By Mark Baber
March 19 – Hull City has expressed frustration with the police and solidarity with its fans in advance of its away game against Huddersfield Town.
The match against Huddersfield Town on Saturday March 30 has been given the highest possible security categorisation by West Yorkshire Police despite the club having no record of fan trouble or disorder. Draconian restrictions on the freedom of the fans who wish to travel to the match have been imposed.
Hull say they have been working together with the Football Supporters’ Federation to loosen the restrictions but there has been no amendment of the security categorisation.
“As a consequence,” the club statement says, “Hull City has, as a club, been left to reflect upon both the feelings of its own supporters and the implications for away fans in general. We have compared the policies of forces such as West Midlands Police with West Yorkshire Police, who operate under the same national ACPO and FA guidelines, yet apply them in diametrically opposing manners.”
The statement continues, “In listening to fans we recognise, and empathise with, the deep sense of grievance over West Yorkshire Police’s effective criminalisation of Hull City supporters. Therefore whilst reluctantly accepting the increase in ticket allocation and slight reduction in travel restrictions as the most practical solution for fans wishing to attend the match, we have also decided to support a protest march organised by the Football Supporters’ Federation, aimed at highlighting the treatment of away football fans.”
The march will begin in Huddersfield Town Centre, heading to Huddersfield Town’s John Smith’s Stadium prior to the match with a banner to be displayed over the empty away seats. Fans will have the option of protesting, boycotting or attending the game.
In this way the club hopes to reinforce its key message that “football is a spectator sport that is made complete by the presence of fans, home and away, with singing, banter, rivalry and a little rough humour; all of which combines with the match itself to create the heady cocktail of atmosphere that gives fans a great day out. Without fans, football stands at risk of becoming a dry, sterile affair lacking such emotion and passion that supporters so enthusiastically provide.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734780972labto1734780972ofdlr1734780972owedi1734780972sni@r1734780972ebab.1734780972kram1734780972