The Lions Trust calls for clarity and fairness

By The Lions Trust
May 5 2004

Despite all the euphoria surrounding Millwall’s first appearance in the FA Cup Final, fans have been dismayed by the recent treatment given by the club to a number of long standing loyal supporters who have been banned from the Den indefinitely.

The alleged offences were drunkenness and use of foul language. One example was in his fifties. There was no connection with violence or hooliganism, no warnings were given, verbal or otherwise, and there appears to be a policy of ‘guilty until proven innocent’.

The Lions Trust, the Millwall Supporters Trust, consisting of supporters and shareholders, have consulted their membership and have called on the club to:

1. Issue warnings for first offences of a non-violent and non-racist nature.
2. Make a clear statement regarding what constitutes acceptable behaviour at the Den.
3. Make a clear statement regarding how transgressions will be dealt with.
4. Carry them out consistently and fairly.

The subject of bad language needs to be considered carefully, considering that the chairman is sometimes known for his ‘colourful’ language, such words are regularly and clearly heard from players on the pitch, and are a feature of all football grounds up and down the country.

Furthermore Dennis Wise has encouraged fans to make the atmosphere at the Den more noisy, unpleasant and intimidating!

Trust secretary Hannah Wells said: “The long standing loyal supporters are the lifeblood of a club like Millwall. For the club to distance their fans must be folly.”