I think the question is whether the stewards/SFC were at fault or not. The fall probably contributed to the timing of her death...if she hadn't fallen she might have lived for another year or two. Who knows? The fact is that at 93 you are standing on the edge and any event can push you over the threshold. All SFC have to answer is did they do everything that they should have. Compensation will be low anyway based on her age. In this country, compensation is solely based on monetary loss...in this case, zilch. However, we may be fined if stewarding and training is inadequate.
Yes, I'm not saying they were at fault, but the question needs to be answered. I find it absurd that people are dismissing this based on club allegiance. This time it's an elderly Stoke fan, next time it could be a young Saints fan, and it's to everyone's benefit that the stewards are as proactive and properly trained as possible.
Ok, then the family are looking for someone to blame. That's certainly how the article I posted yesterday read.
It is very common for people to look for someone to blame...sometimes the doctors and other medical staff and sometimes themselves. Simple fact is that how quickly do stewards clear the aisles? Surely people go up and down them all the time. People would soon react to heavy handed stewarding. Was the lady alone? Where was she? i don't think any ground can be 100% safe because there are steps and moving people involved.
Do we not have CCTV covering every single inch of the stadium to help the family get the answers they want one way or the other?
Only at Leeds have I seen effective stewarding and policing in regards to keeping people sat in their seats and that was mainly down to the police presence. At most grounds fans are allowed to stand if that's the will of the majority and at the Northam you often feel sorry for stewards being paid spare change to tell people to sit down only to be ignored or mocked. What time did crouch score? If it was close to half time then the aisles will be busy with people shuffling for refreshment. Often fans make that slow walk with one eye on the game and rush back forward to celebrate a goal.
Thanks DTLW, I try to blank out the goals against. Like Fran says how can you expect everyone to be seated one minute after kick off. Unless you make it like Cricket and Tennis where you can't return to your seat during play this is something that would be impossible for the stewards to of prevented. A horrible tragedy and pleased that after such an incident there has been a review carried out but think the family should move on.
