Simi Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 Birmingham v Villa derby should be at 10am, says police chiefNov 16 2007By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail AN angry police chief today called for all Blues-Villa derbys to be played at breakfast-time with 10am kick-offs. West Midlands Police Federation Chairman Paul Tonks made the call after revealing that more than 40 officers were hurt trying to separate hooligans after Aston Villa's 2-1 victory at St Andrew's on Sunday. One officer had his front teeth kicked out as thugs linked to both clubs clashed with police outside the ground and in Digbeth, said Mr Tonks. Furious Mr Tonks also accused Birmingham City FC bosses of being "in denial" over the hooligan element attached to the club. But the accusation was denied by Blues managing director Karren Brady who insisted the club worked "diligently" with police. She said: "Birmingham City FC want to make clear it is wholly unacceptable for police officers, in their line of duty, to suffer injuries and clearly one must take every possible step to ensure if at all possible this does not happen again. "The club has no jurisdiction outside of the ground. We have sole responsibility for all spectators inside our boundaries and we have an excellent track record on safety and security," she added. Mr Tonks, who represents the region's rank-and-file bobies, said: "Time has now come for football clubs, in particular Birmingham City, to take full responsibility for their so-called fans." On the issue of early kick-offs, he called for a breakfast kick off and said 10am would be a good time. He added: "If TV companies wouldn't want to televise a game starting so early, it would penalise clubs. It may well apply their minds when dealing with their hooligan element." "Future games of this ilk should be policed with the appropriate number of officers both inside and outside the ground and the clubs made to bear the entire costs rather than the taxpayer. "Why should the likes of Birmingham City, who are in denial over their hooligan element, be allowed to make vast profits and pay obscene salaries to footballers, yet not pay for the protection of supporters, away fans and police? "Even if injured officers have just one day off, the public are the one's losing out. There has got to be some responsibility for that from football clubs." Currently, clubs are only required to pay for policing inside the ground in a formula drawn up by the Government. Blues paid more than £37,000 for police at St Andrews on Sunday. But Mr Tonks said it was wrong for taxpayers to have to fork out thousands more for what was a commercial sports event which diverted resources from elsewhere. He said the club should now be forced to stump up the full cost of policing future derby games both inside and outside the ground. Ms Brady said Birmingham City only had responsibility for security inside their stadium and insisted it was one of the "safest public venues in the country". "The cost of policing inside and outside of St. Andrew's is decided by the Government and the club pays the highest rates in the country. "The figures for policing are not under our control and are non-negotiable. "The safety of everybody at St Andrew's is of paramount importance, we do and will continue to work closely with police to ensure the stadium is a safe family environment." She added that the club was working with police to identify any troublemakers. No-one was available for comment from Aston Villa. A total of 17 people were arrested and bailed following Sunday's violence. The Police continue to think of new scapegoats to hide their inability to handle a situation.
lcfc_jme Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 I don't condone hooliganism of any sort, but it'd be interesting to see how many of those 40 officers went looking for trouble and did nothing to try and calm the situation, instead making it worse with their actions. If this kind of nonsense carries on we'll eventually come to a point where away fans won't even be allowed to travel to games.
Bryn Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 I think it's certainly very true that clubs should have to pay the full cost of policing in and around the ground.
Jay Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 and what difference will that make though seriously? I mean how is a 10am kick off going to differ from a 12 o'clock kick off if the people want to cause trouble then it doesn't matter what time it is!!
Maybes Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 and what difference will that make though seriously? I mean how is a 10am kick off going to differ from a 12 o'clock kick off if the people want to cause trouble then it doesn't matter what time it is!! Alcohol leads to many voilent actions. So the police think making it a 10am kick off will reduce the amount of time people will have to consume alcohol pre match.
Leonisco Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 What a knob. It wouldn't even make a difference - if people want to cause trouble, then they will, whether that's at 10 in the morning or 10 at night.
Simi Posted 18 November 2007 Author Posted 18 November 2007 Alcohol leads to many voilent actions. So the police think making it a 10am kick off will reduce the amount of time people will have to consume alcohol pre match. Or they'd just do massive all-nighters?
Floating Fox Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 I don't condone hooliganism of any sort, but it'd be interesting to see how many of those 40 officers went looking for trouble and did nothing to try and calm the situation, instead making it worse with their actions. If this kind of nonsense carries on we'll eventually come to a point where away fans won't even be allowed to travel to games. That already happened a few years ago. It kicked off at Wolves v Cardiff and for the next season Wolves said no away fans. It won't be long before that happens on a much broader scale.
Daggers Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 The Police continue to think of new scapegoats to hide their inability to handle a situation. And what solution do you propose? The violence from the Brum/Villa game had an impact on local residents and families shopping in the City centre. What about their rights? ...it'd be interesting to see how many of those 40 officers went looking for trouble For an intelligent lad you manage to make some mind-numbingly stupid statements at times.
