[Albion] 300 Palace fans locked out of the Amex

[trueblue]

I see where you're coming from and I have an element of sympathy with your view. However surely that's the debate? Is old-school diving in necessarily worse than the modern approach of standing aside? Because they were allowed to continue they felt empowered and innocent people continued to suffer. I work with a Palace fan who was there last night, and he said when they were corralled in some of their morons were still letting off smoke bombs, and a couple of the older fans were suffering from the smoke.

Yep. Agree that they have a duty to protect the Palace fans affected. It's a tough one. I still think intervention - as has been shown in the past - often creates more trouble as bystanders get dragged in and then get aggressive too. Regardless of what the police did or didn't do, I believe Palace as a club have to take on responsibility for this and should issue a very strong statement of condemnation to make it clear that this sort of behaviour isn't welcome or condoned. There is also an element of self-policing. If our fans were letting off smoke bombs and choking people, the vast majority of fans would be making it very clear that they wanted this to stop and the club would certainly be on board. Police piling in should be an absolute last resort. It doesn't work well.

Edit: It seems Palace have spoken out. Good.

 

[El Presidente]

Perhaps Parish sold more tickets than were available?

It wouldn't be the first time it has happened this season

 

[brighton_tom]

The BBC website initially had an article up basically reposting what the club statement said, but this has since been updated with examples of what happened to fans & the headline being 'Palace Fans with tickets held for 45 minutes by Police' as if the whole thing is the Police's fault?! FFS.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I work with a Palace fan who was there last night, and he said when they were corralled in some of their morons were still letting off smoke bombs, and a couple of the older fans were suffering from the smoke.

Quite. The smoke bombs could easily have triggered an asthma attack or exacerbated breathing difficulties to anyone in the vicinity already suffering from these. And the long strobe sequence could have triggered an epileptic fit. The stewarding inside the away area failed in their duty of care to the Palace fans, whether it was their own stewards or whether it wasn't. They just looked the other way. If that was their instructions, then whoever issued those instructions was at fault. There was so much constant smoke coming from that one small section down the front, especially in the second half, that it looked for all the world that they were having their own private barbecue. Which they probably could have done, given the level of non-intervention by the stewards.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Quite. The smoke bombs could easily have triggered an asthma attack or exacerbated breathing difficulties to anyone in the vicinity already suffering from these. And the long strobe sequence could have triggered an epileptic fit. The stewarding inside the away area failed in their duty of care to the Palace fans, whether it was their own stewards or whether it wasn't. They just looked the other way. If that was their instructions, then whoever issued those instructions was at fault. There was so much constant smoke coming from that one small section down the front, especially in the second half, that it looked for all the world that they were having their own private barbecue. Which they probably could have done, given the level of non-intervention by the stewards.

These palarse morons do this at other away matches, so the question is WHY haven't they been stopped?

 

[Del Fenner]

Could it not be predicted that marching away fans around Brighton for 90 minutes, escorting them to the ground to arrive on kickoff might give rise to a situation where a number are concerned at the possibility that they might not get in to the game and rush the turnstiles?

I do not condone this behaviour. However it does seem that the police engineered the situation that gave rise to it.

 

[dazzer6666]

Palace statemement

https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2017/november/club-statement-brighton-away/

 

[AmexRuislip]

Could it not be predicted that marching away fans around Brighton for 90 minutes, escorting them to the ground to arrive on kickoff might give rise to a situation where a number are concerned at the possibility that they might not get in to the game and rush the turnstiles?

I do not condone this behaviour. However it does seem that the police engineered the situation that gave rise to it.

Police act on intelligence received on clubs fans, and if they deem they need to act on it, well so be it.
If this was Albion fans, I'd be pissed off, probably with the moronic fan element that have ruined it for the rest!

 

[Falmer Flutter ©]

Perhaps Parish sold more tickets than were available?

It wouldn't be the first time it has happened this season

View attachment 91570

Maybe 70 Surrey County FA officials turned up to this game demanding entry.

