Incidents with Wales away
Not sure if it has been posted yet, but wanted to share this post by Vince Alm. It is important that we are all aware because it is only us the fans that can stop it.
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It’s very disappointing that I find myself on behalf of FSF Cymru writing this post after many years of being proud of the welsh football fans abroad.
There have unfortunately been some unsavoury incidents, and inappropriate chanting creeping into the last couple of Wales away games since euro 2016 from a minority of supporters.
Personally, I started to see the first signs of it in Moldova where supporters drinking outside the bars many of whom were facing out towards the street, (in the past welsh fans have stood outside bars just talking and singing songs in groups rather than facing outward) and intimidating female passers by either clapping or making derogatory remarks. Some of the more travelled welsh fans tried to challenge the group once it started to turn from a bit of a laugh to being rude and distasteful accusing them of behaving like other countries supporters when abroad which led to a couple of arguments. Some may think this minor, but if you are a female running that gauntlet it wasn’t nice for them and painted a pretty bad image in general of welsh fans.
We are now receiving complaints from welsh football fans who travelled to Aarhus, and Dublin regards sexual abuse, homophobic chanting, and racist chanting!
Two women have come forward in separate incidents, and made complaints about being groped in appropriately at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday Evening.
We have received video footage with racists songs being sung by welsh fans.
I heard derogatory anti Irish songs above the banter level in an attempt to create a reaction from local supporters.
We have also had complaints of racist remarks made at our own players, and welsh supporters picking fights with other welsh supporters!
If this type of behaviour continues it will tarnish our great reputation abroad and will undoubtedly lead to restrictions on travel and tickets. The above are serious breaches of law no matter what country you are in and if convicted of groping will lead to them being on the sex offenders register banned from football. Racism is an offence that will get you banned, also homophobic chanting is an offence that will get you banned and convicted.
For those who have participated in the poor behaviour let me inform you how we behaved pre-euro 2016; Our supporters would get as drunk as they do now and still have a good time without acting like an idiot. However, we had and still have respect for the country we visited, the songs we sang were to support the team and the players, not wind up the locals for a fight, or anti-racist/homophobic chanting. We also had respect for our fellow welsh fans and many friendships have been made over years from supporters from all over the country. I have made some great friends from West, North, East, and South wales over the years and always look forward to catching up with them on these trips.
All we ask is you behave like human beings, you can get drunk have a good time, sing songs without the nastiness and abuse otherwise action will be taken, and it will spoil it for everyone who travels.
I will stress it is still a minority and just a few incidents, but they are slowly increasing, and we need to nip it in the bud.
I would also like to stress the majority of Welsh Football fans are well behaved and conduct themselves impeccably and respect others.
Lets hope the message gets out there and many welsh supporters can start to enjoy the trips again without fear of intimidation from our own fans
Diolch
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Didn't witness any of the above at the Aviva but take Vince's word for it. The concourse at half time was not great though. A combination of a very narrow passageway under the stand and a large group blocking the area jumping around and throwing 8€ pints in the air over themselves and anyone in the vicinity did not make for a great experience. You had to be rather forcible to get through the group and back to your seating area and that could have caused conflict.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cyril evans awaydays
Didn't witness any of the above at the Aviva but take Vince's word for it. The concourse at half time was not great though. A combination of a very narrow passageway under the stand and a large group blocking the area jumping around and throwing 8€ pints in the air over themselves and anyone in the vicinity did not make for a great experience. You had to be rather forcible to get through the group and back to your seating area and that could have caused conflict.
Dont understand those throwing your beer nonsense. Especially at 8 Euros a pint!!! Fukking idiots.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
stan butler
Vince is not happy
Not many people will get that :hehe:
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Re: Incidents with Wales away
It's quite possible that when you travel away with Wales that you're the only Welsh person that certain locals will meet in their life. Even if you're not it could be that it's true for that year. Think about it, we have a responsibility to make a good impression while also enjoying ourselves.
It's good that it's getting talked about and fans are willing to challenge it. This cannot become the norm and ruin such a good time following Wales just as we have become a decent side. It's only going to spoil our experience (reduced number of tickets or further restrictions or certain friends not feeling like they can go any more) if it gets worse.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J R Hartley
Dont understand those throwing your beer nonsense. Especially at 8 Euros a pint!!! Fukking idiots.
It's the new socialist reveloustinst at play
Re: Incidents with Wales away
A few isolated incidents by all accounts but Ireland will always bring out a few extra knobheads due to the close proximity.
