The Wookiee
Back From The Dead
Ex-club boss arrested after soccer scuffles
by Rob Hustwayte - THE ARGUS
Former Crawley Town chairman Chas Majeed was arrested twice for alleged assaults and one of his bars was closed in a night of violence involving the club's fans.
A group of disgruntled supporters are understood to have visited the Majeed-owned Ja Ja Bar in Crawley High Street after the England match on Saturday.
Fans are unhappy with the Majeed brothers' stewardship of the club after they attracted a catalogue of bad publicity before taking Crawley Town into administration, claiming they are owed £700,000.
A scuffle broke out and bankrupt Mr Majeed, 37, whose real name is Shafqat, was arrested on suspicion of assault and given a police caution at about 7.30pm.
Officers were called out two hours later following reports of more violence outside the bar when the same group of fans returned.
Mr Majeed was again arrested for allegedly causing actual bodily harm and bailed to return to Crawley police station on August 13.
One fan claims he was thrown through the glass door of Dickies clothes shop in High Street during the violence, which witnesses say involved up to ten people.
He said: "In hindsight returning to Ja Ja after a number of us had made a point in there earlier on was a bad idea."
He said he had suffered a black eye.
Police confirmed a 37-year-old man had been arrested twice in the space of about two hours.
There were no other arrests and CCTV footage is being examined.
A police spokeswoman added: "Police spoke to staff at the Ja Ja Bar on Saturday evening and the manager agreed voluntarily to shut the venue down until Monday."
A statement issued yesterday by SA Retail, the Majeed company that owns the Ja Ja Bar and other Crawley businesses including Bar Lusso and the restaurant Cubana, said a large group of football supporters had turned up at the bar on Saturday night after England's defeat.
It read: "Only with the health and safety of the staff and customers in mind, Chas Majeed attempted to prevent further trouble and expel these hooligans out of the premises.
"The police were involved and an arrest was made."
Some 500 football fans have signed an online petition calling on the Majeeds to quit the club while supporters are also planning a protest boycott of Crawley Town's first pre-season friendly against Millwall at the Broadfield Stadium on July 15.
The supporters' club is planning an emergency meeting to discuss the current crisis at Crawley Town.
A spokesman said: "The committee is hugely disappointed the club has gone into administration, resulting in ten points deducted prior to the start of the season, and looks forward to sharing its views with members at the EGM."
by Rob Hustwayte - THE ARGUS
Former Crawley Town chairman Chas Majeed was arrested twice for alleged assaults and one of his bars was closed in a night of violence involving the club's fans.
A group of disgruntled supporters are understood to have visited the Majeed-owned Ja Ja Bar in Crawley High Street after the England match on Saturday.
Fans are unhappy with the Majeed brothers' stewardship of the club after they attracted a catalogue of bad publicity before taking Crawley Town into administration, claiming they are owed £700,000.
A scuffle broke out and bankrupt Mr Majeed, 37, whose real name is Shafqat, was arrested on suspicion of assault and given a police caution at about 7.30pm.
Officers were called out two hours later following reports of more violence outside the bar when the same group of fans returned.
Mr Majeed was again arrested for allegedly causing actual bodily harm and bailed to return to Crawley police station on August 13.
One fan claims he was thrown through the glass door of Dickies clothes shop in High Street during the violence, which witnesses say involved up to ten people.
He said: "In hindsight returning to Ja Ja after a number of us had made a point in there earlier on was a bad idea."
He said he had suffered a black eye.
Police confirmed a 37-year-old man had been arrested twice in the space of about two hours.
There were no other arrests and CCTV footage is being examined.
A police spokeswoman added: "Police spoke to staff at the Ja Ja Bar on Saturday evening and the manager agreed voluntarily to shut the venue down until Monday."
A statement issued yesterday by SA Retail, the Majeed company that owns the Ja Ja Bar and other Crawley businesses including Bar Lusso and the restaurant Cubana, said a large group of football supporters had turned up at the bar on Saturday night after England's defeat.
It read: "Only with the health and safety of the staff and customers in mind, Chas Majeed attempted to prevent further trouble and expel these hooligans out of the premises.
"The police were involved and an arrest was made."
Some 500 football fans have signed an online petition calling on the Majeeds to quit the club while supporters are also planning a protest boycott of Crawley Town's first pre-season friendly against Millwall at the Broadfield Stadium on July 15.
The supporters' club is planning an emergency meeting to discuss the current crisis at Crawley Town.
A spokesman said: "The committee is hugely disappointed the club has gone into administration, resulting in ten points deducted prior to the start of the season, and looks forward to sharing its views with members at the EGM."
