Fans hit back at Sunderland and Coventry with statements issued on crowd trouble

Fans have chosen to hit back at Sunderland and Coventry City with statements issued on crowd trouble during the Championship fixture.

Sunderland say they are “extremely disappointed” about the alleged conduct of a “small minority” of Coventry City fans at Sunday’s game.

Several incidents were reported by supporters of both clubs at the Stadium of Light, according to the Black Cats.

They said objects such as pyrotechnics, bottles and coins were allegedly thrown towards home fans in the North Stand.

Saturday we had parents moving their children from the north stand away from items being thrown down by @Coventry_City fans including this flare!
I’ve sat in the north stand 25 years and have never felt that unsafe! This needs to be acted upon as a priority @SunderlandAFC pic.twitter.com/4soW1yQVnX

— joanne youngson (@JoanneYougson) August 2, 2022

SUNDERLAND STATEMENT:

Sunderland AFC is extremely disappointed by the conduct of a small minority of visiting supporters during the Club’s fixture against Coventry City.

Several incidents have been reported by fans of both Clubs following Sunday’s match, with objects including pyrotechnics, bottles and coins allegedly thrown towards home supporters located in the North Stand.

Investigations by Northumbria Police and West Midlands Police are ongoing to identify the persons responsible and SAFC is currently in dialogue with supporters’ groups to ensure appropriate preventative measures are put in place.

The Club sincerely apologises to any supporters – home or away – impacted by this completely unacceptable behaviour and assures them that it will not be tolerated at the Stadium of Light.

COVENTRY STATEMENT:

Coventry City is clear that supporters should not take flares into any stadiums, and certainly should not throw them, or any other items, into areas where others may be injured, and we hope that no supporters were injured.

Following Sunday’s game, the matchday operation was discussed with West Midlands Police and we are happy that the vast majority of supporters of both Clubs behaved in a good spirit before, during and after the game, which we commend both sets of fans for.

Sunderland’s statement was shared with us on Monday and, while we understand Sunderland want to highlight the issue, these were isolated incidents on what was a very successful day in general for their match day operation and for the game.

We will be conducting investigations with relevant authorities privately and take the appropriate action against any individual that is identified as a perpetrator.

As mentioned, fans hit back at Sunderland and Coventry with statements issued on the crowd trouble…

@_reganrobinson_: fair enough, but when do we start do talk about moving away fans back down to lower bowl?

@Lewis_h__: Issued the same statement 3 times before, nothing will change until you bring the away fans down

@Camsafc: Away fans need moving

@GJohnson2022: Yet keep putting them up there with no protection put in place seems a great idea…

@TerryHobkirk: We either need netting up so nothing can be thrown down or move away fans back into the lower bowl somewhere

@jakesafcftm: move the away fans down then happens far too often

@Keiith_C_1971: Do something preventative about it , statements are meaningless unless backed up by actions. Safely netting is not ideal but it would prevent larger items being thrown down onto our supporters. Or will it take for someone to be seriously injured before action is taken.

@quinnn_main: About time you moved them then?

@ShieldsMPSAFC: Action speaks louder than words

@CLQ_W1LKS: Gotta move them down or stick a net up

@paulthomase: This was brought up 4 years ago. Are we waiting until someone gets hurt before putting up netting.

@GreggSAFC: It’s literally going to take someone getting seriously hurt before you take any action, isn’t it? It’s been an issue for ages!

@TomM02199584: Swing them round the side so they are directly behind the executive seats on the half way line. See how the owners like having glass bottles raining down on them and their kids!

@safctim: The problem is we have been in this situation many times before now in recent years and still the same issues. Same club also so security and the police should have prevented this. Hopefully CCTV footage will allow appropriate action but it doesn’t help those hit !

@cameronflaws: Move the away fans back down, most importantly to avoid incidents like this and also the atmosphere was much better before they got moved

@Covlad459811: Who ever decided to put away pans there should take a little responsibility also that’s not saying what happened isn’t disgusting it is bit some thought beforehand and this wouldn’t be happening

@GillSara1065: Club has to do better and be more proactive. It has a duty of care. Cameras needed on away fans and netting to prevent missiles going into bottom tier. It’s not rocket science. Restrict no. of tickets to away fans and put them in top few rows right at the back.

@andy_cov93:
#1 don’t sit away supporters above home fans
#2 in a game where there is fan tension at every single game, especially don’t sit away fans above home
no condoning any actions and if any are guilty absolutely throw the book at them, but Christ as a club take some responsibility

@dharvey4: I’ve got no idea why the away fan’s are up there in the first place?

@Caltermole (Replying to @Coventry_City): That’s a pathetically weak statement given flares and glass bottles were thrown at families

@MartinJenkins26 (Replying to @Coventry_City): As a city fan at the game I am embarrassed with our club statement. Sort this nonsense out for good

@BradleyDSharp11 (Replying to @Coventry_City): Isolated? You’ve released a statement 2 of the last 3 times you’ve visited our stadium due to incidents involving your fans.

Problems get acknowledged at meetings, but never addressed. Won’t be long until someone gets seriously hurt.

— Kevin Moeliker (@Kevsol) August 2, 2022