Seems all over twitter today that people are jumping in to lay into wales fans for having a decent drink when away though. If they're not harming anyone but are bollocksed then each to their own.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SunderlandBluebird
A few isolated incidents by all accounts but Ireland will always bring out a few extra knobheads due to the close proximity.
Seems all over twitter today that people are jumping in to lay into wales fans for having a decent drink when away though. If they're not harming anyone but are bollocksed then each to their own.
Couple of people singing “I’d rather wear a turban than a rose”. That’s all I heard/saw. That aside, seemed all very jovial to me.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Ashley Williams received racial abuse from one so called Wales supporter. Name him. Shame him. Ban him.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pearcey3
Ashley Williams received racial abuse from one so called Wales supporter. Name him. Shame him. Ban him.
Are the English a Race ?? ?
Re: Incidents with Wales away
So Vince is a spokesman for Welsh fans aswell as Cardiff fans?
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
blue matt
Are the English a Race ?? ?
Grangetown in 3 2 1..
The abuse was about his skin colour. Whoever shouted this about him should be banned.
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pearcey3
Grangetown in 3 2 1..
The abuse was about his skin colour. Whoever shouted this about him should be banned.
It boggles my brain how you can go through life these days ,firstly, harbouring these types of racist ideas, and secondly, actually thinking it’s ok to shout this stuff in public.
I’d seriously like to know where these groups of unfortunates come from ? Ebbw Vale, Holyhead, Rhyl , Baglan ???
I remember travelling on an away trip to Charlton years ago and some Caerffili boys started chanting some shit (and TLG reprimanding them). If so, why doesn’t the FAW or welsh supporters club find out where these people tend to hang out and put on some sort of campaign, do posters, anything that might “nip it in the bud”. Maybe there aren’t the means to do this. I dunno.
Not sure if posting on messageboards is the right place either though. Get it on FB and Twitter. Create some sort of slogan. Get Bale to do a video or something. Can’t be half arsed about it when it comes to sexual abuse and racism , that’s for sure. (And I mean that from the point of view of the FAW, not people like Vince Alm, who are obviously doing their best)
Re: Incidents with Wales away
This behaviour started creeping in about 10 years ago, it's the reason the Mrs wanted to stop going, as it spoilt the break/game.
Frankfurt, springs to mind, totally spoilt by a small group, (****** **** *****), of arseholes.
It's not new, just that so many went to the finals in France, that it got diluted.
And to think, the FAW sell these animals tickets. Unbelievable !!!!!!!
Re: Incidents with Wales away
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Divine Wright
It boggles my brain how you can go through life these days ,firstly, harbouring these types of racist ideas, and secondly, actually thinking it’s ok to shout this stuff in public.
I’d seriously like to know where these groups of unfortunates come from ? Ebbw Vale, Holyhead, Rhyl , Baglan ???
I remember travelling on an away trip to Charlton years ago and some Caerffili boys started chanting some shit (and TLG reprimanding them). If so, why doesn’t the FAW or welsh supporters club find out where these people tend to hang out and put on some sort of campaign, do posters, anything that might “nip it in the bud”. Maybe there aren’t the means to do this. I dunno.
Not sure if posting on messageboards is the right place either though. Get it on FB and Twitter. Create some sort of slogan. Get Bale to do a video or something. Can’t be half arsed about it when it comes to sexual abuse and racism , that’s for sure. (And I mean that from the point of view of the FAW, not people like Vince Alm, who are obviously doing their best)
The bus singing the turban/rose song and the rather be a ... than a sais was a north Walian bus. Shocking that but considering I've never heard that anywhere I would guess it's a group of idiots who have booked on due to Ireland being within touching distance and cheap to get too
Re: Incidents with Wales away
I was outside Gogartys and the Auld Dubliner in Temple Bar for much of Tuesday afternoon before the game. The atmosphere started humorous enough, but, as the numbers of fans and the beer consumed both increased, the behaviour deteriorated.
I’d not heard the turban/rose song since the early 2000s at Ninian Park but that was being openly sung on several occasions.
Also, there was one particular halfwit who thought it was a good idea to shake his can of lager about and spray the crowd during certain chants. He’d not have been doing this if he was buying pints of Guiness at €6-€7 each.
In fact, seeing plenty of fans buying slabs of cans from Tesco and drinking them in the street, rather than entering the locals pubs, tells me all I need to know about the core focus of their trip, and it wasn’t to support the Welsh football team.
