Stewards asked us to show bras, female football fans complain

FEMALE football fans have claimed that stewards at a league club asked them to lift their tops and show their bras in front of a crowd of supporters.

Stevenage Football Club is investigating the claims by the Mariners Trust, a collective of Grimsby Town football supporters who said women were made to feel “uncomfortable” and that they were treated with “contempt”.

The trust, which consists of more than 3,000 Grimsby supporters, wrote in an open letter to the club that “several female supporters were asked to lift their tops to show their bras to female stewards upon entry to the Lamex Stadium. This decision – in the queue in front of other supporters, including men and male stewards – is a gross invasion of privacy”.

They also claimed: “This act would effectively constitute a sexual assault and these types of searches are unlawful.” The stewards reportedly asked to feel the bras to check if they were underwired. The trust alleges: “Female supporters have also since contacted us to state they were asked by female stewards if they could feel their bras if they confirmed that they were underwired.”

Full-body searches were reportedly conducted on children as young as five, and the letter alleges at least one was visibly upset.

Supporters also complained at the way men were treated, saying a female steward refused to leave the men’s toilets even when minors were using the facilities.

A spokesperson for Stevenage FC told The Daily Telegraph: “We are aware of the letter and are investigating the matter today before making any further comment”.