A regional publisher has been accused of reinforcing “negative stereotypes” about football supporters after running a series of articles about alleged police incidents involving fans.
The Football Supporters’ Federation, a national representative body for fans of the sport, has criticised Reach plc over stories run by a number of its regional titles in recent weeks, claiming they offer a “lack of scrutiny and a lack of analysis”.
The articles in question were based on Freedom of Information request responses from the British Transport Police regarding alleged incidents the force had recorded which involved football fans.
But, despite some of the stories referring to “crimes committed” by fans of certain clubs, the FSF says none of the incidents mentioned in the FoI responses are “proven criminal offences”.
In one instance, the Grimsby Telegraph erroneously claimed supporters of Grimsby Town FC had been “charged” with crimes including sexual assault and inciting violence.
The Telegraph later admitted it had used the wrong terminology and amended the online version of the article after being challenged by FSF national council member Kristine Green.
In a statement on the Twitter account of its sister website Grimsby Live, the Telegraph said: “The social headline should’ve not had ‘charged’ in it – the Twitter/Facebook card was briefly published incorrectly.
“The FoI was made nationally on a wider piece regarding concerns over fan-related incidents on trains. Updates on specific incidents are being sought.”
Other Reach titles to run stories based on the statistics include the Birmingham Mail, Bristol Post, Coventry Telegraph, Glasgow Live, Hull Daily Mail, Leeds Live and the Nottingham Post.
FSF director of casework Amanda Jacks told HTFP: “There’s a lack of scrutiny and a lack of analysis. None of these are proven criminal offences.
“We are aware that ultimately football fans reflect, and are, society.
“These articles have a tendency to reflect negative stereotypes around football supporters – the vast majority of whom, as proven by Home Office arrest statistics, are law-abiding. What was the point of the articles?”
Amanda added: “I’m always more than happy to discuss with journalists interested in doing football-related stories and they should feel free to contact me.”
HTFP has asked Reach for a comment.
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Sadly there is always an element of nutters in a football crowd.
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If I can add my anecdotal evidence on this topic, as someone who travels with the Mariners fans every time they reach Wembley (a surprisingly regular occurrence) – and has mixed widely with football fans across England, Wales, Germany and Italy – I’ve never met a nuttier, or more amiable bunch of supporters than the Black ‘n’ White Army.
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Will always remember the half time announcements at Welford Road when watching Leicester Tigers play Harlequins and Leicester City were also playing at home.
“Attendance at Filbert Street this afternoon is approximately 14,200. Attendance at Welford Road today is 17,400″
Big cheer
“Number of police in attendance at Filbert Street is around 200. Number of police at Welford Road?”
Big pause….
“I think I saw a traffic warden outside!”
Says it all.
I would never ever subject one of my grand children to the language and verbal abuse in a football ground but regularly take them to rugby matches.
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Lyetownmax. That wasn’t the sort of nutter I had in mind. I mean the drunken foul mouthed psychos . You mean the charming eccentrics and true wits, I guess.
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