Banned for three years for selling a ticket at under face...

Robsy · Post by **Robsy** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 11:38 am

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=1072
Banned for three years for selling a ticket at under face value?

Interesting article/story.

If it is true - and if this was the first time Jamie was caught selling a ticket - then I think Arsenal have behaved disgracefully.

By what Jamie has written it seems that Arsenal have made a point of trying to discourage him from attending matches, but this would mean that they were unable to actually ban him. Instead they begin by making life difficult for him and when they do finally get something on him, they abuse the law and have him categorised alongside hooligans and professional ticket touts.

This could happen to any of us if we find ourselves on match day with a spare because a friend has dropped out - I know that I've been in that situation once this season.

What makes me angry most is the fact that the police & Arsenal do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the professional tickets touts that line the road between Arsenal tube and the stadium every home match. The touts blatantly hang outside the ticket office as it gets nearer to KO to pick off people looking for returns. This is where the club should be focusing their efforts and not on individuals selling a ticket as a one-off.

The club stated that moving to the new ground would eradicate touts. This has not happened and in my opinion it has actually become worse. But victimising a passionate Arsenal fan - who simply doesn't fit in with the area he sits in - by using touting laws is not only wrong, but shows a lack of class on the clubs part.

If Jamie's account is true, then I think the club need to re-consider their actions and organise an independent review of the events.

Ted B · Post by **Ted B** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:38 pm

Absolute disgrace. I cannot even begin to explain how harsh that ban is, considering the REAL touts that you get hanging around these days, like you said. They don't even get caught! I hate certain people at the club

JMascis666 · Post by **JMascis666** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:22 pm

It does rather sound like the club are victimising this poor fellow.

I recall once having a spare for Dynamo Kiev and selling it to someone I met on here at face value, we met and exchanged money etc at the North Bank gates, looks like I was lucky no over zealous policemen were in the vicinity.

Additionally why isn't anything ever done about the "real" ticket touts, there not exactly hard to spot are they !

Lanesratoo · Post by **Lanesratoo** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:23 pm

We urgently need an appeal system with representation from a chosen member from a supporters' group. I could hardly get down Drayton Park when a group of Italians were pestering us for tickets for the Roma fixture! We passed several police officers but no one did a thing! Come on Arsenal. Get real and give this poor bloke a fair hearing. We have a reputation as a fans-friendly club to hold on to.

And, no Eboue please stay with us for next season. Some of your recent contributions have been fantastic. Now that you have your confidence back, we can all understand why The Prof believes in you.

And let's hear it for Rocky loud and clear tomorrow!

herbert · Post by **herbert** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:23 pm

Me and my son have been travelling to away games with Jamie for the last 2 seasons. My son was with Jamie on the night of the Roma game and came home that evening and told me that Jamie had been arrested for selling his dad's ticket for under face value to a Roma fan. He said that the police seemed to target Jamie as there were other well known touts openly selling tickets in the same area. It is my personal view that this was obviously the case because of Jamie's previous encounter in club level with the police officer. This was confirmed to me when I was told what the police officer had said under oath in court which was different from my son's version of events.

into the red · Post by **into the red** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:36 am

Disgrace. It just goes to show what type of 'fan' the club wants: those who pay through the nose, sit quietly, consume lots of overpriced tat. Those old-style fans who make a noise, get behind the team and heaven forfend loudly enjoy themselves are discouraged and in this case got rid of. Selling one ticket once for under face value is not a hanging offence, nor even a banning one. It is obvious they were looking for an excuse to get rid of him. The fact that Arsenal has undercover 'intelligence' (surely a mistake) plods who spy on their own fans just makes it more ridiculous and ugly. How can you respect a club that thinks it should spy on people who don't sit down and shut up? Pretending that they are concerned about touts, while allowing them to operate freely, whilst picking on one fan selling a spare is hypocritical in the extreme and vile behaviour. Arsenal, you don't deserve the fans who get behind the team, you tinpot little fascist marketeers.

Post by **REB** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:54 pm

sad isnt it, welcome to arsenal 2009

no connection with the real support,

crocit · Post by **crocit** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:58 pm

i know the lad very well, and have been many away games with him, and met him out there too, such a well behaved guy, and the police do this, when they cant catch the real touts! and the Intelligence officer, im sure most of you know who he is, and what hes like to us fans

into the red · Post by **into the red** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:33 pm

If AISA are a real fan's group then they will get right behind this guy, make lots of noise, harass the club over it until justice is done. It's a good test for them, they keep saying they are a fan's organisation. Let's see if they are, or just another club patsy, who flatter themselves because they are granted the odd PR meeting.

gooner Erol · Post by **gooner Erol** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:12 am

Just so people know the 'Intelligence officer' as mentioned is NOT employed by Arsenal...

herbert · Post by **herbert** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:03 pm

Thanks for letting everyone know that Arsenal dont have there own police force gooner erol. The intelligence officer(s) in question WORK with Arsenal and in this case they have worked together to get a 18yr old supporter with no history of violence or disorder a 3yr banning order.that is the issue here and not who the officers work for.

GoonerJim · Post by **GoonerJim** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:15 pm

''We dont want his sort!'' comes to mind

Disgusting that they police can target a ordinary fan yet the touts that are there week in week out are allowed to do what they please. echo the sentiments about AISA hope they raise this issue with the club.

JMascis666 · Post by **JMascis666** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:10 pm

Didn't something similar happen to one of our lads outside the Riverside stadium a few years back ?

Post by **REB** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:25 pm

JMascis666 wrote:Didn't something similar happen to one of our lads outside the Riverside stadium a few years back ?

gave a ticket to his mate and got done for touting

what kills me is you walk out of arsenal tube and there is 30-40 touts openly buying and selling tickets in front of the police, that is the scandal here that the club have never done anything about it

Radford149 · Post by **Radford149** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:57 pm

Radford would like to add tht this kid and he means kid has been picked upon. the police and club ARE *word censored*. the boy is a Gooner and so is his old man. the jcl's, newbies, hornbys etc have no fucking idea what it means to support The Arsenal. *word censored* THE LOT OF THEM

Banned for three years for selling a ticket at under face...

Banned for three years for selling a ticket at under face...

fan ban