: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:47 pm
Said it before, it's worth repeating...
I'm not going to moan about the fine because them's the rules - for us at least. But (always a but!) we now have a very uneasy precedent set as far as I'm concerned. Any given gang of thugs can now pretty much guarantee a crippling punishment for a rival team by simply turning up to their ground in neutral colours and kicking off. Absolute minimum of coordination required... a very basic plan over a pint should be more than enough. How come? I spent a couple of seasons down at Cas as a steward and I know what it's like. The numbers of officials are painfully low not just there but across all RL grounds and the actual police presence is pitiful. The bare minimum that clubs can get away with... a number based on the phrase "well, you don't get trouble at the rugby do you"?
A relatively small portion of the crowd leading the way (a dozen, maybe?) can affect a much larger group, especially through confrontation. Stewarding at current levels wouldn't have a hope in hell of containing it and, hey presto... a five figure fine for the club you love to hate. And yes, there are people out there who would actually relish such potential to hurt a rival, never mind just contemplate it. CCTV can only hope to catch the ones stupid enough to not wear hoods. So ban them next, presumably?
Having said all of that, I still don't believe that NOBODY knows who these ar*eholes were down at Cas.
Oh well... Move on. Til next time.