Because of pending litigation I’m not going to get into too much detail but it sounds like what most of you heard is true. The initial incident began with one Chicago fan taunting us with his scarf as he came up the section with another dude. One of our guys pulled at his scarf when he came by. There was a minor dust up at the end of my row (4 seats away). A Chicago dude did punch (or maybe elbow, I didn’t see it) our guy but no other punches were thrown so far as I could tell from about 10 feet away, and it was over in about 5 seconds. Our guy and his friend went down to check his injury. A few minutes later (perhaps 5 minutes) the stewards and cops came up and said they had the incident on CCTV. A few minutes after that they picked out people (almost like at random from many different rows and deeper into the section) and escorted them out. These were the most vocal supporters in 133 and none had anything to do with the brief skirmish. It had every characteristic of a sting. They knew who they wanted. A few guys weren’t easily recognized (since they don’t attend every home match) and were released. The guy who was hit and his buddy were already in handcuffs when the rest got outside. When asked why they were being detained the others were arrested but told nothing. We have very good reason to believe that the regular field officers in CPD didn’t want anyone locked up. They just planned on kicking people out. Some higher-ups in the CPD (apparently at the rank of Major) insisted arrests be made. We are told that this is based solely on some surveillance footage that the club gave the cops that hasn’t been released yet. This has every hallmark of an orchestrated event. At the first sign of trouble anywhere in 133 the guys deemed the worst were made an example of. The legal process will play out and I am confidence they will all be vindicated. No word on the impact this will have on the season tickets these guys have, but frankly, at this juncture it is a moot point. Nobody is interested in spending loads of money (these guys each have multiple tickets) on a club that doesn’t want them. Look, of course I understand not wanting violence, but this was very minor. No specific complaints were made that I am aware of – only general dislike for rowdiness and bad language. I don’t know what they expected when they allow away support to walk up and down the section like that, but in any case, this seemed more “ejection worthy” than “arrest worthy.” I think if away supporters partook in this type of behavior in the River End there would also be trouble. That’s not meant to offend any SoBs over there; it’s just a fact and a defense of my guys. They’re really no different than most everyone else. Anytime you put opposing football fans together like that things will get dicey and I know SoB wouldn’t stand for it either. The problem we have is we can’t have then removed.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Please keep everyone updated. I would love to see the video on here when you get a copy of it.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Yeah this really adds to the point that we get shit for holding up our scarves at away support and get in trouble for instigating. I guess it does instigate trouble when they are crammed up your ass. A move is in order if the team doesnt want any trouble. Ive been saying this from the beginning. Dont put away fans BEHIND a section that is for familys and regular fans. Even if they put away support in front of our fans it would be better. At least THEY would feel uncomfortable and not our fans. Im sure its not going to change untill next season. Untill then .expect BS
Re: Calling ALL Section 133 Season Ticket Holders! [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK8_VW2CxMc&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Section 8 Takes Philly[/ame]
Re: The Arrests in 133 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK8_VW2CxMc&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Section 8 Takes Philly[/ame] This isn't the incident, but it does show that Fire Support Marches right through PPL with little security... this will be bad business when NY comes to town.
Re: Calling ALL Section 133 Season Ticket Holders! /\ No YouTube at work, I'm guessing they're loud on the way in......I'd rather see the video of them on the walk out.
Re: The Arrests in 133 One drunk piece of shit Fire supporter and our guys end up in cuffs? ******** that with a hammer. I know exactly what's going to happen when PCNJ comes to town. The 300 or so they have going to 133 will have security and police escorts. Apex security and police escorts. They'll make sure to spend the rest of the game harassing the Union fans, not the pink scum. The River End will be treated similarly. Meanwhile, Jersey boys who couldn't get seats in 133 will be spread all around the stadium. The FO won't put up the money and risk the PR of stationing cops and APEX all around the stadium, so these groups of around 20 (they said on their forum they would be buying blocks of 20 tickets) will be spread throughout PPL giving shit to the casual moms and children around PPL. There will be multiple arrests, including on the train ride home.
Re: The Arrests in 133 It is a shame the way this went down...from what I saw from less than 10 seats away in the same row in 132. Security didn't even grab the guy who threw the stiff elbow(it was an elbow). It looked as if there were really only maybe 3 people involved...not 6, and security just had their pick of who they wanted to leave the park. Thankfully it was over before it escalated too far and more folks lost their cool. Hate to admit but Fire Supporters did their job well, as any Supporters should, minus the idiot who chose to use his fists instead of his mouth. They didn't stop cheering the whole way through the match...and there were a few moments where I had a tough time concentrating on the game due to my close proximity. I can see things potentially not going so well when NYRB comes to town and the whole lot of them are breathing down the necks of fans one row below them and making the match miserable to all of those within shouting distance. I hope this is looked at in considering where to put away supporters next year...they deserve the worst seats in the house and the way PPL Park was designed...there really aren't any bad seats. If anything they should be seated below any Union ticket holders, not above.
