Thursday 25th May, 2023 at 12:07pm
The club’s review of supporter migration issues on Friday in conjunction with our security partners has now been completed.
An error in determining sales in the ticketing system for the John Lambie Stand meant that half of its capacity was not being used. This meant supporters who had hoped to watch the match from the John Lambie Stand had to purchase tickets for the Jackie Husband Stand in the lead up to the match.
As it became evident in the lead up to kick-off that the John Lambie Stand was not as full as reported, our stewarding partner G4S had to deal with a number of supporters who breached the Jackie Husband Stand trackside wall to move uncontrolled to the John Lambie Stand.
Throughout the first half, tensions continued to rise within an element of our support, who were disgruntled that they were displaced from the John Lambie Stand and who wished to be relocated there. Reports were received from G4S and Police Scotland around the feeling of tension and discontent and that many fans had indicated they were going to move from the Jackie Husband Stand to the John Lambie Stand uninvited.
In addition, the club’s safety officer received a report from the assistant referee on the Jackie Husband Stand side that he had been struck by unknown missiles from the corner of the Jackie Husband Stand at section 9, closest to the John Lambie Stand. While the club accepts that supporters were frustrated by how Friday evening unfolded off the pitch, this behaviour from any of our supporters is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club. CCTV footage is being reviewed and anyone found guilty of such behaviour will face a lifetime ban from the stadium.
As a result of these factors, our safety team required a disproportionate level of stewarding to this area which was seriously compromising our deployment plan.
With an uncontrolled migration of fans from the Jackie Husband Stand to the John Lambie Stand expected, the decision – after conversations between the PTFC Safety team, Police Scotland and G4S – was made to have a discreet migration from the corner of the Jackie Husband Stand into the John Lambie Stand. Other options were considered such as externally migrating to the John Lambie Stand through the outside of the stadium and a tannoy announcement around the migration. This decision was reached as the first half of the match was ending.
Unfortunately, the organisation of this controlled migration was not initiated early enough and took longer than anticipated to complete. Once the process was initiated, other supporters in the Jackie Husband Stand, on seeing what was happening, chose to emerge from several of the exit gates along the stand to make their way unescorted to the John Lambie Stand.
During our efforts to resolve the situation a minority entered the field of play, which was made worse by the reckless individual with two smoke flares. This individual was subsequently arrested and will receive a lifetime ban from Firhill Stadium. Accumulatively, this all led to a delayed kick off in the second half of the game.
To ensure there is no repeat of the situation which arose on Friday night, we will:
This update concludes our investigation into last Friday night’s first leg tie at Firhill, with the full focus of everyone at the club on this Friday’s second leg away at Somerset Park.
Once again, we’d like to thank supporters for their incredible backing in recent months and weeks, including last Friday night, which is so important to and appreciated by Kris and the team. Tomorrow night we will need that level of support more than ever – we look forward to seeing a large, colourful and noisy support at Somerset Park. Safe travels to all the red and yellow army.