 

[Hillian1]

Liverpool are going to have a field day with these.

Liverpool have been before with no issues.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Could it not be predicted that marching away fans around Brighton for 90 minutes, escorting them to the ground to arrive on kickoff might give rise to a situation where a number are concerned at the possibility that they might not get in to the game and rush the turnstiles?

I do not condone this behaviour. However it does seem that the police engineered the situation that gave rise to it.

WTF?

There were 2000 available seats, and 2000 tickets sold for them. If 2000 people turned up, no style of policing would in ANY way prompt anybody to try to 'rush' a turnstile.

Hundreds of moronic, criminal Palace fans travelled without tickets, intent on forcing entry to the ground. What possible difference would the policing style have made to those intentions

You are one of our select gang of pet 'fairly normal' Palace posters [MENTION=21414]Del Fenner[/MENTION] , but I am very confused by your post.

 

[spring hall convert]

Could it not be predicted that marching away fans around Brighton for 90 minutes, escorting them to the ground to arrive on kickoff might give rise to a situation where a number are concerned at the possibility that they might not get in to the game and rush the turnstiles?

I do not condone this behaviour. However it does seem that the police engineered the situation that gave rise to it.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Liverpool have been before with no issues.

It's never been common knowledge before now, before last night in fact, that you can just rock up to the Amex without a ticket, jump the turnstiles and lose yourself in the crowd. It'll be all over the Premier League by now.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Liverpool are going to have a field day with these.

Except they had no field day with them at the Amex in 2011.

 

[Wilko]

I'm simply not having "the turnstyles aren't fit for purpose" because it seems to be coming from the same school of thought that suggests if a woman dresses up a bit "she's asking for it".

Absolutely spot on. Blaming the stewards or club for the access into the fire exit rather than the idiots who actually did the act is utterly ridiculous..

 

[Sheebo]

Could it not be predicted that marching away fans around Brighton for 90 minutes, escorting them to the ground to arrive on kickoff might give rise to a situation where a number are concerned at the possibility that they might not get in to the game and rush the turnstiles?

I do not condone this behaviour. However it does seem that the police engineered the situation that gave rise to it.

You're suggesting fans with tickets charged the turnstiles because they were worried they'd miss kick off and had been escorted to the stadium for their own safety? It happens to BHA at selhurst and I don't think even our idiot element would do this. It was a disgusting pre-planned act by these wannabe hooligans who acted despicably. There is no defending the indefensible - and these 'HF Ultras' are an embarrassment to your club I'm afraid.

 

[patchamalbion]

Haven't read the entire thread but what is entirely clear is a decent sized group of people purposely stormed the away end, were in possession of fireworks, flares, knives and knuckledusters and aimed to cause trouble, despite this impacting their own fans! Their actions ruined it for decent fans who probably paid a fair whack to make the trip - if that was me i'd be livid.

Everyone is looking for someone to blame - it is them! I don't know the set up outside the away end and yes more police were probably needed at that exact moment but as someone has said they really were stretched as there were issues at Brighton station, Falmer station and several units were all over Sussex. None of us are experts on policing large scale events so what is the point in arguing it?

in fairness considering the hype i'm just glad this ones gone and we didn't lose! move on

 

[Mackenzie]

No great issues at the stadium in six years, until palace turned up last night. All the problems were down to ticketless thugs and nothing else.

I hope they identified and prosecute every last one of them.

 

[Titanic]

...I'm simply not having "the turnstyles aren't fit for purpose" because it seems to be coming from the same school of thought that suggests if a woman dresses up a bit "she's asking for it".

Trying to remember an away ground this season (I didn't go to Swansea) that doesn't have the full metal barriers with full height turnstiles?

 

[Insel affe]

Oh look the BBC take this view "Brighton v Crystal Palace crowd trouble: 'Fans held for 45 minutes by police"

Instead of possibly "Crystal Palace fans force entry into stadium, let off flares and put a steward in hospital"

No why do that, when we can attack the police, I hate the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42164648