident
in ‘83.

“I was stuck in jail at the police office and I got fed up with all the s*** because I was innocent.”

But he was later brought to justice. He said: “During the court case in
Amsterdam the whole court room was chock-a-block with Ajax Amsterdam
supporters.

“It was a massive headache for the police who had to escort us safely back out of Amsterdam after the hearing.

“Eventually, we all got suspended jail sentences or community service so I was pretty chuffed not to have to go to jail to be honest.”

John Van Zweden

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As a result Van Zweden, who has recently been pictured shaking hands with Man
Utd legend Bobby Charlton, became the first Dutch football fan to be given a
stadium ban for two years.

He said: “I was a fanatical supporter, but in retrospect I have not done everything my mates did.

“I never wrecked train carriages or carried clubs or firearms.

“I for instance would not contemplate using a bicycle chain, but preferred to use my fists. I found that much fairer.

“I coordinated gatherings, so that we always arrived in groups and not alone. I guess that’s why they considered me one of the ringleaders.”

Outspoken Van Zweden has been a long-term fan of Swansea FC after joining fellow hooligans there to cause trouble.

AJAX FANS

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Talking ahead of a friendly clash between Holland and England in 1988, he told an English newspaper: “We’ve got hundreds of real hardcases coming.

“There’ll be no little boys with us. Up to 40 of us travelling in advance. We’re linking up with my mates in Swansea.

“They hate the English as much as we do. We would not be going over if it wasn’t for the fighting. I’m not bothered about the game at all.

“I’ve been with Swansea fans regularly at Cardiff games because I know there will be trouble.

“Blokes from Cardiff have been given a kicking by us, whether or not they’re football fans.

“And I went to Birmingham when we gave a policeman a good hiding.”

Van Zweden, who hails from The Hague, was part of the take-over that saw Tony Petty ousted as chairman of Swansea City FC in 2002.

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I heard this before. He's another director who's now hated alongside sir Huw.

Bet he is just as much hated as our former hooligan that is now our stadium manager

Its not a secret, he's written it in a book

It's not a secret, but as with most of these 'bragging' types, he's full of crap. He has spoken of a friendly at Cardiff where him and his mates gave a load of Cardiff a 'hiding'. I was involved in the trouble at that game, Swansea brought about 150,of the ones that came on the train the majority ran straight to the OB once they realized we'd sussed them out. One of them faked a heart attack, others knocked on doors for help, the rest of what was left ran away.
How I tremble every time the Dutch Den Haag Element are mentioned--trully scary men!!!