Cops defend policing of Scottish Cup final mayhem

[ian1964 10,417]

Hundreds could have been crushed: Cops defend policing of Scottish Cup final mayhem

 

COPS feared hundreds of fans could have been crushed if they had tried to stop the Scottish Cup final pitch invasion mayhem, a report revealed today.

 

In the findings, commissioned by the SFA into the shocking scenes which marred Hibs' win over Rangers in May, Police Scotland refuted accusations they failed to do their job properly.

 

And instead they heaped the blame on Hibs supporters – accusing them of trying to goad Rangers fans out to fight.

 

The police statement said: "... had there been sufficient officers to deter those in the front rows from entering the pitch, any such action could have had a catastrophic effect had the many thousands of fans at the rear of the stadium surged forward.

 

"In such a scenario, a crushing situation would have been inevitable and could have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities."

 

Scores of arrests have been made in the aftermath of the shame game, but police were criticised for allowing running battles to take place in the first place.

 

And the report adds: "It is also apparent that amongst the many thousands of fans determined to celebrate, there were a core of undesirable fans intent on 'goading' the Rangers fans and causing trouble."

 

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/7229895/Hundreds-could-have-been-crushed-Cops-defend-policing-of-Scottish-Cup-final-mayhem.html

[MacK1950 2,231]

The plod admitting what was obvious in the goading unbelievable but a second hand admission that we were not to blame perhaps.

[pete 2,499]

The plod admitting what was obvious in the goading unbelievable but a second hand admission that we were not to blame perhaps.

 

Can someone explain how crushing can occur when there are rows of seats. Yes there are the aisles

but if they stopped the first people entering the field then the rest stay put where they are sitting and no crush would happen. If there was a large police attendance at the danger areas then no one dares to run into them. The Police could have nipped it in the bud before it happened by having sufficient numbers but once the floodgates were open then yes there was no stopping the Hibs supporters

[the gunslinger 3,366]

How can they possibly expect anyone to buy that

[RANGERRAB 3,260]

Is that the best Plod Scotland can come up with ?

[tango 0]

What a joke of a statement, they blame the hits fans for invading the park and causing the trouble by goading our support then proceed to arrest considerably more Rangers fans than hibs , how do they work that out ?

[MacK1950 2,231]

It's is only red,white and blue they see with their tunnel vision.

[BEARGER 1,829]

Scottish Cup final 2016: Hibernian & Rangers to face SFA hearings

1 hour ago From the sectionFootball

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Police

Police formed an armed guard after supporters invaded the pitch

Hibernian and Rangers have been issued with notices of complaint by the Scottish FA's compliance officer in relation to the Scottish Cup final.

 

A pitch invasion took place after Hibs beat Rangers 3-2 on 21 May.

 

The clubs are alleged to have breached disciplinary rule 311, which states "damage was sustained to Hampden... as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters".

 

They have until 6 September to respond to the notices of complaint.

 

Principal hearing dates have been set for Hibs on 4 October and Rangers on 5 October.

 

The compliance officer looked at the cup final incidents after the publication of Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen's independent report into the day's events.

 

The SFA requested that report following the pitch invasion which occurred after the match. The report, published earlier this month, concluded that the Scottish government should consider making it a criminal offence to run on to a football pitch.

 

Fans entered the pitch at Hampden after Hibernian won their first Scottish Cup in 114 years.

 

Thousands of Hibs fans jumped the barriers at the final whistle and a number of Rangers fans also came on to the pitch.

 

The pitch invasion delayed the presentation of the trophy and there was no lap of honour by Hibs players.

 

Rangers players were not able to pick up their cup final medals.

 

Alleged rule breach in relation to Hibernian

In that at the above match you failed to adhere to the Cup Competition Rules, specifically Rule 28 of the Rules of The Scottish Cup. That at the above match damage was sustained to Hampden Stadium, being the stadium where the Scottish Cup Final was played, as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters of your Club. That the misbehaviour by your supporters occurred at the conclusion of the above match, whereby a number of your supporters carried out an incursion onto the pitch, and thereafter remained upon the pitch until cleared by Police Scotland and Stewards. That in the course of this misbehaviour by your supporters damage was sustained to the stadium, as follows:(i) To the surface of the pitch, portions of which were removed; and/or(ii) To a set of goal posts which were broken and had netting removed; and/or(iii) To parts of the LED advertising system situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of both the East Stand, and/or the North Stand; and/or(iv) To advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the East Stand.

Alleged rule breach in relation to Rangers

In that at the above match you failed to adhere to the Cup Competition Rules, specifically Rule 28 of the Rules of The Scottish Cup. That at the above match damage was sustained to Hampden Stadium, being the stadium where the Scottish Cup Final was played, as a consequence of misbehaviour by supporters of your Club. That the misbehaviour by your supporters occurred at the conclusion of the above match whereby, following on from a pitch incursion by supporters of Hibernian FC, a number of your supporters also carried out an incursion onto the pitch. That thereafter supporters of your Club who had engaged in the pitch incursion remained upon the pitch until cleared by Police Scotland and Stewards. That in the course of this misbehaviour by your supporters damage was sustained to the stadium, as follows:(i) To parts of the LED advertising system situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the North Stand, and /or the West Stand; and/or(ii) To advertising hoardings situated at the perimeter of the pitch, in the vicinity of the West Stand.

[TheWee BlueDevil 0]

Fantasy...................

[pete 2,499]

Fantasy...................

 

If I was the rep that was to attend then I would want to see footage of Rangers fans breaking the advertisement boards as the Hibs supporters were around them long before rangers supporters went on to the field.