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Fans banned after flare disgrace
WIGAN Athletic have banned 17 spectators after flares were set off at the club’s away game against Bolton on Saturday.
The incidents in the visiting end at the Reebok Stadium took some of the gloss off the Latics’ crucial 2-1 victory, and the club have moved quickly, working with Greater Manchester Police, to ensure those responsible do not attend future matches.
The 17 spectators, who are predominantly aged between 15 and 22, have been written to by the club confirming they are no longer welcome at Wigan matches.
The club has an excellent record of good conduct among fans, with only three supporters arrested prior to the Bolton match, and the club said it is actively looking to maintain this.
Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson said: “We were extremely disappointed by the behaviour of a small minority of spectators who tarnished what was a fantastic day for the club.
“We have worked closely with Greater Manchester Police who will be issuing official football banning orders on the majority of those arrested during the game.
“We wish to protect the image of Wigan Athletic as a family club and do not welcome those who seek to make trouble and endanger the safety of our supporters.”
FULL STORY IN THE WIGAN EVENING POST (THURSDAY) ...
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 33 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
jones66
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 05:31 PMyou'll no all about that thascarntspeyk being a shi*ty fan theyve been up and down like a brides nighty for the last 20 years ..another woodwork city fan
Scarecrow
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 08:27 AMWAFC I am surprised at you as I have always considered you as one of the decent and sensible Latic's supporters.
WAFC1
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:35 PMYou could become a stand-up with such original material. You're certainly correct in saying what goes up must come down, a little self-awareness in relation to City and their future wouldn't go amiss.
BillyHailstone
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:34 PMHere's a novel idea for some football fans, on your ticket there is a row and seat number. Why not SIT on the seat corresponding to the number on your ticket, that way you will be able to watch the football and others who have a ticket for the seat which you have decided you are going to stand in front of (or on) can sit in their allocated seat. That way there would be no problems with people no being able to get to their seats.
thascarntspayk
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:01 PMban another 17 and there be hardly any home or away support. bluemoon you saw me standing alone without a dream in my heart without a love of my own....CITY...CITY....CITY !!!! as they say what goes up must come down..
martyngibson
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 02:53 PMYes fair play lads. Get stuck into them Notlobers.
a voice of reason
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 02:47 PMNone of those concerned here come out smelling of roses. As a lifelong Latics fan i have seen at close hand both sides of the coin here. I have seen total idiots who you would happily slap yourself if you were anywhere else but in the same end at a football match, and I have also seen in action, and unfortunately experienced first hand, the kind of knuckle dragging underclass usually employed as Ground Regulation snatch teams at football grounds. I have to say, that in both instances, these are in the minority, and the majority get tarnished by the actions of the few. No excuse for the flares, no excuse for thuggery by "safety" stewards or Police. My advice would be don't get directly involved, but if CCTV is being used to uphold the position of the club and Police, those surrounding events like this should ALL take their phones out of their pockets and start video recording the incident to back up the case of any person (be it supporter, steward or Police officer) who is being wronged. Balanced view then, with all available evidence not hearsay, not just official CCTV footage, but close up video and sound of the event as it happens.
Humpty
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:16 PMI did all that Bongsman, nobody is interested. I basically got myself off with the charge. CPS see football related and charge without question, whether there is evidence or not. Even my copper couldn't believe they were charging me. As most have agreed, the flaremen should be banned but there will be some innocents in the 17, of that there is no doubt and where the club have got it so wrong is sidingagreeing with the GMP who have made life difficult for Latics fans and the club for that matter over a number of years.
Bongsmon
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:00 PMLeviticus - the police can impose a temporary banning order on an individual whilst they are awaiting trial. My mate was given a banning order many moons ago in such circumstances before eventually being found not guilty. I think that it comes as a condition of your bail. they may also have to sign in at a police station at 3pm on match days. As for the incidents themselves taking a flare into a football ground is illegal so if people took them in they knew the risks & can't now whinge if they've been charged & banned. Not all 17 arrests were related to the flair though as I saw 2 get arrested for entirely different (& justified) reasons. If you saw anyone mistreated or wrongfully arrested then complain to Latics, Bolton & the GMP giving as much factual detail as possible (supporters name, coppersstewards number etc..). Not sure it'll get anywhere but if you feel that strongly then you shoudl do somet
Stuart T
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:10 AMNot there but luckily, sounds like Bolton Stewards need to appologise to some of the Wigan fans, this could have lead to people getting injured, thought this was the job of stewards to make sure everyone is safe, to split up children from their parents was a terrible thing to do. Dont condone flares, it was a stupid thing to do and whoever it was should be banned.
concernedlocal
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:27 AMI was there and fairly close to the incidents, unlike many people giving comment on here, firstly the flare should not have been brought into the ground, the hi-jinks and atmosphere generated by these kids was, and has been asked for by the club, the stewards,adults I might add have a responsibility to perform their duties without endangering anyone, well that didn't happen, thuggish behaviour from them only resulted in an escalated situation, the only difference between the stewards and the kids were the orange jackets, if I as a 44 year old was attacked,or spoken to by the stewards as were the kids then I would be in the right to defend myself, this situation could have been stopped if correctly dealt with, the examples of thuggish steward behaviour witnessed by me prove otherwise.
Scarecrow
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:14 AMNo matter what club you support, there is no place for the type of people who caused the trouble and what surprises me is that there has been no mentioned of the thug who who knocked a steward to the ground and then tried to fight other stewards while being ejected . It also surprises me that the club has only banned seventeen, when there was well in excess of that number causing trouble It is time that some of you accepted that what took place at the Reebok is a reason why there has to be a large police and steward presence at football matches these days.
frankthedog
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 01:06 AM"Hail the police and stewards " they used to say that in germany mate,a few years back,we all know how that finished
B. Fletcher
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:01 PMBanning orders are issued by the courts following a conviction of a football related offence or after a complaint by the CPS or a local police force. It it must be proved that the accused person has caused or contributed to football related violence or disorder. However, where the burden of proof cannot be met, it may not stop the club from banning them from the ground and rescinding season tickets if they believe they have reason. As always with things like this, people get caught up in it and they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time
WAFC1
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 09:30 PMLast time I looked it didn't take 17 people to carry a flare. Many were thrown out before the flare, stewards directed fans to areas which were already full before literally throwing them out for failing to sit down! Stewards attempted to split up one family with children who were looking for their seats and seemed incapable of understanding the parents didn't want their children sitting alone. The way fans were treated was uncalled for, the person(s) with the flares should be dealt with, those unjustly thrown out should be given an apology. I will also take it as a given Latics, GMP and the police will insist opposition fans at the DW sit down and behave, as in recent years it seems the H&S regs regarding such issues were ignored because it was too much hassle.
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