Violent scenes

[wittonwarrior]

Got to say it was the agency stewards that caused the incident with sticking their fingers up which caused some dickheads to push forward and bedlam erupted

Is that all?  All that because someone stuck two fingers up?  Fuck me, some people just shouldn't be allowed out of the house.

Yeah - It's a great example to set isn't it?  No drinking within sight of the pitch but the supervising stewards can fill their boots when a 96th decision goes their way.

These people are paid to prevent trouble, not contribute towards it.

These stewards were among the worst I've seen and I didn't even see the incident at the front.

Every ground where there are casual agency stewards including OT there are always issues. 
I was trying to get down to the front yesterday on my crutches only for this fool to stop me and tell me to go back up and around.  Jobsworths at best the lot of them.

[darren woolley]

I wasn't far behind the scenes the police and stewards were definitely at fault with the way they treated the Villa fan's from what I could see from my seat.

[amfy]

Got to say it was the agency stewards that caused the incident with sticking their fingers up which caused some dickheads to push forward and bedlam erupted

Is that all?  All that because someone stuck two fingers up?  Fuck me, some people just shouldn't be allowed out of the house.

Well you wouldn’t be working as a steward at Villa Park again if you did this. It’s absolutely a massive misconduct issue to show support of the team around away fans.

Yes there are some dickhead football fans that can overreact massively and their behaviour is tantamount to a 2 year olds tantrum, but the stewards are supposed to be the ‘adults’ here.

When I worked as a steward for a few games they said their one doubt about taking me on was that I was a fan, and because of that they put me with away fans to make me show I could behave neutrally. I lasted 3 games and got sacked for supporting the Villa school kids in the half time relay!

Admittedly that was some years ago but I’d imagine this is the kind of thing that’s got stricter, not less so.

[Davkaus]

They shouldn't be doing it, obviously, but if that's all it takes for people to swinging punches, they fully deserve the banning orders I suspect they're going to receive.

[brian green]

I am also of the view that heavy handed, provocative stewarding/policing is symptomatic of febrile post Brexit Britain.  Witness my son and I being arrested by the police on Wembley Way at the play off final.  My son for kicking back a football that had flown out of the group of Sheffield fans having a kick about.  Me for protesting about my son being arrested.  We were treated as thugs.  I am in my eighties my son is a middle aged television executive and a London Borough councillor.

[robbo1874]

Jesus Brian. People like you make me sick. I’d like to get you and your son before the court. Stiff sentences. We can not tolerate disorder at football matches, either inside or outside of the stadium.

[Risso]

I am also of the view that heavy handed, provocative stewarding/policing is symptomatic of febrile post Brexit Britain.  Witness my son and I being arrested by the police on Wembley Way at the play off final.  My son for kicking back a football that had flown out of the group of Sheffield fans having a kick about.  Me for protesting about my son being arrested.  We were treated as thugs.  I am in my eighties my son is a middle aged television executive and a London Borough councillor.

Sheffield?  Which play off game were you at?

[chrisw1]

I am also of the view that heavy handed, provocative stewarding/policing is symptomatic of febrile post Brexit Britain.  Witness my son and I being arrested by the police on Wembley Way at the play off final.  My son for kicking back a football that had flown out of the group of Sheffield fans having a kick about.  Me for protesting about my son being arrested.  We were treated as thugs.  I am in my eighties my son is a middle aged television executive and a London Borough councillor.

Shocking as it may be, what on eath has that got to do with a 'post Brexit Britain'?

[Dogtanian]

Got to say it was the agency stewards that caused the incident with sticking their fingers up which caused some dickheads to push forward and bedlam erupted

Is that all?  All that because someone stuck two fingers up?  Fuck me, some people just shouldn't be allowed out of the house.

Well you wouldn’t be working as a steward at Villa Park again if you did this. It’s absolutely a massive misconduct issue to show support of the team around away fans.

Yes there are some dickhead football fans that can overreact massively and their behaviour is tantamount to a 2 year olds tantrum, but the stewards are supposed to be the ‘adults’ here.

