Fury as Motherwell fans are ejected from Aberdeen match.. just for standing up during

[ian1964 10,723]

MOTHERWELL chief executive Leeann Dempster fears fans are being driven away from the game by barmy rules.

 

Fir Park's powerbroker spoke out after Well supporters were chucked out of Pittodrie for standing up during Saturday's SPL clash with Aberdeen.

 

The Lanarkshire club have been inundated with complaints from disillusioned supporters in the wake of their 2-1 win.

 

During the match, a number of Well fans were ejected after altercations with stewards. It is understood the problems began due to a small section of the visiting support standing up.

 

Dempster said: "Clubs have guidelines but each club uses its own interpretation.

 

"We are prepared, to an extent, to tolerate some things and we work to engage with the fans. I heard our fans were told not to travel to Aberdeen with any flags or any drums.

 

"A couple of years ago Kilmarnock fans brought a load of inflatables. The stewards waded into the section and took them away and I wondered why.

 

"What is offensive or dangerous about inflatables? It was just a bit of fun and no one else in the ground seemed to mind, yet they were confiscated.

 

"We're asking people to come and pay money. When they've paid we're telling them they can't sing, shout, stand up or dance around.

 

"I fear they might start to ask themselves, Why are we coming? Why am I paying money for this?"

 

Dempster will today investigate the situation with the club's safety officer Alan Marshall and has made it clear she is no way critical of Aberdeen and will not make judgments about the treatment of her team's fans or draw any conclusions about the incidents until she is in possession of all the facts.

 

But she knows the bandwagon for standing areas in SPL stadiums is rolling again and believes that could help the situation.

 

Dempster has discussed the matter with the SPL's Neil Doncaster and understands inconsistency in the upholding of the rules annoys punters.

 

Aberdeen fans contacted radio stations on Saturday night defending the Motherwell fans and claimed Old Firm supporters get away with standing at Pittodrie when others don't.

 

Dempster said: "A couple of years ago, the debate was raised about safe-standing and a few eyes rolled, believing that this situation had already been covered and discussed.

 

"But I think that, as the financial squeeze has come, it's changing again. Fans always ask the question about sitting down and they also get upset by it sometimes.

 

"It's obvious that when you're talking about 4000 or 5000 people it can inflame a situation to wade in there. But that irks the supporters who then ask why they would be put out for standing up.

 

"How are we going to tell our supporters to do something when there are occasions when it doesn't get done by others?

 

"Of course you can't have it happen all round the ground but in certain situations there has to be a judgment call if there is no danger to safety."

 

Dempster is convinced that making the matchday experience as enjoyable as possible for everyone is the way ahead.

 

She said: "We have a great relationship with our supporters. There has been a bit of leeway because we encourage fans to bring their flags and drums and to make some atmosphere.

 

"We have a group of supporters who bring masses of colour to games.

 

"We ask them about how they want to support the team and they say by standing up, by bringing their flags and banners.

 

"There is an understanding that if we tell them to sit down or tell them something is not acceptable they abide by those rules and we work as a group.

 

"We have said that if some of their flags are too big to carry around, we could store them for them. We engage with these guys.

 

"So far nothing untoward has happened and the discussions we're having with them seem to be working. We feel it's the way ahead."

 

Motherwell Supporters Trust board member Joe Smith revealed what he witnessed at Pittodrie.

 

He said: "About 20 of our young fans were targeted by the stewards for standing up after Motherwell scored 10 minutes into the game.

 

"They were told to sit down and I think they did but one of them got up and started singing 'Stand up for the Motherwell' which obviously annoyed the stewards.

 

"Five heavy-handed stewards waded in and dragged the lads out the ground kicking and screaming. It wasn't fair because hundreds of Aberdeen supporters stood up when their team scored and the stewards didn't even blink an eyelid."

 

Daily RHebel

[mmckgers 4]

Welcome to our world! Its a sad day when fans who have travelled for hours to get to Aberdeen, dont see the rest of the game for simply standing.

 

A few weeks back the entire Rangers end were standing for 90 minutes without an issue, but I suppose its easier to step into 20 fans opposed to 2000.