Simi Posted 18 November 2007 Author Posted 18 November 2007 And what solution do you propose? For a start 10am makes no sense, surely there would just be a whole day for them to kick **** out of each other afterwards? As far as I'm aware, the Villa fans weren't kept behind the game, maybe that would of helped clear the area somewhat? I really cannot see how moving kick off to 10am is going to solve anything.
Floating Fox Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 For a start 10am makes no sense, surely there would just be a whole day for them to kick **** out of each other afterwards?As far as I'm aware, the Villa fans weren't kept behind the game, maybe that would of helped clear the area somewhat? I really cannot see how moving kick off to 10am is going to solve anything. Don't think holding the fans behind is going to do much either mate, really pisses me off when they used to do it to us and most of us just legged it anyway... I think better organisation of the police at these games might help! I think the Brum/Villa derby is a unique case as you can't simply form a line towards the trainstation etc as they live all over the city, whereas in other derbies I.e London derbies it is much simpler to police. 10am Kick Offs will do one thing, make attendences drop even more!
Simi Posted 18 November 2007 Author Posted 18 November 2007 Don't think holding the fans behind is going to do much either mate, really pisses me off when they used to do it to us and most of us just legged it anyway... It would help clear the town centres and whatnot and seperate them for a bit, while the Police can figure something else out! Whatever the kick off time is, in some matches, if people want trouble, they will get it.
Koke Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 And what solution do you propose?The violence from the Brum/Villa game had an impact on local residents and families shopping in the City centre. What about their rights? For an intelligent lad you manage to make some mind-numbingly stupid statements at times. Next they'll say clubbing shoiuld only happen at 10am because "the public are the one's losing out". 17 people were arrested that particular derby day. I wonder how many were arrested the previous Saturday night in Broad Street or Five Ways in clubs, bars etc.
lcfc_jme Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 For an intelligent lad you manage to make some mind-numbingly stupid statements at times. Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot. The police never do anything to make a tense situation worse and are always there with the sole aim of trying to keep the situation under control. None of them ever go looking for trouble. They're always blame-free in everything they do.
Koke Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 Oh yeah, that's right, I forgot. The police never do anything to make a tense situation worse and are always there with the sole aim of trying to keep the situation under control. None of them ever go looking for trouble. They're always blame-free in everything they do. The police go into every football match with zero tolerance. I remember a lad who took beer into the stands when we were playing Forest and the stewards told him to take it out. And he decided to finish it off quickly then a copper came over and chucked him out. That sorta thing is piss taking, but on other bigger things sometimes you can't really excuse the behavious of football fans.
Ashley Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 Stupid Idea. If the two sets of supporters want to cause trouble they will, making the game 10am kick off isnt going to change anything.
lcfc_jme Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 The police go into every football match with zero tolerance. I remember a lad who took beer into the stands when we were playing Forest and the stewards told him to take it out. And he decided to finish it off quickly then a copper came over and chucked him out. That sorta thing is piss taking, but on other bigger things sometimes you can't really excuse the behavious of football fans. I said earlier, I don't condone hooliganism and violence at the football. But in the same breath, the behaviour of certain members of the police force cannot be excused either. Whether people on here want to admit it or not, there are members of the police force who view football fans as scum, want to tar all with the same brush and are just looking for any excuse to use excessive force on them.
filbertway Posted 18 November 2007 Posted 18 November 2007 I said earlier, I don't condone hooliganism and violence at the football. But in the same breath, the behaviour of certain members of the police force cannot be excused either. Whether people on here want to admit it or not, there are members of the police force who view football fans as scum, want to tar all with the same brush and are just looking for any excuse to use excessive force on them. The police are useless, where were they when needed in Preston And I got pushed around by a policeman for going to the correct turnstile at Forest.
Alexikokopops Posted 19 November 2007 Posted 19 November 2007 The police go into every football match with zero tolerance. I remember a lad who took beer into the stands when we were playing Forest and the stewards told him to take it out. And he decided to finish it off quickly then a copper came over and chucked him out. That sorta thing is piss taking, but on other bigger things sometimes you can't really excuse the behavious of football fans. We've all run into problems when taking beer into the stands...
Floating Fox Posted 19 November 2007 Posted 19 November 2007 We've all run into problems when taking beer into the stands... Palace?
Manwell Pablo Posted 19 November 2007 Posted 19 November 2007 We've all run into problems when taking beer into the stands... No offense mate but that was just plain stupid.
Alexikokopops Posted 20 November 2007 Posted 20 November 2007 Palace? No offense mate but that was just plain stupid. MY HANDS WERE fULL! ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS LET SPUGGY KNOW I HAD HIS PINT!
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