TBF, what happened after the Bournemouth game shows our fans aren't all 'Saints'. And that probably meant Bournemouth had to sell less tickets too.
Bring this safe standing area in - simples People are always going to want to stand so let them in their own areas Stewards perhaps could have done more in the Man Utd case as they have a reputation for "doing what they like" as their song goes and I have seen them many a time stand in places their not suppose to so bpl234 is partly right Man Utd fans always seem to have a great time at away matches and create and good atmosphere, but more should have been done in this case to help the disabled
What amazes me that Man Utd were prepared to accept that their fans caused the problem, but not accept responsibilty for their actions (of course) but we willing to provide to compilmentary tickets to the Spurs and her sister IF we paid the travel costs. Ere - let me work this out - tickets are (say) £75 each at the Old Trafford - lets be generous and say £100 each. Now trains fares are about £200 each, add taxi fares (say) £20 at each end.... so Man Utd give away two hospitality tickets that are already written off at the start of the season and we get a bill of circa £440... ... the season after they sold Ronaldo for millions!! I see the spirit of how Man Utd treated the survivors of the Busby Babes lives on!
It is a very sad story and typical of what goes on. CBK is right that we can't criticise united fans for not sitting as we often don't away from home. I remember being at Norwich 2 or 3 years ago midweek and was a little embarressed by the drunken few who refused to sit and were eventually thrown out after a scuffle with fans. I felt for the Norwich stewards. However, you can deal with certain situations yourself. I took my 10 year old to Rochdale away on a Tuesday night (it was school hols before you report me), and for the first half we were right in the middle of a few rum fans, with some beyond "choice" language and agrressive behaviour to our players. I didn't make a fuss, whispered in my boy's ear to ignore the words and then at half time when they all disappeared wondered to the fron to ask the steward at Rochdale if there were any obvious empty seats. He pointed to a front row and said there were a couple there. We waited for 2nd half to start and saw that the was right and sat there to "enjoy" the 2nd half. Now I knew taking my boy away to a midweek ground would mean a few lads drinking on a coach for 4 hours, and we were unfortunately right in them, with no obvious route out to sit elsewhere before halftime. We made no fuss, just found somewhere else. It can be done. I feel for the ladis in question, but why did she not ask for somewhere else to sit herself?
My point was that she said she wasn't, but why didn't she ask herself. The stewards would then have said "of course" and she may then have enjoyed he text of her day.
The sad fact though is the thoughtlessness of the morons that stood in front of them. Starting a riot with 4000 people because one couple could not see is not in my opinion on. However sympathetic I am with the disabled person and her sister. I find it very strange that she was not offered an alternative place according to her. Although we dispute that and according to a log that was made at the time the couple actually refused to move. I cannot understand why the thing had to go to a tribunal as we had offered all the things she eventually got prior, with out the need for tribunal.
Oh come on, read it a bit closer. She was looking for something larger. As a lawyer it stands out. The phrase 'suffered stress and discomfort' is pure lawyer speak for 'give me money'. Not saying she didn't have a bad day, but she was trying to milk it for all she could get.
"A steward had offered her and her sister seats among the wheelchairs...." I may be reading this incorrectly but the complainant's sister was unwell rather than disabled and after complaining they were offered seats in the disabled section. "Excuse me steward. We can't see!" "Yeah it's a bit off with all these mancs behaving like eejits isn't it? Why don't you go and sit down there?" "No thanks. I'll just allow my day to be ruined and then complain to the both clubs, the FA and the IFO"
There is no doubt that she was after more...........and you are right about the "give me money" aspect of the claim. It is though sad that something like this has to happen in a day and age when we have so much technology and rules and regulations that we cannot over come something as simple as this with out resorting to a riot. We must have clear pictures of the incidents and CCTV showing the culprits why are we not pursuing them? Because it would be too costly no doubt........Oh Brother it all comes down to money!
People will always want to stand at a game- and should have the freedom to do so. Seats were a Thatcherite plot to rid football of it's hooligan element -as they saw it, as firstly, you can charge a lot more and secondly, it's easier to control. Something's wrong when my son tells me how nice and impressive a stadium looks- WHEN IT'S EMPTY !!! These places come alive (well some do) when there are people in them. A packed terrace was a sight to see.
Man Utd fans enhanced the atmosphere and didn't seem to cause too much trouble ......... the lady should have moved seats
Let's take stock. Southampton FC did not hire enough Stewards and Police for the game. They new there was going to be trouble esp with the late kick off and the attitude of the "Do what we want" crowd. Hopefully they will learn and move on. I tought they should have been more sicncer in their appology for the poor lady, but then again they have probably been advised by Lawyers of exactly what to say. I really can't understand the Saints fans that have started singing "We do what we want".
It seems to me that there should be a code of conduct for fans which would see clubs fined if this is breached. Who paid for the damaged seats? I would like to think Man U were sent the bill and they paid it but I would think that is highly unlikely. Let's see clubs fined for such mindless behaviour. I'm sure this is not an isolated incident and probably happens every week at the majority of games.
I agree Sussex. If they come with the "We do what we want" Attitiude then at least we can say "as long as you pay".
I think I heard somewhere that Man U fans caused £80,000 worth of damage to the Concourse at Wigan last season.
Showed my my mate this who's a united fan and was in the united end at the game. tried getting him to sign up to forums and explain what happened but he just called me gay ahah anyway he said that the report was over exaggerated and there wasnt a loads of fans at the bottom until the first goal, and that the report made the united fans seem like ruthless thugs even though when a man fell a flight of stairs and was badly hurt many fans stopped their celebrations and went to the mans aid, and it was the stewards who didnt seem to care He also said that the stewards did basically nothing and at halftime the food stalls got ripped up and there was flairs set off. He said the reason why united were quite rowdy was because they had no stewards or police telling them off. So alot of the fans grew in confidence.
