Millwall ban fans

By Paul Holmes
June 12 2002

Millwall have banned fans of six Division 1 sides from the New Den as part of their plans to cut out any violence next season.

The six teams are Wolves, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Stoke, Portsmouth and Leicester. Millwall fans will not be able to travel to the away fixture of these games.

Special mesures will be taken for the Coventry, Derby, Reading and Crystal Palace games. Away tickets will be strictly all-ticket and the games will kick-off early to allow at least 1 hour of daylight following the end of the game.

Millwall FC and The Metropolian Police released a joint statement:

"It is now almost six weeks since the appalling post-match violence following Millwall's play-off match with Birmingham City.

"The damage to our reputation and its community relations is only exceeded by the physical injury and damage inflicted on the police and local community on that night.

"All of us at Millwall Football Club repeat our deepest regret and sadness at the events after the match.

"Whilst the post-match enquiry and arrests continue, debate, dialogue and discussion continue with the aim of reducing the potential for future repetition.

"We want to minimise the possible difficulties for our immediate community, the Police and the vast majority of our decent supporters that certain matches could present."

The club also revealed that anyone wishing to buy a ticket for any Millwall game for the 2002-03 season would have to be either a season-ticket holder or a Millwall Supporters Club member.