Cardiff Fans View Point

[Focher]

I heard a relatively amusing tale about Cardiff fans from a senior police officer at the Met yesterday as it happens. He is quite an old school copper, and had an interesting attitude towards policing football fans.

Apparently a few years ago, Cardiff caught the Met off guard when they decided to travel en masse to a game against QPR completely unexpectedly. They brought about 6000 fans down, and the Met only had about 90 officers on duty. In the words of this officer, the police “took a bit of a hiding”. In his eyes, this seemed to be almost fair game – they bought the numbers down, the Met weren’t ready for it and subsequently took a beating.

However, as he put it, “no one does that to The Met and gets away with it”. So, apparently, next time Cardiff were due to play in London, the Met were fully prepared, with serious numbers, and by all accounts taught Cardiff an absolute lesson.

That day a coach with their 'top boys' was raided by the police outside QPRs ground, and items including chain saws, meat cleavers, and hammers were found.

[Big Foot]

The homophobic abuse aimed at Duberry, as mentioned on another thread, were the chants of "rent boy". There is no excuse for that kind of abuse aimed at anyone. The "grass" chants were just pathetic.

If the police spent more time sorting out this sort of thing at football matches and in general, rather than arresting "big names" such as Gerrard and arresting people for spurious "crimes" for which people are never charged, we'd all be much better off.

So Gerrard physically assaulting someone isn't as bad as 3,000 people chanting?

As for "arresting people for crimes which are never charged" - Gerrard's been charged this morning FYI

Bring back Maggie Thatcher I say, she'd sort this country out....

[1960]

Bring back Maggie Thatcher I say, she'd sort this country out....

I know this was said tongue-in-cheek, but her me me me and fukc everybody else philosophy is the cause of our broken society quoted by her descendant Cameron.

Keep AE off the team board.

[Sun Tzu]

I would love to know how many banning orders/court appearances have been dished out to visiting supporters causing trouble at the Mad Stad but for some reason RFC never seem prepared to give out that sort of information.

RFC don't issue banning orders to away fans.
They provide relevant info to the home club and it is up to them to take action.

Stats for banning orders issued against fans from clubs are widely available but I've never seen info from ANY club that states action taken against visiting fans at their ground.

Visiting fans are regularly ejected from the Mad Stad though. A number were taken away during the Cardiff game - not sure how anyone could have missed this as they were escorted away pitch side....

[SCIAG]

Didn't Cardiff get forced to play a game with no fans (against Millwal) a few years ago? Can we ban the whole lot from our next fixture at the Mad Stad?

[fozziebear]

If we get a draw i the FA Cup on Sat, then i bet the replay back here will probable be swarmed will the police .
And being a midweek match will probable see less cardiff fans at the match.

[southstand67]

Didn't Cardiff get forced to play a game with no fans (against Millwal) a few years ago? Can we ban the whole lot from our next fixture at the Mad Stad?

It sounds like Margeret Thatcher should get the banning order from our ground. Stirring up the Cardiff supporters indeed. Or have I got my wires crossed?

[murty is god]

Please do not mention Margaret Thathcher again - It disturbed my day

[Big Foot]

Bring back Maggie Thatcher I say, she'd sort this country out....

I know this was said tongue-in-cheek, but her me me me and fukc everybody else philosophy is the cause of our broken society quoted by her descendant Cameron.

Keep AE off the team board.

Without Thatcherism, this country would still be stuck in the past and would be in a worse off condition. FACT.

She shut the mines and closed a lot of the unions for the greater good, the unions were getting too much power and taking the p1ss and the mines were running a loss

Her nationalising the banks was key to the economic growth that Blair etc try to lay credit to from the mid -90's

[mini _dariusz]

The homophobic abuse aimed at Duberry, as mentioned on another thread, were the chants of "rent boy". There is no excuse for that kind of abuse aimed at anyone. The "grass" chants were just pathetic.

If the police spent more time sorting out this sort of thing at football matches and in general, rather than arresting "big names" such as Gerrard and arresting people for spurious "crimes" for which people are never charged, we'd all be much better off.

Listen to her, and she calls people gay and gayers on here and hurls abuse at football matches.

[mini _dariusz]

I totally agree Mr A. I am actually considering asking the TVP for their reasons as to why the guy who ran on the pitch during the game was not immediately arrested. As was seen at Saints the other day, RFC fans appear to be the only ones who are told to sit at home AND away! I know it's a law that everyone has to sit, but time and again the away fans at the Mad Stad stand up for the whole game and no one appears to ask them to sit down. Yet when we go away, even standing for a corner or when one of our players is homing in on goal appeared to make the stewards start yelling at us.

They stand up because they've got a bit of backbone to do it en masse, instead of shitting themselves for fear of upsetting someone when they're told otherwise.

