A new Red Issue hits the streets on Saturday, and it is still only £1.50. All the usual guff inside, if you’re not in the habit of buying it then give it a try. You’ll probably like it, and you’ll help contribute to the site’s upkeep. If you don’t make it to Old Trafford, why not subscribe? Links are at the bottom of this article. Below is a taster of last month’s editorial.
‘To Middlesbrough, where it would be little exaggeration to say martial law applies every time United play. Reds travelling up to the land that time (and justice) forgot on New Year’s Day were naïve if they travelled with any expectation of enjoying a good day out. From the minute United fans’ coaches passed Thirsk the police were intent on showing who’s in charge, and anyone who saw fit to question it would become swiftly acquainted with the four walls of a cell. That notorious hooligan gang who travel on Boyle’s coaches were held for an hour by police at services, 20 miles outside Middlesbrough; after which they were left with no option but be escorted straight to the ground, in good time to watch the grass grow for an hour and a half before kick-off. No chance of going to a pub of their choice. No chance of walking the Queen’s highway through the lovely town of Middlesbrough. No chance of attempting to find something edible to eat (other than the rat burger bars in the vicinity of the stadium). The police were clearly leaving nothing to chance, so similar treatment was meted out to those raging savages who take the option of the official members’ coaches to away games. Everyone ferried along by the kind officers of the law, just in case, you know, they couldn’t actually find the ground of their own accord.
‘The amazing thing is, no one ever stops to question what exactly this treatment is all about. On the way home the police escort continued for about 30 miles. Woe betide any coach party which attempted to stop off in a town on the way for refreshments, or heaven forbid, a BEER. It’s unlikely any will have tried in any case, as caring police motorcyclists blocked off all slip roads en route, clearly keen that United fans return home as quickly as possible to the families they’d abandoned during the holiday season. Suggest to a normal non match-going acquaintance that as a football fan you lose all normal civil rights and they’ll think you’re being ludicrous. As if that happens! But it does, time and time again and like the little lambs that we all are, we accept it as part and parcel of the matchday experience and head off home to await the next game. Well bollocks.
‘If Middlesbrough police genuinely think that United fans’ attendance in pubs in the Middlesbrough area poses such a risk to public law and order then they should deal with the local cavemen posing that risk, instead of treating honest, law-abiding United like criminals. What right do they have to detain fans on coaches and forcibly escort them to a football ground anyway? The Court of Appeal passed judgement last month on the case of anti-war protestors who were stopped by police for almost 3 hours without arrest on the way to a demonstration - such treatment was a breach of their human rights. Lord Chief Justice Woolf stated that, “the passengers were virtually prisoners on the coaches”. The puny police argument that officers were in fact defending the protestors’ right to life by detaining them was rightly dismissed. If the anti-war brigade can defend themselves in such a way, there’s no reason why United fans and others can’t do likewise. Instead of meek acceptance in cases such as this we should all be writing off letters of complaint; demanding explanations and assurances that it won’t happen again. As it is the police treat football fans like they do because they know they can get away with it. Speak out of turn and they’ll lock you up. Bang goes the ticket and travel you’ve forked out for as well as you having your day ruined and an appearance in court on some trumped up charge pencilled into the diary. But it’s got to the stage where something has to be done, someone has to stand up to this bullying and abuse of fans by police up and down the country.
‘Clearly there are certain civil order issues with football matches that aren’t present at anti-war demonstrations but the principle holds: that police have to respect the law just as much as civilians. The hooliganism of the ‘70s is of a bygone era; those days are gone, finished. What went before should be a lesson to the authorities today but it doesn’t give them carte blanche to set aside the civil rights of football fans on the basis of what matches were like, once upon a time.
‘At present football fans are the guinea pigs continually experimented on by this authoritarian government and its agents as they gradually erode all notion of liberty and free speech. Maybe in the 16 years Red Issue’s been around society’s changed but the radicalism that was present amongst fans back then isn’t evident now. National identity cards? Thatcher’s very best efforts couldn’t even implement a football ID card system, such was the opposition. In those early days of the mag, no one - not even Kenny Dalglish or Ian Rush - was demonised more in these pages than Colin Moynihan, the minister responsible for implementing the government’s membership scheme. Yet here we are in 2005 with police running the show, dictating what you and I can do at, and on our way to, football matches: the legality of it being an irrelevance. Which brings us nicely on to those stewards…
‘Anyone would think the ‘Boro police were in league with the club ferrying all those fans straight to the ground, with no option but to go in the ground and - che-ching! - give their money to MFC. Clearly though, that’s a conspiracy theory too far. What exactly though, were the 7 or 8 (possibly more) police doing with hand-held cameras filming United fans who refused to sit down during the match? Of what concern is it to them? Whilst it may well be a regulation that stadia in the top flight have to be all-seater, nowhere is it enshrined in law that fans have to remain seated whilst in seated accommodation. (And we won’t even mention Trafford Council’s study revealing that it’s safer to stand than sit in seated areas at matches. Note the appeal to ‘be upstanding’ for the minute’s silence too, it didn’t seem to be a problem then.) The ‘Boro stewards’ subsequent treatment of United fans, backed up by the local plod, was a disgrace and is something else that needs addressing through letters to MPs, IMUSA, United etc. There’s a worrying pattern developing this season that the police seem rather keen to arrest football fans. Anyone would think the more people they slap a banning order on the more justification they will have to appeal for extra government funding to tackle terrorism’s little brother, “hooliganism”. After all, everyone’s aware how this government adores its performance leagues and tables. Certainly the 65 (sixty-five) supporters nicked at Portsmouth the other month on trumped up D&D charges would think something’s afoot. (In comparison, during 02/03 there were only 79 arrests at Old Trafford all season.) Sensibly though, the magistrate refused to bow to police demands for 3 year bans. Such enlightenment is not notable amongst those serving on the bench however.
‘This stance seems even to have extended to the officers assigned to United games on a regular basis. Whereas in the past the liaison/intelligence officers would have had a cheery “hello” handy and could often be seen chatting to Reds at games (even those who might have been pathologically averse to the police would known to concede “they’re ok I suppose”), it’s hard to find anyone who has a friendly word to describe the current incumbents. Hardly an ideal situation for what are essentially United’s “community coppers”. Indeed word from Middlesbrough suggests their police have been to Manchester to advise on implementing civil banning orders, so successful have they been in curtailing the activities of ‘Boro’s “element”. Hardly reassuring stuff for those exposed to the hospitality on offer in the north-east last weekend.'