English club escapes rap over ‘bra checks’

LONDON: Football bosses have confirmed “no specific action” will be taken following complaints that stewards at a League Two match behaved inappropriately by asking some female fans to show their bras as a security measure.

Fol lowing t he game at Stevenag e , in southeast England, on Aug 19, the Mariners Trust – a collective of Grimsby Town supporters – wrote to both clubs, the Football Association and police to raise their concerns.

According to the Trust, several female supporters were asked to lift their tops to show their bras to female stewards. A further claim was that female stewards had asked to check if bras were underwired.

Ful l- body searches were al legedly carried out by stewards on children as young as five, while the Mariners Trust said the presence of a female steward placed in the male toilets, a facility also used by minors, raises “significant safeguarding issues”.

Stevenage, who play in English football’s fourth tier, had denied any inappropriate incidents took place, and revealed their pre-match risk assessment gave management at the Lamex Stadium reason to believe there was “the potential for anti- social and uncooperative behaviour” f rom a “high- risk g roup attending”.

A st atement f rom the EFL said no specific action would be taken following a comprehensive review.

“The EFL wil l, however, continue to work with all its clubs to ensure that attending matches remains an enjoyable, posi t ive exper ience for supporters and, to assist, will be issuing updated guidance regarding a number of safety, security and stewarding matters,” the statement added. — AFP