[Royal Lady]

I used Gerrard as an example of a "big name" the police like to get involved with. I'm very surprised that he's been charged, but even then, he can still get let off if the CPS say there isn't enough evidence. I know FOR A FACT a couple of people who have been arrested for "crimes" which are nothing of the sort, but they tick a box for police figures. TVP could have ticked a few boxes and more if they'd had the balls to arrest those who went on the pitch at the time of the incident.

[Sarah Star]

I used Gerrard as an example of a "big name" the police like to get involved with. I'm very surprised that he's been charged, but even then, he can still get let off if the CPS say there isn't enough evidence. I know FOR A FACT a couple of people who have been arrested for "crimes" which are nothing of the sort, but they tick a box for police figures. TVP could have ticked a few boxes and more if they'd had the balls to arrest those who went on the pitch at the time of the incident.

I sort of agree with you in that they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it, but wouldn't arresting them then and there have sparked off even more trouble? Videoing/photoing the evidence and arresting them later might be a better option.

[mini _dariusz]

The homophobic abuse aimed at Duberry, as mentioned on another thread, were the chants of "rent boy". There is no excuse for that kind of abuse aimed at anyone. The "grass" chants were just pathetic.

If the police spent more time sorting out this sort of thing at football matches and in general, rather than arresting "big names" such as Gerrard and arresting people for spurious "crimes" for which people are never charged, we'd all be much better off.

So Gerrard physically assaulting someone isn't as bad as 3,000 people chanting?

As for "arresting people for crimes which are never charged" - Gerrard's been charged this morning FYI

Bring back Maggie Thatcher I say, she'd sort this country out....

Didn't Maggie Thatcher start the clampdown on hooliganism in the mid 80's after Millwall played up at Luton ?

Sort of de-values your point mush.

[boycey]

I used Gerrard as an example of a "big name" the police like to get involved with. I'm very surprised that he's been charged, but even then, he can still get let off if the CPS say there isn't enough evidence. I know FOR A FACT a couple of people who have been arrested for "crimes" which are nothing of the sort, but they tick a box for police figures. TVP could have ticked a few boxes and more if they'd had the balls to arrest those who went on the pitch at the time of the incident.

I sort of agree with you in that they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it, but wouldn't arresting them then and there have sparked off even more trouble? Videoing/photoing the evidence and arresting them later might be a better option.

exactly , I'm sure those boyos will be getting the 5 o'clock knock soon enough .

[Dirk Gently]

One of the staples of football policing tactics is not to inflame situations by making arrests unless there is a clear danger, which is why they won't wade into crowds to arrest someone. Instead, they'll arrest someone on the concourse or leaving the ground if they think an arrest is warranted. RFC always do, as a matter of policy, send pictures and CCTV footage to visiting clubs inviting them to take action against individuals. Some do, some don't. Chelsea, I remember, didn't give a toss!

As for this perennial mantra of "away fans get away with more than home fans" really that's inevitable. Any club will use the weapons they have at their disposal and will inevitably go for the easy targets - they have far more sanctions against home supporters than they do with away supporters, as home supporters have a member card and presumably want to come back again. With an away supporter the main aim is to keep the peace and get them away from the ground peacefully. All that can effectively be done is chuck them out - in which case you've got a potentially pissed-up and now very angry hoolie wandering around outside the ground - or arrest them, which ties up cells and police time and just may not be appropriate for what they've done. A good analogy is driving offences - UK drivers get a lot more punishment for accidents than by foreign lorry drivers -simply because of the practicalities of what action you can take.

But we saw on Friday & Sunday perfect examples of why, surprisingly, m_d is essentially right. Cardiff fans wanted to stand and did so en masse and no-one was able to stop them. Southampton fans to our right wanted to stand and did so en masse and no-one was able to stop them. Because a relatively minimal number of Reading fans wanted to stand they were picked off by stewards individually. Critical mass is everything!

[AbovetheI]

So Gerrard physically assaulting someone isn't as bad as 3,000 people chanting?

Spot on.

[mini _dariusz]

But we saw on Friday & Sunday perfect examples of why, surprisingly, m_d is essentially right. Cardiff fans wanted to stand and did so en masse and no-one was able to stop them. Southampton fans to our right wanted to stand and did so en masse and no-one was able to stop them. Because a relatively minimal number of Reading fans wanted to stand they were picked off by stewards individually. Critical mass is everything!

Excuse me, why is it surprising that i am right ?

[Sarah Star]

...because you're an enigma, mini-d.

[Dirk Gently]

But we saw on Friday & Sunday perfect examples of why, surprisingly, m_d is essentially right. Cardiff fans wanted to stand and did so en masse and no-one was able to stop them. Southampton fans to our right wanted to stand and did so en masse and no-one was able to stop them. Because a relatively minimal number of Reading fans wanted to stand they were picked off by stewards individually. Critical mass is everything!

Excuse me, why is it surprising that i am right ?

Because so many of your posts are so obviously only written to wind up RL or Schards that objectivity and accuracy isn't something people expect from you.