| FSA
Publishes Euro 2000 Reports
The Football Supporters Association
today formally presented two reports on Euro 2000 to the Football Association. The
first gave the supporters' view on the tournament as a whole and the work of the
'Fans embassy', run by the FSA, in conjunction with other fans organisations, with the
generous financial support of the Government and One -to One.
FSA Chair
Malcolm Clarke said "This is a warts and all report ,which highlights the
problems as well as the things which went well. We call for a new system of selling
tickets and are critical of some of the arrangements, such as the transport chaos caused
by the Mayor of Brussels. We show that some of the media coverage of trouble was much
exaggerated, although we do recognise that there is an issue to be tackled concerning
racism and bad behaviour by a small number of people who attach themselves to England's
matches"
The second report deals in detail with the deportations of a large number of England fans by the Belgian Police and gives disturbing evidence of the way in which large numbers of totally innocent fans were very badly treated by the Belgian authorities. FSA Chair Malcolm Clarke said "This report, prepared by people from our fans embassy, makes chilling reading. There is no doubt that many innocent fans were deported having done nothing at all. Not only that, they were very badly treated by the Belgian Police whilst they were in custody and were sent home handcuffed and without their belongings. We call upon the British authorities to show as much concern about the treatment meted out to these innocent British citizens as they show about that small minority who misbehave" The reports will be presented to The Football Association on 4th September. Links: The second report is available on-line here. 3 September 2000 Supporters Direct Officially Launched On 5th September, Culture Secretary Chris Smith will formally launch 'Supporters Direct', a government backed scheme which provides support to organised groups of fans who wish to raise funds, usually by share purchase, to assist their Club. In return for this investment, the group would normally expect to gain representation at board level. In welcoming the launch, FSA National Chair Malcolm Clarke commented: "We fully support this initiative which arose out of the work of the Government's Football Task Force, and we welcome the support which the Government is giving to it. We call upon all clubs where fans wish to set up a Supporters Trust to give strong encouragement and respond positively to the fans' proposals" Further information is available on the Supporters' Direct website here. 3 September 2000 FSA Launches Campaign to Defend Innocent Euro 2000 Fans The Football Supporters’ Association today launched a campaign, including telephone and e-mail helplines, to help those hundreds of innocent English fans who were wrongly arrested by the Belgian authorities during Euro 2000. The campaign is intended to seek redress and compensation where possible, in particular for those deported, and to ensure that those who have not committed any offences do not have their Euro 2000 misery compounded by subsequently appearing on lists of "known hooligans" and being subjected to future banning orders. The FSA’s spokesperson for Euro 2000, Kevin Miles, said: "Senior Belgian Police Officers have admitted that they knowingly arrested hundreds of England fans who had done absolutely nothing wrong. Many were deported and we intend to do whatever we can to seek redress and compensation for them. "All those arrested innocently have already had their Euro 2000 experience spoilt. We intend to ensure that they do not, by their inclusion on lists of ‘hooligans’, have their potential enjoyment of future international tournaments ruined too. "We believe that badly-targeted measures like these, which have a negative impact on genuine fans, undermine vital efforts to isolate and marginalise the real hooligans." The FSA is urging any supporter wrongly arrested and/or deported from Belgium to:
Over the last week of England’s participation in Euro 2000, nearly one thousand English supporters were arrested in Belgium. According to figures released this week by the Home Secretary Jack Straw, the overwhelming majority of these arrests were so-called ‘administrative arrests’. To date only 25 people have been charged with any football related offence. Only one of those arrested was the subject of any kind of banning order, with a further 15 being known to Police (although unconvicted) for involvement in football-related offences. This leaves over 95% of those arrested against whom there is no current evidence nor any previous evidence of hooliganism - in other words innocent people. As well as a poor Euro 2000 experience, those innocent people who were deported have already had to suffer the trauma of explaining to friends, family, neighbours, and employers why they were returned to the UK under such circumstances. They also have to bear the cost of having personal belongings recovered from hotels, camp sites and even car parks across Belgium. The clamour currently being generated by politicians of all hues keen to make a name for themselves, bolstered by some sections of the media, raises the possibility of those arrested facing further injustice by being included on black lists. This could include having their passport stamped, potentially being refused entry to any country in the future, being prevented from travelling to future international football matches, and being banned for life from the clubs they support. The FSA supports firm action to remove from football individuals who have been found guilty of football-related offences, and welcomes the Home Office suggestion to create a single Banning Order to apply to convicted hooligans. We have however consistently opposed proposals to take action against individuals who