The racist incidents involving Swansea City and Cardiff City fans, as revealed by British Transport Police
9 DEC 2015
BY MATTHEW SOUTHCOMBE
The behaviour of a minority of fans following the Welsh clubs has been revealed in official incidents logged by British Transport Police
The British Transport Police are kept busy on match days
British Transport Police have revealed they logged racist incidents involving Swansea City and Cardiff City fans this season.
The incidents can be revealed as part of 276 reported by the police between the start of the season and November 7, figures obtained by Trinity Mirror's data unit under a freedom of information request.
Monkey gestures and spitting at a police officer are included in the reports.
The vast majority of Swans and Bluebirds supporters travel up and down the country to follow their idols without causing any trouble, but for some that appears to be too much to ask according to the police log.
The behaviour of a section of fans has been logged by the BTP, with one incident involving 40 Swansea supporters on the away trip to Southampton amongst the worst recorded in the country.
The British Transport Police log says 40 "intoxicated" Swans fans "were witnessed to be taking part in racist chanting and making monkey gestures to a family who were sitting on the platform."
The Premier League match, which took place on September 26, was won 3-1 by Southampton.
The other Swansea incident happened two weeks earlier on September 12, the day of the 1-0 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road.
On that occasion a small group of intoxicated fans were reported by escorting officers after repeated warnings about their disorderly behaviour.
British Transport Police also record two incidents involving Cardiff fans.
On the day of the Bluebirds' away game against QPR in London on August 12, the police log says five supporters used racist, foul and abusive language whilst forcing their way through a platform barrier without tickets.
Another incident was logged on the opening day of the season, when the Bluebirds met Fulham at home. On that occasion a Cardiff fan spat in the face of an officer whilst being arrested for assaulting other passengers.
Most incidents were recorded against Aston Villa fans, with 22 logged. Manchester City and Celtic fans have been involved in 12 each, Newcastle 11 and Leeds and Birmingham 10.
There were also 19 incidents where the club supported was not known.
One of the worst incidents reported since the beginning of the season happened when a fan was beaten up by Manchester United fans during their visit to Aston Villa.
A group of United fans were harassing a young fan when another person intervened, resulting in the good Samaritan being struck several times by the three fans.
In September, a police officer was struck on the back of the head by a half-empty can of lager after it was thrown by an Aston Villa fan.
An incident involving Manchester City fans saw a 14-year-old subjected to racial abuse.
And a train guard made a report on behalf of a female passenger following 'sexual touching' by Everton fans when they travelled to see their side take on Tottenham.
Asked for a comment, Cardiff City responded by saying figures supplied by South Wales Police show there has been a steady decline in arrests of Bluebirds fans over a ten year period.
Swansea City have been asked for a comment and say they will respond. |  |
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