Re: The Arrests in 133 FO's own fuking stupidity that causes this shit anytime away support show with any number. A lil dust up was just a matter of time. Seriously, WTF were you thinking. NY should be a fun match (fuk you APEX, ahead of time)....leaving my boy home for that one. The location of away support in our stand is definitely the single most moronic thing this FO has done all year, hopefully they wise up before next season.
Re: The Arrests in 133 99% of the Fire Supporters were pure class... They cursed at us and stuff, but no more than we do to them... It's all part of it. But it seemed like a few drinks too many brought on an incident, which is unfortunate, but it happens. All in All I thought it was a great day... minus bringing the law and arresting people for a small scuffle.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Keep us up to date on this, PLEASE! The FO better, fix this fast... And if APEX shows up in the River End at the NJ RedBulls match then there will be trouble, especially after that "Supporters Section Issues" email that Veit sent out...
Re: The Arrests in 133 There is no need for APEX in the River End... it is like a play pen for SoBs... It is safe... the rest of the stadium is likely to get dangerous. I don't know if it's BS or not, but I heard NY bought up the back of 133 and most of 132... It should be interesting. I mean even the bathrooms could be a hot spot for stuff to kick off.
Re: The Arrests in 133 It's true. I'm hearing they bought about 400 between 133 and 132. Union fans in 133 are likely to be pretty much surrounded. Thanks, Union FO.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Its stuff like this that makes me wonder what the Front Office is thinking, other than dollar signs ($'s). Don't they have common sense? All I know is that I am definitely not going to miss this game. Security better be on top of their game and be on the lookout for assholes, outside of the Supporters Section, and be read to defuse any situation quickly or else shit is going to get ugly real fast.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Why should they worry? They've created a mecca for all that is "family friendly." Violence and profanity will be completely eradicated from the seating area by the time the Red Bulls come to town. The pews...I mean...seats will be filled with kind and loving people who, win or lose, just care they had a lovely day to spend enjoying some food and laughs with their friends from New York.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Are we going to get together before or after the game with them outside of the Supporters Gate to sing Kumbaya?
Re: The Arrests in 133 I'd bring the Smores but they wont let me in with the sticks to roast the mallows with..
Re: The Arrests in 133 Also if someone throws a marshmallow on the field at the player it could cause a serious injury.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Orchestrate – To arrange or direct the elements of a situation to produce a desired effect, especially surreptitiously. I was there. The small scuffle involved 3 people, 2 of which were Chicago fans. Several minutes after the fact the stewards and cops removed 8-10 of the usual suspects, some of whom were nowhere near the incident and all of whom where not involved. The incident was used to remove “perceived” troublemakers. The CCTV tape is surreptitious, don’t you think? Number one, it can’t show those guys involved in the dust-up, because they weren’t. Number two, the club handed over the tape as the only evidence and had its own supporters arrested, not ejected mind you, incarcerated. None of those guys have ever even been ejected from PPL. As a matter of fact NO Illegitimate has ever been ejected from PPL. The regular street CPD officers were OK and they made it very clear to us that this was a trumped up deal. The club security (I saw the guy) and a police Major (I saw the guy) insisted on arrest when the regular stewards and cops recommended ejection. Look, I was there. If you’d like to discuss this further I would appreciate the opportunity. I saw who was in charge. Just PM me.
Re: The Arrests in 133 This is the reason I was ejected with my son. I told them it was bullshit for who they were grabbing. I told them I could point out the person who threw the elbow and they didn't listen. They got who they wanted.
Re: The Arrests in 133 It's things like this that are going to continually make people suspicious of the FO. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, though, and believe they are going to change the way they seat "away" supporters. Ejecting and arresting YOUR OWN FANS is beyond classless, especially since it was an environment created by the FO. Why not get rid of the away fans? They owe us nothing, and are only there to agitate (for the most part). You can't just start tossing your frequent customers (read: Home fans) before the interlopers. As supporter who sits in 137, this is just another red flag being tossed up about how things are going to be run in the future. I have renewed my tickets because, as I said, I'd like to believe things will change. Next season will be interesting, though. I'd like to see if the FO decides to start punishing and removing AWAY support before going after their own.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Yes, this whole thing just smacked of bullshit. I was considering renewing my seats in 133 next season, but after this I feel like I'd be better off in another corner. The FO needs to get of its ass and realize that we don't want these away supporters breathing down our necks.
Re: The Arrests in 133 Agree completely, first the Columbus incident and now this, the home supporters in the vicinity (I won't even say 'involved', since some were not) have borne the brunt of security/police over-reaction. Meanwhile, travelling support has little security as they wander around the stadium. This is no way to manage a soccer crowd. I'm really, really worried about the NYRB visit and hope that everyone can keep their heads for the sake of the team and the game in general here. We all know that the 'hooliganism comes to America' articles by the anti-soccer journalists are just waiting to be posted.
Re: The Arrests in 133 they need to take special measures for NYRB as I would imagine they will bring a large contingent, and it will be a lot of the boozed up rowdies that travel, same as everywhere in the world. trouble is that even NYRB won't bring enough to fill a full section, and the FO love a bit of cash, so will pack the rest of the section with home supporters. PS: you'd think that seating away fans higher up than home fans was done and dusted after Ireland vs. England back in 95 or whenever it was