The Fifth Column
Lazy mug
The searching at the Amex is a total farce, its really nothing more than a token gesture with the sole purpose of making it look like security is important and giving the right impression. It basically consists of a disinterested steward quickly and lightly wiping his or her hands on your arms and torso occasionally squeezing a pocket and mumbling "mobile phone", "keys" or something similar. If you have a bag they have a quick peek inside without really searching it and squeeze it in random places looking at you quizzically as they try to guess whats inside like its some kind of fecking lucky dip game! You look back at them and mutter, "Kids drinks mate", "Large bag of revels fella" etc and in you trot.
I'm extremely confident that if I possessed such items and was so inclined I could smuggle pretty much anything I wanted into the stadium so it really is no surprise that pyros and rook scarers were so easily brought into the stadium particularly as they were probably brought in by the dozens of ticketless palace that forced their way into the away end. I have to say the scale of those explosions was genuinely concerning and in the current times we live in totally unacceptable. That they continued throughout the match should not have been allowed without at least some sort of intervention, and on this I think the club and stewarding have failed massively and ought to be held to account. I'm not going to blame the police because they don't have responsibility for what happens inside the stadium and will generally only get involved if serious disorder occurs and at the request of the club/stewards. Ultimately though the people to blame are the moronic Palace fans that created the entire scenario and they should be identified, sought out and face charges for public order offences not to mention assault and anything else appropriate.
I think the club failed in its duty of care for all the law abiding and peaceful fans of both clubs tonight, they should admit this and apologise.
I'm extremely confident that if I possessed such items and was so inclined I could smuggle pretty much anything I wanted into the stadium so it really is no surprise that pyros and rook scarers were so easily brought into the stadium particularly as they were probably brought in by the dozens of ticketless palace that forced their way into the away end. I have to say the scale of those explosions was genuinely concerning and in the current times we live in totally unacceptable. That they continued throughout the match should not have been allowed without at least some sort of intervention, and on this I think the club and stewarding have failed massively and ought to be held to account. I'm not going to blame the police because they don't have responsibility for what happens inside the stadium and will generally only get involved if serious disorder occurs and at the request of the club/stewards. Ultimately though the people to blame are the moronic Palace fans that created the entire scenario and they should be identified, sought out and face charges for public order offences not to mention assault and anything else appropriate.
I think the club failed in its duty of care for all the law abiding and peaceful fans of both clubs tonight, they should admit this and apologise.