Boxing fan kicked out of Arena in row over Union Jack waistcoat
SECURITY staff confronted a boxing fan for ‘wearing a Union Jack waistcoat’ – minutes before he was escorted from Manchester Arena by police.
James Baxter, 39, had travelled to Manchester from Nottinghamshire to watch Yorkshireman Josh Warrington take on Belfast fighter Carl Frampton, but was kicked out before the main event started.
James told the M.E.N. he was first confronted by ShowSec security staff shortly after arrival for wearing a waistcoat emblazoned with the British flag – because it was not in line with the venue’s ‘no colours’ policy.
A spokesman for the Arena confirmed that Mr Baxter’s waistcoat was ‘against policy’ – but said it was the way he behaved after he was warned of this that led to him being escorted from the venue.
Mr Baxter says that on first being approached, he took off the garment before heading to the bar – where he chose to put it back on again.
He said when he returned to his seat with a pint, he once again removed the waistcoat.
However, he says security staff approached him for a second time – in scenes caught on video.
It shows fans shouting at arena staff as they stand talking to Mr Baxter.
Moments after the footage ended, Mr Baxter was taken from the Arena.
“They told me to leave. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It’s ridiculous.
“I just kept saying no. I kept telling them to stop touching me – I told them they had no right but they just got more staff.”
The Arena say Mr Baxter was ejected because of the way he behaved towards staff – but he insists he did no more than ‘protect’ himself.
“My behaviour was non-violent. I asked them not to touch or push me. Before that happened I had already offered them my jacket and told them to take it away.”
He added: “I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. I go to sporting events all the time. You get dressed up smart – that’s just something you do at boxing.”
Mr Baxter says he was met by police officers after he was dragged outside at around 9pm. He said: “I’d gone through three sets of security getting in and nobody had said anything. If I’d been told then I could have just gone back to my hotel and got changed.
“I went to U2 at the Arena and there were people with Irish flags.
“I was in LA three weeks ago watching Tyson Fury and staff there actually picked me from the crowd to be filmed because of the waistcoat.
“So I was obviously very surprised that they reacted like this here. I feel really upset about it.”
Matt Ward, a spokesman for Manchester Arena, said: “As is standard procedure for all Arena boxing events, football and/or rugby colours are not permitted into the venue. Due to a large number of travelling international fans at last night’s event this was extended to include national colours. All ticketholders were made aware of this policy both in advance of their visit and at point of entry into the venue.
“The said ticketholder was asked on three separate occasions to cover up his waistcoat but refused each time.”
The spokesman added that ‘his subsequent removal from the venue by British Transport Police’ was as a result of ‘behaviour towards staff and not because of his refusal to comply with our clothing policy, as has been claimed.’
The M.E.N. has asked the British Transport Police for comment.