Have pitch invasions gone too far?

[Mel81x+]

1 hour ago, Bluewolf said:

Job done!!! 

You're missing the turrets. 

[Bluewolf]

3 hours ago, Mel81x said:

You're missing the turrets. 

Didn't need them mate, the top of it was electrified... 

[Honey Honey]

9 hours ago, RandoEFC said:

But if this trend of dickheads going on and trying to start on or wind up opposition managers and players carries on then it's going to ruin it for the majority who are just there for a slightly naughty laugh.

This has always been the case. Its just you never heard of it, or a fuss over it. When a pitch invasion is known you should watch the linesman in the final minutes, they stop running the line and end up on the pitch waiting for the whistle so they can pelt it to the dressing room, out of harms way, out of knackers jumping around in their face. This isn't new, it doesn't happen all the time and it isn't premeditated. 

I remember being at Loftus Road when QPR fans invaded the pitch, the knackers made their way to the away end goading from a distance. Some of them started throwing coins at the away fans. It escalated quickly and a fan jumped down from the away end onto the camera gantry where he proceeded to rip out thousands of pounds of camera equipment and throw it from the top tier toward the pitch where the QPR fans were. It took QPR about 25 minutes to bother to get the Police in. QPR fans probably didn't get together before the game and say right let's invade the pitch and go throw coins at the away fans. This is the spontaneous eruption that comes with a situation escalating rapidly in the moment. 

It didn't even make the papers.

Close to if not every single away game someone and some group crosses a line. Just last week a few bottles were thrown by Arsenal fans in the top tier at St James' Park down onto the home fans. Quite a bit of speed can be generated by the drop. It happens all the time.

I remember at Darlington, one of the joke chants we used to have is if an Ameobi scores we will pitch invade. Sammy Ameobi scored and a few started going on the pitch. A few became a dozen. Then punches were thrown. Then the wrong doers ran back into the crowd and hid.

Football is constantly teetering on the brink. The home fans only pubs, the segregation, having to have sections specially for children, this is all the result of this overarching risk that at any minute things could escalate rapidly. We reduce the propensity for that to happen.

In many ways the segregation reinforces the risk. Heightens it even. 

It's quite possible as well that larger fanbases culturally aren't suited to pitch invasions. That the liklihood of bad behaving and goading is statistically higher as a result of their frequent football encounters being quite hostile. As opposed to more family oriented clubs down the bottom of the football league.

[RandoEFC+]

13 minutes ago, Honey Honey said:

This has always been the case. Its just you never heard of it, or a fuss over it. When a pitch invasion is known you should watch the linesman in the final minutes, they stop running the line and end up on the pitch waiting for the whistle so they can pelt it to the dressing room, out of harms way, out of knackers jumping around in their face. This isn't new, it doesn't happen all the time and it isn't premeditated. 

I remember being at Loftus Road when QPR fans invaded the pitch, the knackers made their way to the away end goading from a distance. Some of them started throwing coins at the away fans. It escalated quickly and a fan jumped down from the away end onto the camera gantry where he proceeded to rip out thousands of pounds of camera equipment and throw it from the top tier toward the pitch where the QPR fans were. It took QPR about 25 minutes to bother to get the Police in. QPR fans probably didn't get together before the game and say right let's invade the pitch and go throw coins at the away fans. This is the spontaneous eruption that comes with a situation escalating rapidly in the moment. 

It didn't even make the papers.

Close to if not every single away game someone and some group crosses a line. Just last week a few bottles were thrown by Arsenal fans in the top tier at St James' Park down onto the home fans. Quite a bit of speed can be generated by the drop. It happens all the time.

I remember at Darlington, one of the joke chants we used to have is if an Ameobi scores we will pitch invade. Sammy Ameobi scored and a few started going on the pitch. A few became a dozen. Then punches were thrown. Then the wrong doers ran back into the crowd and hid.

Football is constantly teetering on the brink. The home fans only pubs, the segregation, having to have sections specially for children, this is all the result of this overarching risk that at any minute things could escalate rapidly. We reduce the propensity for that to happen.

In many ways the segregation reinforces the risk. Heightens it even. 

It's quite possible as well that larger fanbases culturally aren't suited to pitch invasions. That the liklihood of bad behaving and goading is statistically higher as a result of their frequent football encounters being quite hostile. As opposed to more family oriented clubs down the bottom of the football league.

All true. I suppose it's a part of the "everyone has a smartphone" trend of everything being documented by someone's camera phone that it's taken centre stage this week, coupled with the increasing culture of fans carrying phones around at games filming moments for social media rather than just joining in.

[Mel81x+]

I think this is a good example of what NOT to do at a pitch invasion. 

Saint-Etienne suffer violent pitch invasion after Ligue 1 relegation play-off loss to Auxerre | Goal.com UK

[RandoEFC+]

It's funny how English football fans have such a bad reputation, especially to the extent that they put an armed guard in front of the Liverpool end at the CL final the other day and nothing in front of the Madrid fans, yet it's France where this has happened following a season where at least one Ligue 1 game had to be abandoned due to crowd trouble with disruption on other occasions... 

[Dr. Gonzo]

On 30/05/2022 at 09:56, RandoEFC said:

It's funny how English football fans have such a bad reputation, especially to the extent that they put an armed guard in front of the Liverpool end at the CL final the other day and nothing in front of the Madrid fans, yet it's France where this has happened following a season where at least one Ligue 1 game had to be abandoned due to crowd trouble with disruption on other occasions... 

Or that UEFA Unnecessary League final in Albania between Roma and Feyernoord... UEFA weren't arsed to organise things for the fans to do in Albania, so Roma and Feyernood fans started fighting in the streets and rioting.

