West Brom ask EFL to help young disabled fans
Albion are in talks with the EFL to see if they will change their policy and issue iFollow codes to the carers of young disabled fans.
The Baggies will resume their Championship campaign when they host Birmingham on June 20 – with Slaven Bilic’s side having nine games to win a spot in the Premier League.
A large percentage of those matches will be streamed on the EFL’s iFollow service – with season ticket holders having been given the option to exchange their tickets for codes that will allow them to watch the matches online.
The terms and conditions of iFollow, however, prevent under-18s from using the service.
And that means disabled season ticket holders like 12-year-old Evan Sidaway – from Kingswinford – will have to miss out on watching their team during the run-in.
“Me and a few other mums are all Albion fans and take our kids to the football,” explained Evan’s mum Clare.
“If Evan was a typical child like my daughter, I would have my own season ticket. I could then exchange that ticket for the iFollow codes.
“But my carer’s ticket is in his name, it effectively belongs to him.
“That means I can’t exchange it for the codes and neither can he because he’s under 18.
“Evan has been a season ticket holder for six years and plays for Albion’s power chair team. He wants to hopefully see his team win promotion.
“Most junior season ticket holders will go to the games with a parent or guardian who will then exchange their season ticket for the codes so they can continue to watch Albion as a family.
“But the rules aren’t the same for everybody which feels really unfair.
“It’s the principle of the matter – as a parent of a disabled child you always feel you are fighting for something.
“This feels like another thing we have to fight.”
Albion have begun talks with the EFL to find a solution to the problem and have proposed carers are issued with codes so that disabled youngsters don’t miss out.
The Baggies have also confirmed only season ticket holders will be able to stream games on iFollow if a match is being broadcast by Sky.
Albion games not being broadcast by the television giant will be available on iFollow to all supporters for a one-off fee.
But if you are not a season ticket holder and the game is on Sky, signing up for a Sky pass will be the only way you will be able to view the match.
