AFC Wimbledon fans launch protest against Milton Keynes World Cup inclusion

By Duncan Mackay

January 2 – AFC Wimbledon fans have started an on-line petition on the Downing Street website to protest about Milton Keynes’ inclusion as a venue for the 2018 World Cup if England’s bid is successful.

The scars over the decision of Pete Winkelman to buy Wimbledon and relocate them to Milton Keynes are still fresh among AFC Wimbledon fans, who founded their own club in protest at the move.

Chris Phillips, the chairman of the Dons Trust, claimed that the decision to include MK Dons’ stadium:mk as part of England’s World Cup bid has angered AFC Wimbledon supporters and fans of the Blue Square Premier club are determined to get the Buckinghamshire town dropped from the campaign.

He said: “As soon as the news came out we urged supporters to voice their opinions, but we took a few days to formulate things so we did not look like we were simply over-reacting.

“It is very easy just to be angry and we want to explain ourselves properly, and within the bounds of decency.

“But what has happened here is quite simply wrong.

“To us it looks like a reward for franchising – you have a city with no football history or tradition being thrust onto the world stage and that to us is a kick in the teeth for real football fans.”

The petition, which runs on-line until March 1 and currently has 745 signatures, calls for the “Government to withdraw all backing for England’s 2018 World Cup bid until the town of Milton Keynes is withdrawn from the bid”.

Phillips said: “When the move to Milton Keynes went through a lot of people said how terrible it was but that there was not much they could do.

“But now we really have to question the sincerity behind their protestations when here comes an opportunity to put forward a list of deserving cities and they plump for Milton Keynes.

“People do not understand how much this has hurt all Wimbledon fans and we are hoping the petition makes that very clear.

“We all want to get behind England’s bid but it is very difficult to get excited about something that you feel is fundamentally wrong.

“Do we feel our petition will lead to Milton Keynes being removed straight away?

“Probably not.

“But our aim is to make everyone aware of just how appalling a decision this is and hopefully see the city removed before the official bid is made.”

The petition can be viewed by clicking here.

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