Bury fc stadium shut down.

[claretdj]

Bury Football Club has been informed by Manchester FA that an independent committee has decided that due to the offensive comments made by two supporters during our game against West Didsbury and Chorlton in September, we should be forced to play our next two home games behind closed doors.

We reported the incident at the time, and provided video and other evidence to the police to assist their enquiries at some considerable cost to the club. We have not disputed the claims made. The individuals have not yet had their case heard by the law enforcement authorities and have been prevented from entering the stadium indefinitely whilst we await the outcome.

Our grounds for appeal are limited. We have accepted the facts of the incident, and do not believe that we acted in a way which was anything other than responsible and measured. We accept that the two individuals involved could have been removed from the stadium immediately but the stewards took a view at the time to stop any further problems and review the situation afterwards. We paid additional money to a CCTV specialist to review footage and provided this to the police. Our stewarding costs are £3-4,000 per game, it is not something we take lightly.

The basis of our appeal is that the punishment is excessive. We have seen multiple incidents over recent years of groups of supporters collectively issuing racist, misogynistic and homophobic abuse, as well as tragedy chanting. These have gone unpunished or have been dealt with by fines. We acted on the day. We are unable to completely control the words of two people in a crowd of 3,838 on that particular occasion.

We accept there should be a punishment, but excluding every well-behaved football supporter from a stadium which has already excluded those who perpetrated the offences, does nothing to promote inclusion.

The loss of revenue is extremely damaging and our belief is that it would be far better to use that revenue to fund a campaign intended to positively promote diversity and inclusion. Football needs to change, this would help make that change.

A stadium closure throws this opportunity away and is likely to ignite a more divisive and polarised debate on these important issues.

We have taken huge strides to actively promote diversity and inclusion since forming the club and have raised money and awareness throughout the borough through the hard work of our volunteers, many of whom will be deeply dismayed by this judgement as it punishes them despite their efforts.

For this reason we intend to appeal. It is not because we are in any way dismissive of the issues involved. The appeal process will take a number of weeks and we will continue to play in front of supporters during this period, and we will keep supporters updated as to any progress made as it happens.

We are also concerned that this specific judgment has been published publicly whilst matters are still being considered by the relevant law enforcement authorities.

[fidelcastro]

It does seem excessive on the face of it, and I doubt the same punishment would be dished out in the EPL or FL, but at least the response from Bury is a statement that is clear and actually says something, unlike the ones we've been subjected to for the last year or so under these owners.

[claretdj]

I don't see how they can impose a 2 game ban though for 2 idiots who they have identified & provided the cctv to the fa. Seems extremely excessive & don't know what else the club could of done to prevent it?

[claretonthecoast1882]

I don't see how they can impose a 2 game ban though for 2 idiots who they have identified & provided the cctv to the fa. Seems extremely excessive & don't know what else the club could of done to prevent it?

If they closed our ground every ime someone said something stupid, none of us would get to watch a live game again

[CrosspoolClarets]

Things appear on the verge of getting out of control on these issues.

This was no doubt a very serious case, I don’t know the details nor do I need to.

But our club (some will feel correctly) are constantly asking to refrain from abusive chanting, other clubs are too, it feels a bit like using a finger to stop a dyke, to use the old idiom. We can’t suddenly change a working class culture of millions, both the language used and the tribal aspect. It won’t work. If draconian punishments start getting handed out wider than just to the perpetrators, there will be chaos. I don’t doubt for a minute that this punishment at Bury will start to trickle up the pyramid.

Finally, the language used, loudly, by managers is appalling. On the touchline, in front of kids etc. the Wrexham documentary and the Burnley one are both examples of this. Probably not illegal in those instances but if clubs are asking fans not to be “abusive” they may be best advised to get their own senior staff to comply first, because what we hear from managers is definitely abusive at times.

[daveisaclaret]

It feels unfair to punish all spectators for the actions of a few but for that behaviour to take place at a football match for a sustained period is not acceptable, with no action taken to get those guilty out of the ground. It speaks poorly of the fans generally that the behaviour wasn't stopped by their own, frankly.

[TheFamilyCat]

It does seem excessive on the face of it, and I doubt the same punishment would be dished out in the EPL or FL, but at least the response from Bury is a statement that is clear and actually says something, unlike the ones we've been subjected to for the last year or so under these owners.

Getting a dig in about our owners with the first reply on a thread that has absolutely nothing to do with Burnley must be some sort of record.

Well played

[Kilson810]

Amazing how the FA throws the book at the 'little' clubs time and time again, yet rarely punish any of the 'big' clubs.

[Burnley1989]

Getting a dig in about our owners with the first reply on a thread that has absolutely nothing to do with Burnley must be some sort of record.

Well played

I did think that as well tbf

[daveisaclaret]

It's also the seventh misconduct charge for Bury relating to fan behaviour since 2021.

[claptrappers_union]

So basically, the wages of players, matchday staff, and the livelihood of local businesses such as local shops, pubs, and restaurants have been stripped away because of two idiots. No one is winning from this stupid decision.

[claptrappers_union]

"The appeal process will take a number of weeks and we will continue to play in front of supporters during this period, and we will keep supporters updated as to any progress made as it happens."

[Woodleyclaret]

We had a clown near us who was passing offensive remarks with foul language all of the first half at Fulham He was totally off his head and the stewards did nothing despite many complaints from Burnley fans around him.
He was a total embarrassed to himself and our club .I spoke to the senior steward at half time and he confirmed that they had heard him .They promised to have a word and he was quieter in the second half The point being he should have been evicted long before then

[Walton]

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[Walton]

Bury's statement conveniently leaves out that 7 other previous charges were also behind the reason behind the stadium ban

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