davieG Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 BBC Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor says it might be necessary to introduce netting around pitches to protect players. Taylor was speaking after Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand was hit by an object as his side celebrated a winner against Manchester City on Sunday. "I think you've got to consider, as has been suggested, some netting in vulnerable areas," said Taylor. "It could be behind the goals and round the corner flags." Centre-back Ferdinand suffered a cut above his left eye after being struck as United celebrated striker Robin van Persie's winning goal in a 3-2 victory against their rivals. While Ferdinand played down the incident in a tweet, the Football Association has opened an investigation into the incident, which has been condemned by Manchester City. City keeper Joe Hart also had to stop a fan who had run on to the pitch from reaching Ferdinand as the defender recovered from the blow. In a similar incident in October, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was attacked by a fan who ran on to the pitch during his side's match against Leeds United at Hillsborough. Kirkland, 31, required treatment after he was struck in the face during the Yorkshire derby, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Stadium designer Paul Fletcher feels the idea is unworkable as finding a mesh netting small enough to stop coins could prove impossible. Fletcher worked on the design of Wembley Stadium, as well as stadiums at Bolton, Coventry and Huddersfield and was formerly chief executive of Burnley. He said: "To stop a £1 coin going onto the pitch is going to take some fine mesh netting and I have never seen that. "In foreign stadiums they do have netting, but that is stop bigger objects like flares. I have certainly never looked at finding something to stop coins when designing stadia. "I have never seen a mesh you can see through without feeling it affects your view of the game." Stadiums in Europe have fences and moats to stop supporters getting on to the pitch. "I don't think we should allow the actions of a few people ruin it for everyone else," Fletcher added. "We have CCTV extensively in grounds now and we need loyal supporters to report these people." However, the chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, Malcolm Clarke, believes introducing netting would not be the right solution. "Netting is not something we feel is necessary to have," he said. "No-one condones the throwing of missiles, but arrests last season were 24% down on previous seasons. "It is undoubtedly improving. Before we start making knee-jerk reactions to particular incidents we ought to bear that in mind."
pSinatra Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Typical over-reaction to an isolated incident. I can't think it will, but I hope nothing comes of this
Kitchandro Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Hey, here's an idea, if you don't like angry fans throwing things at you, don't try to wind them up!
breadandcheese Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Hey, here's an idea, if you don't like angry fans throwing things at you, don't try to wind them up! I've heard this argument a few times and it's 100% b*llocks. Nothing gives you the right to throw objects at players. It is assault.
davieG Posted 10 December 2012 Author Posted 10 December 2012 Hey, here's an idea, if you don't like angry fans throwing things at you, don't try to wind them up! Here's an idea the fans like to give it out why don't they learn to take it without getting violent. personally abusive or whining like 5 year olds. Ferdinand's an irritating wind up merchant but it's not like Man city haven't got their own.
Harry - LCFC Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Hey, here's an idea, if you don't like angry fans throwing things at you, don't try to wind them up! Wasn't Ferdinand just celebrating in front of the United fans? If he was then there's no way you could consider his behaviour out of order, even if he did wind the City fans up my understanding of normal human behaviour leads me to believe that you should be able to control yourself in such situations. Whoever threw the coin needs to be punished.
Craig Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 If you look at the floor behind Ferdinand there are more coins that have clearly been thrown earlier.
Tom17LCFC Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Wasn't Ferdinand just celebrating in front of the United fans? If he was then there's no way you could consider his behaviour out of order, even if he did wind the City fans up my understanding of normal human behaviour leads me to believe that you should be able to control yourself in such situations. Whoever threw the coin needs to be punished. Yeah I thought that, it looked like he celebrated in front of the United lot when the coin hit him. No excuse either way even if he was celebrating in front of the City fans, who'd have been abusing him for 90 mins, calling him every name under the sun, and as soon as he gives a little bit back they retaliate like that.
Kitchandro Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 I've heard this argument a few times and it's 100% b*llocks. Nothing gives you the right to throw objects at players. It is assault. I never said it gives them the right to throw stuff did I? Just that players can use their fvcking brain instead of doing something to aggravate someone and then being surprised when you get something back. That's a basic life lesson, don't antagonise people especially when they're already pissed off.
