Video emerges with Swansea disappointed by ‘incident’ at club shop which saw ‘staff abused’

A video emerges with Swansea City saying they have been disappointed by an ‘incident’ at the club shop which saw ‘staff abused’.

Earlier this month, fans vented anger after it was announced they could no longer pay in cash across all sites and trading outlets.

Swansea put this change into effect in mid-March after cutting back on accepting cash payments following the Covid pandemic.

The move has left frustrated with many expressing their concerns with GB News, as can be seen further down in the article.

And then we get this video, which hasn’t gone down well with the Championship club…

 

CLUB STATEMENT:

Swansea City is extremely disappointed with an incident that occurred in our club shop on Thursday (July 20), and is aware of a video circulating on social media regarding this.

The incident involved a member of the public verbally abusing a staff member and leaving the premises without paying via the correct procedure.

The club strongly condemns such behaviour, and we are taking steps to ensure the individual in question is both identified and appropriate action taken.

We would like to remind supporters that the club is fully cashless across all its sites and trading outlets, with clear signage on display both in and around the Swansea.com Stadium.

This has been clearly communicated on several occasions, and we would like to thank the vast majority of supporters who have been supportive of this move.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Patrick Roberts, 69, who first watched his club at the old Vetch Field ground in 1964, felt “stunningly disillusioned” and “sidelined” by Swansea City’s American owners.

The 69-year-old said: “Going cashless reduces options. Many people are passionate about the club and will still go, and season tickets are still pretty cheap, but they might need to restrict spending on extras.

“People get tempted by the use of cards and Swansea is not a rich area.”

Richards, a season ticket holder since 1995: “I think it could deter one or two from going but not enough to make any difference to the decision makers … But it’s the principle of it and the road society is going down as a whole. Cash should always be a payment option.”

Phil Richards: “The cashless stadium at Swansea is discriminatory, for example, to older people who like to carry cash.

“I’ve also seen it have a detrimental effect on charities who collect cash in buckets before matches.

Another Swansea supporter said: “I just won’t tolerate a business forcing me into going cashless just because it suits them, especially for a small amount.

“I’m the consumer and if I want to use cash then I should always have that option.

“I just think it’s going to have a negative effect on society in general.

“Cash has been a perfectly acceptable form of currency for centuries, why now this sudden need for change?”

Jim Edwards: “Last season at a cup game there was a group of eight lads sat in front of me.

“At half time they got up to go and get a drink and some food until one of them said its now cashless. They were only about 15 and didn’t have a card between them. They all sat down again.

“There’s an obvious loss of revenue for the club but I felt really sorry for the boys. I offered to pay for a drink and chip butty for all of them but they wouldn’t let me.”

This also has left disabled supporters unhappy.

Chris Brown: “It’s a big mistake.

“Sometimes I had to go backwards and forwards to sort money on my card … [it] doesn’t make any sense for people who are disabled like me.

“Loads of people have been saying it’s a big mistake.

“I think Swansea should look into it, I think that would be the best case scenario.

“Swansea City need to sort it out, favour the fans and people who buy stuff to put money into their pockets for the club’s sake.”

Swasnea say the change would extend upon its post-Covid strategy by prohibiting cash payments anywhere within the Swansea.com Stadium.

This is what social media users are saying as a video emerges with Swansea disappointed by an ‘incident’ at the club shop which saw ‘staff abused’…

@PhilRichards82: Don’t agree with the verbal obviously, not the employees fault that the club has decided not to accept cash, but fair play to him for making a stand against this discriminatory nonsense.

@buddyforengland: I’ve known him for years and I agree it’s 100 percent for me the clubs fault

@Kadswan: What an absolute mug…

Steven Bowen-Wilkie: He paid what’s the issue. Bank the 8 quid it’s legal tender. Its shocking during home games seeing older people not being able to purchase food and drink as they had no bank account. Old guy near us was having yo ask people to pay on their card for him.

@GJeffas: Is this really worthy of a club statement? Big deal over fuck all 😂

@Hye55897059: There is literally no verbal abuse of any staff here? The ‘cashless’ route the club has taken just doesn’t make any sense, why reject extra income??

Rik O’Shea: Swansea city is the first club in the English league to ban smoking in its stadium even before it was against the law, now it’s banining legal tender. It’s been said many times on social media this is going to happen. Use cash or lose it for good.

Steven Williams: The club should allow both cash and cashless, they aren’t exactly in a position to turn sales away from the shop. The club is nothing without its fans who part with a lot of money through the season so get your act together and let them pay by whatever method they want.

Paul Chapman: Many venues are now cashless. I’ve witnessed people giving cash to total strangers who’ve then paid with their cards to get around this. It’s a generation thing and will impact most on people who don’t have bank accounts e.g children and people who’ve only ever used cash!

Buddy Hill: Give that man a medal imagine if everyone did the same they would soon change there way of thinking

Lee Oats: There should be a option to use cash also

John Meacock: Good on him 😂

Andrew Renesto: Next week you’ll be claiming how “inclusive “ you are 🙄

Janette Evans: Legal tender not accepted ….absolutely ridiculous how they can get away with it ? What happened to being customer friendly ???

Callum Ellis: Let us use cash then

Paul Rapids Johnson: You may be saving money by going contactless, but you’re forgetting the fans that made the club what it is today.

Michael Henry: Nobody is supportive of the club being cashless. It’s tolerated because you’ve given the fans no other option.

Josh Burtonshaw: It is ridiculous that you can’t use cash tho let’s be honest as it’s legal tender 🤦🏻‍♂️

Lisa Powell: Cash should always be an option!