
We will continue to work on a number of other issues arising from this incident. In particular, the need for a better working relationship between stewards and police, and a rethink of the policy of ‘containment’ adopted by police and stewards which we believe is not appropriate and which contributed to the crushing some fans experienced on the night. Through our work with the club’s police and safety committee and, hopefully, increased input into the Safety Advisory Group, we will also seek greater clarity on how responsibilities are divided between police and stewards during such incidents.
We’re pleased THFC acknowledged issues with some of the tone and content of its initial responses to NUFC fans who contacted it with complaints. The apology issued by the club to those fans who experienced problems, together with the implementation of the improvements mentioned above, demonstrates a genuine commitment to working with supporter groups in this vital area.
We can now use this experience as an example, alongside the improvements secured by cooperation between fan groups and the authorities following problems at last year’s Merseyside derby at Anfield, in our ongoing efforts to ensure better treatment for all fans. In particular, we will be highlighting these positive benefits as we continue to press for a positive response from Chelsea FC after the significant problems Spurs fans experienced at Stamford Bridge in December.