Guest Bilo Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Why not put up metal cages instead of netting? Nothing could go wrong with that idea, perfectly safe.
Corky Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 This behaviour would never happen in seated areas. Oh.
breadandcheese Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Hey, here's an idea, if you don't like angry fans throwing things at you, don't try to wind them up! I never said it gives them the right to throw stuff did I? Just that players can use their fvcking brain instead of doing something to aggravate someone and then being surprised when you get something back. That's a basic life lesson, don't antagonise people especially when they're already pissed off. You're absolving the morons who throw the coins of responsibility. If a player winds up fans (which Rio wasn't doing in this case), why should he expect a coin to be chucked at him? I would expect fans to chant something to him and engage in banter, not throw something or run onto the pitch. Any level of acceptance or absolving of responsibility to the person who threw the coin is the wrong way to go.
notnow john Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 If there was a net between supporters and players , Waghorn would still struggle to hit it!
ADK Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 Hey at least Waghorn might manage to hit the net more often! Hah someone beat me to it.
Out Foxed Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 install metal detectors and make cards the only way of purchasing stuff inside the ground some busy twat would probably seriously suggest this
Arkie Bennett Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 I wish they'd put netting around Gordon Taylor.
Lobsterboyuk Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 CCTV is plenty enough. They've already arrested the thrower haven't they?
AKCJ Posted 10 December 2012 Posted 10 December 2012 I've heard this argument a few times and it's 100% b*llocks. Nothing gives you the right to throw objects at players. It is assault. True that it's assault and i'm not condoning their actions, infact, I condemn them. But Ferdinand isn't guilty. It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been a knob about it. It's like going to a bloody kebab house at 3 in the morning running your mouth. You're gonna get your head kicked in by some pisshead or running up to a lion and grabbing it's tail. City vs. United is fast becomming the Derby in English football and you've got thousands of football fans (some of whom shouldn't be anywhere near a football ground anyway) who get pissed beforehand. Ferdinand shouldn't have celebrated infront of the City fans, he should (not sure why I expect this) have been more intelligent than that.
ozleicester Posted 11 December 2012 Posted 11 December 2012 Football players have the right and the expectation to celebrate, as long as they stay on the pitch, then we as fans have to accept it and, to be honest its a part of what i love about football. As fans we have no right to be on the pitch and that includes throwing shit on the pitch. Appropriate punishment is the best deterrent.
breadandcheese Posted 11 December 2012 Posted 11 December 2012 True that it's assault and i'm not condoning their actions, infact, I condemn them. But Ferdinand isn't guilty. It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been a knob about it. It's like going to a bloody kebab house at 3 in the morning running your mouth. You're gonna get your head kicked in by some pisshead or running up to a lion and grabbing it's tail. City vs. United is fast becomming the Derby in English football and you've got thousands of football fans (some of whom shouldn't be anywhere near a football ground anyway) who get pissed beforehand. Ferdinand shouldn't have celebrated infront of the City fans, he should (not sure why I expect this) have been more intelligent than that. Ferdinand was celebrating in front of his own fans, but regardless of that there is no excuse for violence at a football match, no matter how much verbal provocation. If a player celebrates in front of opposing fans, so what? We give sh*t out all game to players, so why can't they give it back. We all talk about banter, but it seems banter is a one way street. Anyone who says that a player celebrating in front of him is enough provocation to run onto a pitch or throw something at him is plain wrong.
MC Prussian Posted 11 December 2012 Posted 11 December 2012 Before you start discussing netting the fans in, consider taking the following few easy steps: - Ban the use of cash in the turnstiles. Hand out prepaid cards that can be used for purchasing food and beverages. Minimizes the risk of numbskulls throwing coins at players or other fans. Also minimizes the waiting period whilst queuing in your line because the guy in front of you or the guy standing right at the till no longer takes ages to seek the right small change, which usually adds to general frustration. - Install a proper two-step or at least three-step control system for fans to pass through before reaching the inside of the stadium, perhaps by using metal detectors. Minimizes the risk of numbskulls smuggling flares, weapons or other harmful objects into the ground.
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