Oasis fan 'stable' after gig attack

Oasis' tour has been dogged by controversy

A teenage Oasis fan is seriously ill in hospital after being attacked by a group of youths before the band's concert in Edinburgh at the weekend.

Police said the 17-year-old, from Glasgow, was set upon by a group of up to 15 men and women chanting English football songs.

The attack happened in the grounds of Donaldson's College for the Deaf, a few hours before Oasis went on stage at nearby Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday evening.

The victim, who suffered serious head injuries in the attack, was discharged from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after treatment, but was later taken to Glasgow's Southern Hospital, where he underwent surgery on Monday.

Noel has rejoined the band, but things are still not running smoothly

His condition is currently said to be serious but stable.

Police said the gang went on the rampage through the college, indiscriminately lashing out at people gathered on the front lawn.

Controversy

The incident is the latest controversy to dog Oasis' troubled European tour.

Songwriter and guitarist Noel Gallagher walked out in the middle of their French dates in May after a bust-up with brother Liam and announced he would never play live outside the UK again.

The band continued without him, but their problems continued to mount.

At the beginning of July they pulled out of the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, in which nine people lost their lives in a crowd crush, and their decision was slammed by organisers for further endangering public safety.

Last week they walked off stage in Switzerland after being hit by missiles from the crowd. Promoters laid the blame at Liam's door, saying he was "arrogant and provocative".

Feelings are also running high about the weekend trouble.

An Edinburgh police spokesman said: "There is a serious issue on the management of this type of event and there will be discussions with the city council about allowing this kind of band to come here."

No-one from Oasis or their management was available for comment on the incident.