Salford Red Devils could be hit with heavy fans following an outbreak of anti-social behaviour at their recent game against Hull KR this past weekend, where fans were reported for letting off pyrotechnics, throwing beers across the stands and two men were arrested on suspicion of assault.
The Greater Manchester rugby league side lost 12-0 in a fraught Super League fixture both on and off the performance on Saturday, 16 September, with the travelling Red Devils having to make their own inside Hull’s Craven Park stadium.
Sadly, however, the atmosphere amongst many supporters took a less-than-desirable turn for some as flares were set off in the stands and Salford fans reportedly began throwing beers at the home section.
According to local press, some of the anti-social behaviour took place outside of the ground as well, with five individuals being ejected from the stadium and two men being arrested on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm. Salford issued a response condemning the behaviour a couple of days later.
Salford Red Devils are set to punish their own fans once a full investigation has been carried out.
The statement goes on to explain that they are now “investigating incidents of anti-social behaviour” at the game and details how not only did the reported incident “place others at risk” but could also “result in the club being issued heavy fines.”
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While the club insisted they “are proud of the passion so often displayed in the stands by our fans” and “understand the excitement on the field can get us all carried away at times”, they reinforced that supporters have a “collective responsibility to ensure a respectful and safe environment for all to enjoy.”
Recognising that incidents of disorder were only committed by a small group of fans, they reiterated that they “should not and will not be allowed to give our supporters a bad name”, assuring that they will now be taking appropriate action and issuing bans where necessary.
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Speaking to ITV, fan Becky Green said that another woman in the stands had brought along her daughter for her first game and the young girl sadly had “beer thrown over her”, adding, “It’s the worst crowd of fans that we have had all years to be honest.”
Police are now said to be working with both clubs to identify the individuals responsible for the various incidents of anti-social behaviour and misconduct.
Humberside’s Chief Superintendent Christine Wilson said: “We know that the majority of people who go to rugby matches just want to support their team to win, and that was a great game marred by a small number of supporters who had the potential to cause real harm.”
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Authorities are yet to confirm where the two men arrested have been charged.
Featured Image — Salford Red Devils/Hull KR (via IG)/ Red Robins Podcast (via Twitter)
Sport
Tickets go live as opening date is announced for Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience
Emily Sergeant
Tickets to visit Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience have officially gone live ahead of the grand opening.
Set to open in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus next month, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces – with visitors invited to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans will also be able to take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“The Museum Experience has been designed as a destination that goes beyond just the pitch,” commented Jeremy Maxton, who is the Director of Visitor Attractions at Manchester City Football Club.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, visiting Manchester for a weekend, or simply looking for a unique day out, we’ve created an experience that offers something for everyone.
“From the recreated environments and original memorabilia to the interactive elements, there are different ways into the Club’s history throughout the Museum.
“We’ve also built in space for new stories to be added over time, so the experience can continue to evolve. It’s been a huge project to bring together and we’re looking forward to people seeing it for themselves later this year.”
The Manchester City Museum Experience officially opens on 14 December, and you can now book tickets to visit from that date here.
Featured Image – Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
Sport
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Danny Jones -
21st September 2023 