No real coverage on that for some reason, or any condemnation from UEFA really. But as soon as UEFA and France realise they've fucked up for the CL final and can't get people into the stadium in time because... I dunno, I guess 3 months isn't enough time to do things competently, gotta point the fingers are those naughty Scousers I suppose.

[Pyfish+]

News out today:

Quote

The FA, Premier League and EFL are together introducing new measures and stronger sanctions across the game to tackle the increased anti-social and criminal behaviours recently seen within football grounds and underline the importance of a safe matchday environment.

The new set of actions, which will be implemented across all English football leagues from the start of Season 2022/23 and backed by the Football Supporters’ Association, will target activity such as entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyrotechnics and throwing objects – as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.

These acts are dangerous, illegal and have severe consequences. They have no place in football, or anywhere.

From the start of Season 2022/23, all identified offenders will be reported by clubs to the police and prosecution could result in a permanent criminal record, which may affect their employment and education, and could result in a prison sentence. The FA will also be enforcing a tougher charging and sanctioning policy for clubs, which will reinforce these measures.

Furthermore, anyone who enters the pitch and those identified carrying or using pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will now receive an automatic club ban. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these activities.

The safety of everyone attending a matchday is the game’s collective priority. We know the behaviours carried out by some fans last season do not represent the majority of supporters and they risk ruining the fantastic experience of a football match for everyone. Therefore, we are working with clubs to highlight the important role that fans, clubs, players and coaches all have to play in helping to create a safe environment.

Our strong and collective approach reflects how seriously we all view this issue and the severity of the risks. Nobody should be intimidated or assaulted in their workplace. The pitch must remain safe for players, managers and match officials, just as the stands should be for supporters.

To further support this action, The FA, Premier League and EFL are working with police forces, the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), and the Crown Prosecution Service to establish a new principle for cases relating to pyrotechnics and smoke bombs, as well as entering the pitch without permission. This will mean cooperating to achieve a prosecution in these cases will become the default response of the football authorities and criminal justice system, sending a clear and unambiguous message to all who break the law.

Other measures to be implemented include working with clubs to enhance search regimes and increased use of sniffer dogs at grounds. We will also be working in partnership with our clubs, players and managers, the Government, broadcasters, the police and social media platforms in seeking to discourage the further growth or acceptance of these behaviours across English football.  This includes working with social media platforms to establish new ways of quicker removal of fan-generated videos of illegal behaviour at football matches, including violent offences and pitch invasions. It also includes asking the Government to reform regulations to restrict the supply of pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.

FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham said: “We all know about the fantastic and unique role that football can play in bringing communities together. However, the rise in anti-social behaviour that we saw in stadiums at the end of last season was entirely unacceptable and put people’s safety at risk. Together, English football has introduced new measures and stronger sanctions, for the start of the coming season, to send out a clear message that we will not tolerate this type of illegal and dangerous behaviour. Football stadiums must be a safe, inclusive and enjoyable environment for all, and it is the responsibility of everyone in the game, including governing bodies, clubs, players, coaches, and fans, to ensure that we all play our part in protecting our game and each other.”

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “Everyone should feel safe and able to enjoy a football match. Together, with clubs and partners across football, we are making clear the type of incidents we saw last season must stop. If we don’t take collective and sustained action, it may only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured, or worse.

“These new measures are a strong response to a significant increase in fan behaviour issues, but we know it is the minority who have behaved unacceptably and unlawfully. Premier League football should be a fantastic experience for everyone and we don’t want matches to be marred by these sorts of events in the future.”

EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “This season sees new measures introduced and sanctions implemented that will serve to remind everyone attending games – but particularly the minority of people behaving in an offensive manner – that there are real life consequences for the criminal, dangerous and irresponsible conduct at football. It is wholly appropriate that these unacceptable behaviours will now be dealt with through a combination of police action and automatic club bans. There is nothing like going to watch your team live and that is why the English professional game has taken strong collective action, to ensure the match day experience remains a safe and welcoming environment for all including fans, players, club staff and match officials.” 

Football Supporters’ Association Chief Executive Kevin Miles said: “We are contacted by supporters on a fairly regular basis who have been caught jumping on the pitch, or with pyro in the stands, and without exception they regret doing it.
“Whether they had positive intentions or not is irrelevant in the eyes of the law – pyro and pitch incursions are illegal, you will be prosecuted and you will be banned by your club.”

To support this new package of policies and actions, today marks the launch of an all-football campaign. ‘Love football. Protect the game’ will make clear the consequences of, and sanctions for, illegal and dangerous behaviour as we seek to urge fans to help us protect the game and keep everyone safe.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

There's a lot of things I don't understand about this.

1. Sniffing dogs don't do a thing at festivals - drugs still get in, it just makes everything take longer. It already takes a lot of time to get into a stadium, so now how early are fans going to be expected to take up.

2. Are the sniffing dogs looking for pyro or drugs? Because technically... both are an issue & I'm pretty sure you can't effectively use the same dog to look for both.

3. Is it realistic to ban everyone involved in a pitch invasion?

I'm not so sure pyros are that big of a safety issue... but what do I know. But with Nottingham Forest we saw some bad behavior from pitch invaders & that pitch invasion at the Everton-Palace match was a bit funny considering the context... but I'm not so sure Patrick Vieira thought it was that funny.

But it's a shame a bunch of coked up dickheads can't behave like normal people so they've got to put rules like this that are in place to take some of the emotion and atmosphere out of seeing your club live. However, it's astounding what my friends have told me about people openly using coke at stadiums in the last year. And it's not surprising a bunch of drunk coked out people can behave poorly when put in a group of other drunk and coked out people.