When I worked as a steward for a few games they said their one doubt about taking me on was that I was a fan, and because of that they put me with away fans to make me show I could behave neutrally. I lasted 3 games and got sacked for supporting the Villa school kids in the half time relay!

Admittedly that was some years ago but I’d imagine this is the kind of thing that’s got stricter, not less so.

In Lambert's last season I got a steward removed at Hull for celebrating their goals in front of us.  It is something a club should be very wary of, especially as there is a lot of potential for ill-feeling at the moment a goal is scored, so stewards between the two sets of fans need to be focused on spotting and dealing with trouble at those moments, not celebrating like an idiot.

I should add that the other stewards at Hull dealt with it very professionally.  The steward I spoke to about it listened and contacted the senior steward, who again listened respectfully and immediately took action once she was sure I had properly identified who it was.

[wittonwarrior]

I have no issues with a steward celebrating their goal but the two  who were goating our fans were bang out of order.  Gosh I sound like some Red scouse now.

[wince]

Different world granted but I used to be a security steward at the nec and nia. My job was to ensure the safety of the crowd and make sure that any behaviour that endangered the crowd was dealt with swiftly and effectively. It meant looking at the crowd and not what was going on on the stage. In short we weren’t there to enjoy the concert or event but to marshal it. Yes it is great to be a fan of who you are seeing but the stewards in any event should be there to ensure the safety and security and not be one of the crowd. Whilst i understand that a lot of fans are stewards it sets a bad example if you are there watching the match rather than doing your job. Like I said it is a different world that I was in but you would aim to resolve any problems without provoking or antagonising. But we know football evokes passions and most of us will get impassioned at some point. But I cannot and will not support those who go to far and get physical or throwing verbal slurs.  Violence has no place in football and stewards should be trained to deal with any non-compliance in a non-biased and professional way. Not celebrating or getting involved with the crowd because you ain’t paid to watch the game. Likewise some fans also need to have a word with themselves and rather than responding and reacting report the steward or stewards at fault.

[hilts_coolerking]

Well you wouldn’t be working as a steward at Villa Park again if you did this. It’s absolutely a massive misconduct issue to show support of the team around away fans.

Yes there are some dickhead football fans that can overreact massively and their behaviour is tantamount to a 2 year olds tantrum, but the stewards are supposed to be the ‘adults’ here.

They're all supposed to be adults!  Of course the steward shouldn't be doing what he did but what happened afterwards is down to dickheads not being able to control themselves.  The whole thing is completely pathetic.

[Brassneck]

Well you wouldn’t be working as a steward at Villa Park again if you did this. It’s absolutely a massive misconduct issue to show support of the team around away fans.

Yes there are some dickhead football fans that can overreact massively and their behaviour is tantamount to a 2 year olds tantrum, but the stewards are supposed to be the ‘adults’ here.

They're all supposed to be adults!  Of course the steward shouldn't be doing what he did but what happened afterwards is down to dickheads not being able to control themselves.  The whole thing is completely pathetic.

I agree with what you're saying and it's difficult to sympathise with anyone who has been throwing punches etc.  However, we all know there is a potential for these incidents to occur - There are flashpoints most weeks.  My gripe is that had the stewards behaved as you would have expected them to, none of this would have happened.  It is simply unacceptable for people who are charged with ensuring crowd safety and order to be goading fans who have just lost a game of football.  Had it been the guys and girls from this forum on the front few rows, the outbreak would not have happened but in a crowd of 3,000 passionate fans, there is always a good chance of an over reaction by some.

Crystal Palace need to be made aware of what is going on at their games - Nobody appears to be monitoring the stewards - Hence their licence to behave so appallingly.   

[wince]

What training do stewards have? Are they sis trained or just monitored by door supervised trained staff?

[sid1964]

The picture of the bloke aiming a slap at the lady steward is not a pleasant sight! - hopefully he will be identified and if he is a season ticket holder, he will not be seen in Villa Park for quite a few years.