Angry Blues fans on the march to send a message
Trouble at match as supporters demand owners sell up
HUNDREDS of angry Birmingham City supporters staged a mass protest against the club’s owners before Saturday’s match at St Andrew’s.
It was the culmination of a day of mass protest aimed at majority owners Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited with posters erected around the city bearing the slogan ‘‘Sell BCFC’.
It follows weeks of social media campaigns using the hashtag “BSHLOut”.
Around 500 fans marched from the Bull Ring Tavern in the city centre to the ground chanting: “We want our club back.”
The battle-cry continued to ring out as a sea of defiant blues fans gathered outside the Kop reception in the car park to make their feelings towards the board, the owners and the EFL known.
On the pitch, Blues delivered their first win in eight matches, beating Barnsley 2-1, but the match was played out against a backdrop of continuing protest.
Almost as soon as the game kicked off, chants of “We want our club back” hung in the air, chants which would return again and again.
Director Edward Zheng was the target of more singing in the first half, while choruses of “Stand up if you hate the board”, “Time to go” and “We love the Blues but we hate the board” could be heard throughout.
With Blues leading 2-0 and the game entering the closing stages scores of supporters filed around the passageway at the bottom of the upper tier and made their way to the
directors’ box, where the chanting resumed.
With the game entering its closing stages some fans moved to the lower tier of the Kop where they were met with a line of police.
Police said that flares were let off during the procession and a smoke device used during the game had left stewards injured. Officers are now viewing CCTV.
They said one fan was arrested and several stewards injured when a flare was let off during the game.
The scenes of frustration come after Birmingham City bosses reasserted
that the football club is not for sale at a meeting last Thursday.
With directors, key figures, supporters and members of the media present, director Zheng said: “We have no intention to sell.”
Chief Finance Officer Mark Smith also reiterated that stance, saying: “It’s not for sale.”
In a statement, West Midlands Police said: “Around 500 Birmingham City fans walked from the Bullring Tavern to St Andrew’s.
“Some flares were let off during the procession and when the group arrived, some of them tried to force
their way into the ground. More flares and smoke devices were directed at the club.
“Officers and stewards had to intervene, but there were no injuries and no arrests were made.
“A further smoke device was used during the match which injured several stewards.
“Fortunately, their injuries are minor. One person was arrested for this.
“A post-match investigation will take place and CCTV will be reviewed. Fortunately, there have been no further incidents.”