Could fan be banned for daring to speak to Arsene Wenger?

[jmardon]

I encountered a similar problem with the Met Police after our home game with Bolton. I had a bit of banter with Bolton fans complainig about the tackle made by Gallas. They hoped Fabregas would break his leg, I said their players couldnt get close enough to inflict such damage. It ended with them telling me where to go and me replying likewise. No hint of violence as its not in my nature and never will be, but banter is not allowed and I was told to move on by an officer. Fair enough. I did quietly. End of episode.

Or so I thought. The the same officer, bullied at school but now empowered by uniform, shoved me with some force as I was walking away. My friend challenged him and pressed him for his details, at which point the officer waved my freind away and pushed me against the wall. Surprising to say the least. Same details as described in the article were then requested, and my season ticket. I was told that they 'knew about my sort'. They asked me if I travelled away, as I do without any trouble, ever. But they were gutted that my record was clean and waved me away with a future warning.

I had banter yes, but the only violence came from the police and Id warn other Gooners that they are out there trying to arrest/ban us for very little.

Ive heard nothing since, but the article rekindled my anger over their attitude.

[TeeCee]

I'm only surprised it's taken people so long to realise that many of this countries (and especially the continents) police forces are arseholes who want a bit of trouble to brighten their dull lives! Arsenal fans must be right up there with the best behaved fans anywhere but we still get a lot of hassle from old bill.

[VforVictory]

Firstly I would definitely seek legal advice.

Secondly, there is nothing to suggest Wenger himself had a word with police about you. Just sounds like a copper trying to make a name for himself, or being a Wigan fan trying to take his anti London predjudice out on you.

If you do get problems from the club, then you should fight it, take them to court and use Pat Rice as your witness.

[Almunia is a clown]

These coppers along with most stewards are enforcing the strict clampdown of traditional supporters endorsed by the current regime at the club.

The clubs policy is to to deal strictly with any supporter who threatens the policy of encouraging more tourists & affluent reserved fans. The club DOES NOT CARE about improving the atmosphere & vocal support. FACT

Make no mistake the club don't want the more passionate & noisy traditional core support in the stadium & following the team hence the police actions.

As the days of hooliganism are virtually over, the police need to justify their expensive presence at football games to clubs & local councils. So they go around bullying any supporters that they take a dislike to, to justify their existence.

Exactly the reason why I have stopped going home games & only go odd aways & European trips.

The PHFC brigade have more say in how the club is run than old school supporters who followed the team for decades.

[jmardon]

excellent point on the police needing to justigy their expense and sadly probably some truth in the kind of supporter the club now seeks. The club level supporter.

[Geoff]

Mark,

You did very well to react so calmly under such provocation, well done.

It is of course an abuse of power and I salute your powers of self restraint. I am not sure I would have handled the same situation is such a controlled and logical manner.

My outrage at being treated in such a disrespectful manner may have led to a different outcome.

We are not going to change ignorance so firmly entrwcnhed in certain people so let's not give people like this a moment more of our valuable time!

[alanalansunderland]

Did you get the policemans name and number?

[franksav63]

Unbelievable (or is it) the majority of police are fucking scum, especially the northern ones, sorry you had the trouble Mark, but well done to stay calm, I wouldn't have.

[GoonerJim]

I'd be complaining not on to the club but the OB aswell - have you seen those ''five P's and policing pledge'' posters they have started rolling out?
professionalism, pride, presence, productivity and performance... doesnt sound like you got any of those!

[dodger445]

I had the same problem with heavy handed coppers up at villa park a couple of years ago. A large group of us were walking to the ground after having a drink in the pub near by, for anyone thats been to villa this pub is given to the away fans. Anyway as we approched the ground all singing the usual arsenal songs, i was shoved from behind and thrown up against to wall, before i had time to ask questions i had handcuffs on and was being led to a van! it wasnt untill i was THROWN into the back i was told why i was nicked, drunken disorderly! after TWO PINTS SHOCKING! what made it worse was that i was held at a local station until the game was finished, then was told i had to pay £50 within 30 days. As im sure you will agree i wasnt best pleased and kicked up abit of fuss about this and said i would not pay it! I was then told i had two options, 1 be held at the cop shop until the morning and go straight to court, or 2 come back to brum for a court date in the future, so of course for an easy life i just payed! A few days later i saw a met officer back in london and decided to explain what had happened, i was shocked by his reply, he told me that the same thing had happened to his 17 year old nephew at st andrews for a west ham game, he explained they always target away fans especially those's from london and its best to cover your colours. what age do we live in?

[OneBardGooner]

That is F **KI*NG Disgusting....If it were me I'd

a) Write to Aw - hhe has about 4 secretaries, and you may only get a 'polite reply' from one of them, but apparently he asks for a 'precise' of every letter sent to him by Arsenal fan/s.

b) Go on Arsenal TV on friday night - get put through to Tom Watts 9 under another subject matter) them door step him and see what he says...

typical f*cking Plod.....out of their uniforms they're shytebags..

me and my mate had a 'jostle' with 3 plod when we played brum - when TH scored his 200th goal...on our way to the station...colours not showing....and these 3 plod appear from nowhere and start giving us grief...saying

"F *ck Off back down south you arsenal scum bags....tried to get their numbers etc - but then they got really physical..and threatened to arrest us for assaulting a police officer...outnumbered we decided to do one......really bad..

such incidents has caused me to look at Plod in a very different way....

btw: well done for keeping your cool....that nazitwatplod needs a good kickin'

[Herd]

TO Mr Peter Deardon the so called Arsenal liason Officer.

Her is a pernicious bullying liar who justifies his existence by perpetutating the myth of hard core trouble makers at Highbury,which there clearly isnt .

Harrasment includes arresting people on suspicion of stealing tickets when they have a tciket not in their name,and fitting people up .

Our OB are pure scum !

[Glenn Helder]

What exactly were you trying to achieve? You sound a bit pathetic.
I bet they all took one look at you and thought you were being a knob. Maybe they were right.

[rolypoly]

you really need to be able to identify the police officer. you never know -two different incidents may involve the same officers.

this forum is a good way to pool information.

write to gazidis -he will reply.

make formal complaint to the met in writing. may not do any good in short term and will be frustrating if all these kinds of incidents were reported there may besome long term benefit.

with phones thes days people should not beshy to record incidents and of course incident may be on cctv

[JMascis666]

I had the same problem with heavy handed coppers up at villa park a couple of years ago. A large group of us were walking to the ground after having a drink in the pub near by, for anyone thats been to villa this pub is given to the away fans. Anyway as we approched the ground all singing the usual arsenal songs, i was shoved from behind and thrown up against to wall, before i had time to ask questions i had handcuffs on and was being led to a van! it wasnt untill i was THROWN into the back i was told why i was nicked, drunken disorderly! after TWO PINTS SHOCKING! what made it worse was that i was held at a local station until the game was finished, then was told i had to pay £50 within 30 days. As im sure you will agree i wasnt best pleased and kicked up abit of fuss about this and said i would not pay it! I was then told i had two options, 1 be held at the cop shop until the morning and go straight to court, or 2 come back to brum for a court date in the future, so of course for an easy life i just payed! A few days later i saw a met officer back in london and decided to explain what had happened, i was shocked by his reply, he told me that the same thing had happened to his 17 year old nephew at st andrews for a west ham game, he explained they always target away fans especially those's from london and its best to cover your colours. what age do we live in?

By this reckoning the police should have arrested 90% of the people in the awayend at Eastlands earlier in the season!