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Three Extra Rows Will Not Solve West Ham Segregation Issue

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 14/09/2016 - 17:34

According to various media outlets, some who can spell and some who cannot, West Ham United believe they have found a resolution to the segregation of fans issue by adding a further three rows of vacant seating to enhance security. Yes, that is three additional rows will be manned by well meaning but hopelessly under trained stadium staff, that's it? The only barriers between opposing fans are less than a metre and a half high and could be vaulted, to be politically correct, by a person of diminished stature! Unless there is a significant material structure put in place to prevent fan insurgences, serious incidents like the ones on saturday during the match against Watford will continue and escalate, creating a 'buffer zone' with three extra rows is using King Canute logic, especially given that the police will only enter the stadium in response to a serious incident until a new communication system is installed, thus leaving the 'line' to be defended by the mainly young stewards. The situation is further exacerbated because many of the season ticket holders in the sir trevor brooking stand area that adjoins where the away supporters are, particularly in the upper stand, are children accompanied by a parent, and so if, heaven forbid things did 'kick off' following an 'invasion' by opposition fans, there would be little or no physical protection available.
The club have stated that where possible season ticket holders will be moved to more appropriate areas (with hindsight something that should have been done from the outset) however the 'path' to doing so is not entirely clear unless waiting for hours at the end of a telephone gets a response.
It is absolutely vital that action is taken now, surely the construction of a realistic barrier, even a temporary one, is within the bounds of the stadium owners remit? As we have been banging on about, Watford and Bournemouth represent the less vociferous of opponents that will visit the London Stadium, others will not be so 'gentile', furthermore the hooligan element may be of the opinion that they have a stage, and the ugly minds of nasty pieces of work will be looking at all the 'opportunities' that they currently see on offer.
A three metre fence at the very minimum will at least go some way as to making fans feel more secure and to prevent the massive accident waiting to happen, perhaps further down the line thought may be given to relocating the away fans 'up in the gods' as they do at Old Trafford and Anfield, this would serve two purposes by ensuring segregation and nullifying the 'atmosphere' that away fans can currently generate due to the fact that they are right next to the pitch in the lower visitors section.
The London Stadium security issue has rather deflected debate regarding Saturday's eventual capitulation to Watford, but if matches are to be witnessed safely in the future, wins draws or losses, then the key issues need to be addressed swiftly.
Perhaps Alan Sugar can loan the police some radios? - Ed

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mcbikeman's picture

this stadium move has been planned for a long time and now we are getting one story after another coming out and guess what the buck passing has started...its not us its them replied by its not us its the police at fault and so it goes on round and round it goes.
business minds may have instigated the move but practical and logistical minds were clearly not consulted or probably just not considered....it is an was and to many I know who have gone still an athletics stadium and we are but one tenant with no rights over how its policed or run.....strikes me as people in charge should of questioned that but when blinded by £££'s things like that are unimportant until like now it returns and bites you on the arse...the only thing they have been lucky with is we did not play chelski/gooners/spuds/manure in the opening games because I dread to think what will happen to them...

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boogerscaravan's picture

Yes I was looking at the upcoming fixtures at home. We are not due to play any derby matches, or have a team visit with a recognised away following shall we say. So in short there is time to sort this farcical issue out, before some serious damage is done. As an aside, and I know it's a bit different, but they showed the damage done to Celtics toilet facilities in their stadium on SSN. Courtesy of the Rangers (fans)!! If one of our rivals wanted to replicate that at our shiny new stadium, they could fill their boots. No Police is an absolute joke!!

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moore 6 legend's picture

We could still get one of that lot,or that nice friendly bunch leeds,in the EFL Cup at home IF we get past stanley

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196 users have voted.

I sat in the Sir Trev stand once at Upton Park. I don't remember seeing any bug fences inbetween fans. To be fair, it was only West Brom. Also, are there gates that can be shut at the away end so they can't get out and round to any part of the stadium? No point having a fence inbetween if they can just walk out and round.

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