have not been convicted through due legal process, and have argued against any attempt to render football supporters the only section of British society no longer presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case studies being generated through the events of the last week have underlined the importance of this principle. The FSA is working with a number of partners in the UK and Belgium to seek any possible redress and compensation, as well as an assurance that no future action will be taken against the innocent. We are keen to trace these people and have set up this Helpline number where they can contact us. 24 June 2000 Cambridge United Launch Internet Ground The petition reads: "We urge the DETR to approve the sale of a small amount of Whitehill Road Allotment land to enable CUFC to redevelop the Abbey Stadium and thereby secure the long-term future of Professional Football in Cambridge" CUFC Director Richard Summerfield said, "Although the redevelopment plans now have the support of Cambridge City Council and the Whitehill Allotment Society, we still need John Prescott’s office to approve the change of use of the handful of allotment plots needed. We can’t be complacent, and it is essential that we make the DETR fully aware that the people of Cambridge and beyond are fully behind the much needed development. You can sign the electronic version of the
petition on U's Net by clicking here,
which is the ideal way for long-distance and exiled fans - and those of other Clubs - to
get involved and show their support. 20 March 2000 Change of Conference Venue 18 March 2000 FSA Conference 2000 The year's conference will be held at Watford FC on
Saturday, 3rd June. Further details will be made available on this website closer to
the date. 26 February 2000 Fans Lobby of Parliament The lobby is supported by CoFS, the FSA, the NFFSC, many ISA's and fanzines and supporters groups all over the country. The FSA urges fans to come to London on Thursday, 2nd March, wearing a team shirt or scarf, to play a part in demonstrating the unity that exists amongst fans from every club, all over the country, to improve the way football is run. The purposes of the lobby are to:
There will be plenty of people on hand to offer advice, assistance and support. The nearest tube station is Westminster, on the Jubilee, Circle and District lines. Itinerary for the day
It is very important that the lobby is used as an opportunity to discuss issues at individual Clubs, such as ticket prices, changed match days because of TV, the need for financial controls over Directors, redistribution of TV income over the whole league structure etc. If you can attend Parliament on this day, please let Mark Longden know on 0161 431 3446 (home), 0788 757 5933 (mobile) or 0161 748 3824 (work). 25 February 2000 The FSA has issued a Fans Charter on television's influence in football - an issue which was outside that of the Task Force's remit. The Charter has been backed by the Confederation of Football Supporters, and says that:
The charter is supported in Early Day Motion 243 (see news for 18/2/2000). 25 February 2000 FSA calls for support of Majority Taskforce
report in Parliament The Football Task Force ended in December 1999 issuing a split report. This was divided between the Majority Report backed by supporters' organisations and independent members; and the Minority Report, written by the football authorities. We want the Government to implement the majority report, which calls for:
The Minority report has no such recommendations and offers only a token Independent Scrunity Panel for football, with voluntary proposals for clubs. Derek Wyatt, the MP for Sittingbourne, has tabled an Early Day Motion which asks the Government to implement the majority report. The text of the EDM is: FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS AND THE FOOTBALL TASK FORCE That this House welcomes the collaborative work of the various football supporter organisations; warmly welcomes the Fans Charter for the Televising of Football; congratulates them also on their constructive work in the deliberations of the Football Task Force; further welcomes the majority report of the Football Task Force on Commercial Issues concerning the game; supports its recommendations for greater supporter involvement, for a strong code of practice, for the appointment of a football audit commission to provide independent regulation and of an 'Ombudsfan' to act as the consumers' champion; accepts that the football authorities have made some progress in addressing the serious problems of financial impropiety, but regrets that the proposals contained in their minority report fall short of what is required; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government and the Football Association to implement the recommendations of the Task Force's majority report without delay. To date, 102 MP's have signed this EDM. A list of the members who have signed the motion can be found at: http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=243 Ask your MP to support the Early Day Motion 243 in the House of
Commons. The All-Party Football Group of MPs has unanimously supported this EDM. Write to: (Your MP's name), House of Commons, Westminster, London,
SW1A 0AA. Leave the Minister of Sport, Kate Hoey, in no doubt that football fans want the majority report implemented and that you want our game, and your club, safeguarded. Write (or copy the letter you send to your MP) to Kate Hoey MP, Department of Culture, Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH (fax 0171 211 6249) The Government has made a big play of being football-friendly. When they set up the Task Force they said they wanted the game secured in the interests of all fans. Now is the time for them to prove it, but they won't do anything unless fans pressure them to do so. So now is also the time for you to act. 18 February 2000 |
