Apology to the club

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Sorry, still not clear to me whether @meldrew was the fan filmed at the south end of the stadium, and clearly visible on a mobile phone in the Villa away section (and honestly it looks to me as though he is taunting that section, although plenty of that was going back and forth during the match, as it always does), or whether he is the guy filmed from CB lower tier at the north end of the stadium, being escorted by three stewards to get back into his seat before a fourth person, in a suit and obviously working directly for the club, intervenes. May not make any difference, because you're simply not allowed to invade a pitch under any circumstances while a match is going on, for obvious reasons. But let's face it, it's not exactly the same scenario.
The flares were fucking stupid! Supposing one had hit any player (on either side)? Supposing the match had been abandoned? Supposing the ref had taken all the players off for ten minutes, thus completely breaking our momentum? Supposing City had been deducted three points in punishment. Wouldn't be just a lark, would it?
As for what happened after the final whistle — there have always been pitch invasions. The only time I took part in one was at the very end of the season, I was at the very front of the Kippax, I must have been about fifteen, utterly meaningless match in April 1970 against Sunderland (which we lost 1-0!). We'd all got soaked by one of those sharp April downpours, and I thought I'd have a bit of a runaround to get a bit dry. Glad to say that my feet once touched the Maine Road turf. But a bit thick of me, really.
I hope we can all agree that none of want to go back to the days when, as on the continent, a high wire fence surrounds every pitch in the Premier League.

The current trend for flares is just so the new generation of top banter footy lads can look cool and hard on Instagram.

 

[mexico1970]

The current trend for flares is just so the new generation of top banter footy lads can look cool and hard on Instagram.

We have gone from flares with DMs and silk scarves with scabby botchelistic hot dogs to..

Designer grub with gentrified wine and beverages, now with powder flares passed as safe by the British flare foundation.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

We have gone from flares with DMs and silk scarves with scabby botchelistic hot dogs to..

Designer grub with gentrified wine and beverages, now with powder flares passed as safe by the British flare foundation.

As with many things, the Italians do it better.

didn’t some guy get stabbed up the arse at the Rome derby a few years back!

 

[mexico1970]

As with many things, the Italians do it better.

didn’t some guy get stabbed up the arse at the Rome derby a few years back!

You're right, there was a spate of arse stabbing by the Italians and Turks on "English" Norwegian and Irish fans :)

 

[mayo31]

Meldrew has clearly been made an example of here by some jumped up magistrate and I would guess the legal advisor in the court.

The fine and banning order is way OTT.

I know of someone convicted of common assault twice at a match who only received an £80 fine,it was the game at Arsenal just after Balotelli was sent off. I know a few years have passed but £800 and a 4 year banning order, come on

 

[mexico1970]

Meldrew has clearly been made an example of here by some jumped up magistrate and I would guess the legal advisor in the court.

The fine and banning order is way OTT.

I know of someone convicted of common assault twice at a match who only received an £80 fine,it was the game at Arsenal just after Balotelli was sent off. I know a few years have passed but £800 and a 4 year banning order, come on

Assault on anything corporate draws a stiffer sentence, just like shoplifting from Tescos is taken more seriously than having your house burgled.

That Judge and his comments were beyond the pale IMHO.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

Who is it that took you to court Meldrew?
City or the police?
Who does the fine go to?
4 years is a bit harsh!!!

 

[mayo31]

Assault on anything corporate draws a stiffer sentence, just like shoplifting from Tescos is taken more seriously than having your house burgled.

That Judge and his comments were beyond the pale IMHO.

It proves to me that the average person on the street would do well to get some education on the law.

Especially what to say (not to say) and do if and when unfortunate to be arrested

A couple of young lads were arrested in Stanley Park earlier last season, anyone who went to that game will know there was a bottleneck going into the Park to get to the coaches afterwards

Verbals etc, nothing major. 2 lads grabbed by the police, I knew one , simply shouted to him - Do not say anything but ask for a solicitor before anything happens.

Police officer tried ushering me away, fair enough but the lad listened. Got a solicitor and they were trying to say he had assaulted an opposing fan. Thrown out due to good advice and no actual evidence. Sometimes people admit to stuff quite willingly.

 

[Silva2021]

It is harsh, but I think it is within the remit of what a pubishment could be for that offence.

The guy clearly seems a nice bloke, out of character and regrets his actions. He is unlikely to reoffend.

He may have been made an example off, but have not been dealt with unfairly.

My advice is to take the hit, most games are able to be viewed on SKY anyway. I’m not sure if anything can be done after the period when you can ask for it to be reconsidered. If so, that would certainly be worth considering.

I would not advise sneaking in, if so all the above of being out of character, spare of the moment etc. becomes BS as you show that you don’t respect the rules and pre-mediated decide to break them.

At which point any further punishment would be deserved.

It’s harsh and you have had bad timing and people have certainly done worse and received a lot less. However it is not unfair and you just have to accept it.

My 2p and certainly don’t mean any offence on it. Hopefully you find something to replace the void, it’s fun going to the games but shouldn’t be a substitute for other areas of your life.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

It is harsh, but I think it is within the remit of what a pubishment could be for that offence.

The guy clearly seems a nice bloke, out of character and regrets his actions. He is unlikely to reoffend.

He may have been made an example off, but have not been dealt with unfairly.

My advice is to take the hit, most games are able to be viewed on SKY anyway. I’m not sure if anything can be done after the period when you can ask for it to be reconsidered. If so, that would certainly be worth considering.

I would not advise sneaking in, if so all the above of being out of character, spare of the moment etc. becomes BS as you show that you don’t respect the rules and pre-mediated decide to break them.

At which point any further punishment would be deserved.

It’s harsh and you have had bad timing and people have certainly done worse and received a lot less. However it is not unfair and you just have to accept it.

My 2p and certainly don’t mean any offence on it. Hopefully you find something to replace the void, it’s fun going to the games but shouldn’t be a substitute for other areas of your life.

tbh I think you jumped through hoops there to say it is fair.

The guy does far less than other idiots in football and gets punished more... That is unfair. Surely.

Maybe you mean its within the remit of the law to fine/ban that much. But its not fair. Fair would be deserving, he doesnt deserve that much.