Call for Cardiff fans' ban U-turn

There were ugly scenes at the last meeting of the two sides at Molineux

Football supporters have united to call for a lifting of a ban on Cardiff City fans from next month's Championship match at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The ban on 20 January follows crowd trouble which marred two previous games between the sides at Wolves' ground.

The official supporters' clubs at both clubs say the ban should be scrapped.

Wolves said their decision had been ratified by the Football League but the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) said it set a "dangerous precedent".

The FSF, which represents more than 140,000 football fans in England and Wales, said the decision to ban Cardiff fans from the match represented a surrender to violence.

It said it hopes, even at this late stage, the decision will be reversed, and it plans to write to the league on behalf of fans everywhere.

'Dividing line'

Wolves have indicated that the decision was taken "owing to problems with visiting supporters over the past two seasons".

Seats will only be sold to home fans with a history of buying tickets.

Two police officers were taken to hospital and 17 people arrested by West Midlands Police for disturbances inside and outside Molineux at the last match in March.

Cardiff City FC was later charged by the Football Association of Wales for failing to control their fans at the game

Both supporters clubs want the ban overturned

The FSF fears the move to ban fans could lead to similar bans elsewhere.

Chairman Malcolm Clarke said:"I think it's an extremely unfortunate and very short sighted move.

"It draws a dividing line between the vast majority of Cardiff supporters on one side and the police and authorities on the other."

Mr Clarke said the FSF had been "very disappointed" in the attitude taken by Wolves and the police.

He said he understood the main reason for the blanket ban was the "considerable disturbance" at the last Wolves-Cardiff match but the federation knows that some of the Cardiff fans' behaviour was "exacerbated by heavy-handedness" by police.

The FSF protest was welcomed by the Cardiff City Supporters' Club, which also opposes the ban.

Spokesman Vince Alm said: "For the tradition of the game both sets of fans should be allowed to all matches."

Mr Alm also said he knew of Cardiff fans who have already joined supporters clubs in the West Midlands just to get tickets for the January game.

"They will go in and they will just sit on their hands and watch the game."