Fresh claims in Albion steward row
Friday 26th February 2010, 11:25AM GMT.
Albion have dismissed as “ridiculous” claims that their stewards tried to attack Reading’s team coach in the wake of Wednesday’s fiery FA Cup clash.
The row over the confrontation between Reading players and Hawthorns stewards intensified today as Royals midfielder Brian Howard accused stewards of attempting to board the visitors’ coach.
But Albion responded with their second statement in two days backing up the behaviour of their matchday staff.
The statement by the club read: “Reading’s complaints about the stewards’ actions after Tuesday’s replay are ridiculous.
“Royals manager Brian McDermott complained in his post-match press conference about the conduct of the club’s security staff and his midfielder, Brian Howard, has today been quoted in a national newspaper accusing stewards of ‘trying to get on’ the Reading team coach.
“Albion totally refute these allegations and their stance has been supported by the independent match observer from West Midlands Police, who was satisfied with the stewards’ actions both during and after the match.
“The FA requested a copy of the video of the game and we have provided them with an unedited version of ITV’s coverage.
“If requested, we will also provide the FA with our closed circuit television footage. We are satisfied that, in difficult circumstances, the stewards acted in an appropriate manner.”
Reading manager Brian Howard accused stewards of over-reacting in a melee that followed the sending-off of Royals winger Jobi McAnuff after the final whistle.
The argument rumbled on today as Howard levelled fresh allegations.
He said: “Even after the match the stewards tried to get on the coach but luckily they were stopped otherwise it would have been carnage.
“They started taking their jackets off and pointing at us to get off the coach and fight them. A few of the lads were going to get off and have a go.
“I thought I was outside a local boozer at one in the morning, not a football ground.”
Howard also claimed stewards had persuaded referee Lee Mason to send off McAnuff, who was given his marching orders after the final whistle for violent conduct.
The Reading winger is reported to have grabbed Albion’s Youssouf Mululmbu after the midfielder kicked the ball in frustration at the end of Albion’s 3-2 defeat, striking McAnuff.
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match day stewards are there to keep fans off the pitch there nothing to do with football players and football games.
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By the way it’s they’re not there.
There was no police presence at the game on Wednesday. If they hadn’t have stepped in several of the officals and the Reading players and staff could have been seriously injured
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aint there an E in tracy,aye boing boing
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[post 1]
bed, You don’t know anything about stewarding so
refrain from making stupid comments on the subject.
[post 2]
Tracy, you know something about stewarding.good
observation.
During matchplay a referee can book a player who
runs to his fans in celebration after he scores a goal for crowd incitement.The referee is still
in control even after the final whistle.Was he being prevented from booking Reading players as
they were inciting the crowd.but could’t bcause
his health was in danger.the stewards have every
right to protect the match officials.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Oiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Jack how come you got all them post on dingle page wont let me put any on,i think bully fury is the only one who talks sence,aye boing boing
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This is truely pathetic. I can only conclude that Reading are trying to pass blame to WBA in the hope that the FA with reduce their punishment. I’m sorry but the melee at the end was completely the fault and the creation of the Reading players and staff. The altercation took place in front of where I sit and I had a birds eye view of the incident. One of the Reading coaching staff actually shoved the referee with such force, the ref stumbled backwards. It was the Linesman that informed the ref of the incident between Mulumbu and McAnuff. Regardless of the existence of provocation on not McAnuff’s reaction was out of order and he deserved to be red carded. The stewards at the Albion were in no way trying to stop the Reading players celebrating with their supporters, in fact they were trying to move them towards their supporters and away from the ref, who was in danager along with the other officals of being seriously injured. I would also like to point out the Albion players were either off the pitch or heading down the tunnel. The behaviour and reaction of the Reading players and staff was an utter disgrace. The only people who over reacted at that game were the Reading Staff and players who now it would seem are trying to avoid the punishment they rightly deserve
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Seeing as you have proclaimed yourself the grammar police, Tracy, thought you might like to know that truely has no e and the correct spelling is truly.
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Shewolf.
‘Seeing as you have etc.’ People who live in glasshouses…
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Shewolf!! how you doing girl, havent seen you on the E&S for ages, its all changed since we were the moderators for our teams boards hasnt it?
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[post 2+1]
Shewolf, You are correct,But don’t let that
overide the valid points Tracy has made.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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“Reading manager Brian Howard accused stewards of over-reacting” I should change this quickly E&S as Howard is a player. This business could end up in Court. Reading were obviously high as kites after their win, but their behaviour was inexcusable. I hope the FA fine them heavily and McAnuff deserves to miss the Villa match. Howard seems to be familiar with boozer low-life at 1am and blessed with a vivid imagination. If our videos prove he was lying, he should be made to apologise publicly.
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So not true, i was in the East stand upper an i’m afraid our stewards WERE trying to stop the Reading players from getting to Reading fans!
I agree the stewards did need to intervene out on the touchline but once the Reading players starting walking off towards the Smethwick end they had no right still being on the pitch IMO.
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[post 4]
T P
During matchplay a fan runs on the playing suface
the stewards have the right to go onto the pitch and remove the fan.If Readings players are inciting the fans,Stewards have every right to be on the playing surface.Afterall the stewards
are trying to prevent a what could be a riot.
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P.S.
Shewolf, There is an a in the wrong place as
I altered the sentence.Sorry.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Study the photo in this article. All Reading. Not an Albion player anywhere in sight.
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If yow wuk like sum spelin lessuns tRACEY or leern the inglish vocabuleery i wil be moor thun appy tuw elp aye boing boing
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[post 6]
Terry,
Od luv sum as aer dou noe wot “WUK” meens, Aer dou,Pal.
~~~~BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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Pity players daint show as much fight as the stewards,aye boing boing
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And that’s why you’ll still be in the fizzy pop league next year. Newcastle & Forest to go up automatically, joined by Cardiff.
Blame Jack the Hat for this message! It’s the first of MANY.
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And if we are you,l be with us laughing stock,whipping boys,i want me money back mick played wrong team i aint going agen,please jez tell him.aye boing boing whingers
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Naughty Jack the Hat. How dare you incite this typically well balanced Dingle. Sorry Cape Hill, if we’re nice to you will you include us in your prediction please. Pretty please?
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Cape hill
RE: your “threat”
So, now we know what it`s like to be savaged by a spring lamb.
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If you were at the game.The reading fans were leaving there seats to go to the front of the stand and try to get on the pitch so they can get shirts the players were giving them. Causing a hillsborough style pushing and squashing people at the front. the players had no regard for the safety of the fans at the front. Also it was causing albion fans in the smethwick end to try and jump the devide to get to reading fans who was goading albion fans. So thats why the stewards were TRYING to stop reading players going to there fans. They could have celebrated from a safe distance.
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nice 1 terry, come on u baggies , lets do derby
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mr randle note noone is saying our players were to blame. i think the steward have overstepped the mark there was no trouble till they decided to make there presence felt. like a bully with a little bit of power gone to there heads.
what happens if the f.a.decide the stewards over reacted do we get fined.
also imagine if that was albion players trying to celebrate at away ground and their stewards acted that way, how would you feel. it maybe we are trying to enjoy promotion at the end of the season and if stewards acted like that their might be a riot.
mind you the way things are going it ay gona happen
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You’re right, no one including Cyril has accused any Wolves players of being involved.
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To be honest, I don’t think us fans should worry to much about an on-going investigation regarding a melee between our stewards and Reading footballers after the game.
We should be more concerned about the 120 minuntes leading up to that….because them 120 minutes of the night were the biggest joke of the evening by a country mile!.
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