Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers fans have been condemned over incidents that was aimed towards at players and the referee last month.
Andrew Cullen, the club’s chief executive, criticised the ‘isolated incidents’ where plastic bottles and a coin were hurled from the stands during the League One match.
During the game which took place on the 20th of August, where Portsmouth won 3-1, referee Gavin Ward was struck with a coin thrown from block FAA of the Fratton End.
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CLUB STATEMENT:
On behalf of everyone at Portsmouth Football Club – the players, Danny and his staff, along with all of us in our different roles – I thank you all for your tremendous support which has so significantly contributed to our good start to the season.
Away from home, you have supported the team in outstanding numbers, epitomised by 2,135 Pompey fans travelling to Sheffield Wednesday, 1,685 to Port Vale last Saturday on a bank holiday weekend and then 1,111 making the trip to Crawley for a Papa John’s Trophy match last Tuesday.
Our last home fixture against Bristol Rovers was at capacity and Saturday’s fixture against Peterborough United is also set to be sold out in the home areas. We are incredibly fortunate to have increased sales of season ticket sales, now at over 13,000. We will shortly launch a limited number of new 19-game season tickets following the completion of all the necessary seat moves, in the South Stand and North Lower, by existing season ticket holders.
We are all humbled by your fantastic support, especially in the face of such challenging economic circumstances for supporters and the special spirit of togetherness among players, staff and supporters has contributed to the good start to the new season.
Unfortunately, I do have to report and comment on some isolated incidents arising from our recent games, where objects have been thrown by spectators onto the pitch.
At the start of this season, football unveiled a new campaign – ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ – following some unsavoury behaviour at other grounds at the conclusion of last season, which had jeopardised the safety of players and match officials after encroachment on to the pitch, resulting in assaults on players.
Along with every professional football club, we are determined to play our part in protecting all players and match officials in performing their jobs. The Premier League, EFL and all clubs are united to ensure that anyone either encroaching onto the pitch or engaged in throwing missiles, both serious breaches of ground regulations, will be subject to an automatic club ban, as well as potential prosecution and a potential criminal record.
Regrettably at the Bristol Rovers home fixture, there were two incidents where objects were thrown from the stands. In the first half, plastic drinks bottles were thrown on to the pitch from the away section, aimed at players and home supporters. In the second half, the match referee was struck by a coin thrown from ‘Block FAA’ of the Fratton End. We offered our sincere apologies to the referee immediately after the game. Both these incidents are currently under investigation together with The FA.
We have been able to identify the individual responsible for throwing the plastic bottles using CCTV camera footage and that matter is being dealt with by the police, with details passed to the away club.
A coin striking the match referee, or indeed any individual on the field of play, is extremely serious, with consequences for the victim, the perpetrator and the club. Such behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and cannot – and will not – be tolerated. Given the range of sanctions at The FA’s disposal, repeated incidents could also impact on innocent supporters, with restrictions placed on future ground capacity, especially in stands identified as problem areas.
We would therefore appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, which took place in the 73rd minute when the referee was issuing yellow cards in front of the Fratton End, to contact the club directly on 0345 646 1898. We will treat any report in absolute confidence and with guaranteed anonymity. We would also remind all supporters that they can report any anti-social behaviour at a game in confidence on the matchday text line: 07500 778844.
Portsmouth Football Club will do all we can to ensure that players, match officials, staff and supporters have the confidence to feel safe at all football matches at Fratton Park and from Saturday, we will be increasing our CCTV coverage in all areas of the ground.
We will not let the actions of any lone individual spoil, affect or jeopardise the enjoyment of all our supporters, who have contributed so much to this football club.
I know that the vast majority of supporters will join with us in this and most of you will also want to continue to make Fratton Park a loud and passionate stadium, as well as a special and safe venue to play, officiate and watch football.
Thank you very much for your support which is appreciated by every one of us.
Andrew Cullen – Pompey CEO
Twitter users gave their reaction with Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers fans condemned over incidents towards at players and the referee…
@JayHasky: Remember seeing what looked like a Lucozade bottle landing a couple rows away from where I was sitting in the South Stand. Actually I think I remember it happening twice. Luckily it didn’t appear to cause any injury.
@FFSChristie: Ban the prick involved
@PompeyPedro: Saw the ref pick both of these items up and hand them to the safety officer in the dugout but didn’t think it would result in a statement of this seriousness. A real shame given the results on the pitch. We go again. Throw parties not coins.
@LeeHobs98167385: I hope that whoever is identified in the coin throwing incident is banned from Fratton Park for the rest of the season, that the matter is dealt with the full force of Hampshire Police and that the person’s employers are also notified so that they can take action. It’s a disgrace people like this are associated with our football club, like unfortunately there are at other clubs as well. By taking these actions, let this be the deterrent for so called fans who think this is acceptable behaviour & think they can get away with it
@LukeBaylissBRFC: Portsmouth fans also threw glass bottles at Bristol Rovers fans as they left the stadium that day FYI
@willrowactor: The #EFL refs are inconsistent (polite way of saying they’re 💩) BUT throwing coins at them is NOT acceptable. He’s just (trying) to do his job. Think of injuries to him or players! Not to mention damage to club rep/financial penalties! THINK!!! If you know who it was #report
@Limmy05: Why would anyone ever throw a coin at someone 🙈🙈🥺🥺
@DDeane41: Not acceptable throwing anything onto the pitch and pleased that cctv can identify the away supporter. Hopefully the individual or persons involved in the fratton end can be indentified and action. Yes at times us supporters get frustrated but not justified to do that
@Titchyeah89: This is outrageous, throwing a coin at a referee is outright despicable…. I mean, joey Barton was right there. What a waste of a throw 🙄
@Merl1n79: And with a cost of living crisis. Must be made of money.
@iamvelos: Find them and get them out of our club!
@pompeyrascal: Just ban the culprits for life-we don’t need them! 🤷🏻♂️
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