Love Football Protect The Game - A message to supporters
As we approach the closing stages of another exciting Sky Bet League One season, everyone at Barnsley FC has been hugely grateful for your support in the stands this season, and the noise and atmosphere you create is a fundamental part of what makes our Club so great.
As we reach this final stage of the season we must remind you in the interests of safety for everyone inside our stadium, that the pitch is for managers, players and match officials, while the stands are there for you to support the team.
At the end of last season, some Clubs witnessed unsavoury and unwelcome scenes with a small minority of people entering the field of play whilst other fans took to the pitch in celebratory mood.
Pitch incursions are dangerous and anyone who does encroach onto the playing surface will face strong sanctions that could include a ban from attending matches here at Oakwell and across the country and police action.
It is a criminal offence to enter the pitch and the real-life consequences for these actions have been felt by many with some fans receiving criminal records which can impact employment, education prospects and international travel.
It is not only yourself that can be disciplined. There could also be an impact on your family members and Barnsley FC.
Our plea to you is to keep the pitch for players and the stands for spectators and avoid any unnecessary disruption.
Love Football, Protect the Game.
Please note the following message from our Safety Officer, Paul Davis below.
Reds supporters,
The pitch is a working environment for the players and officials and we have a duty of care to protect them as much as we can. Every time someone enters the field of play, it increases the risk that a player might get injured.
In addition, it is a criminal offence under the Football Offences Act 1991 which states: It is an offence for a person at a designated football match to go onto the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted, without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for them to prove). Think about how having this conviction may affect your employment and future prospects. Even going onto the trackside is a criminal offence.
The judge may decide to impose a football banning order which would legally prevent you from attending football matches for a minimum of three years. When England play an away game, you will have to hand your passport in regardless of whether you are going to the game or not. In addition, you will receive a club ban. So, please take time to consider the impact of what consequences it may have if you enter the field of play.
Both clubs may get charged by the FA and this can result in heavy fines and last season saw large fines into the tens of thousands for a number of clubs.
Please take time to consider the impact pitch incursions will have for you as an individual but also for your club. The best way to enjoy any success is to stay in the stands and celebrate from there.
Paul Davis - Safety Officer
