We are pleased to report that as a result of the work undertaken before and after the play-off final against Wythenshawe Town, the club will face no further sanctions. The suspended sanction put in place last year still remains a concern for us, and it does not expire until the end of September.
The club had been charged with failing to ensure spectators and/or its supporters (and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers) conducted themselves in an orderly fashion under FA Rule E21 with four specific incidents of misconduct referenced, namely a pitch invasion, throwing plastic cups of liquid onto the pitch, use of pyrotechnics and fighting.
The club provided evidence of the significant efforts made in advance of the game to mitigate any crowd problems, and the firm and decisive action taken subsequently. This included engagement with opponents, local police and relevant footballing authorities in advance of the game, and the investigations and sanctions imposed on the supporters whose behaviour brought the charges against the club. Ground regulations and sanctions are posted around the ground outside turnstiles and available online by clicking the linked text.
The commission urged us to continue with these efforts into the new season and we will adopt a similar approach to the management of home and away games, accepting we can only advise other clubs as we are not the ultimate decision makers for their home fixtures.
