Outrage as stewards tell women soccer fans to lift their tops
WOMEN football fans were told to lift their tops and show their bras in front of male fans and stewards in bizarre pre-match security checks.
They were attacked later as a “gross invasion of privacy”.
Female stewards also asked some Grimsby Town fans if they could “feel” their bras as they queued to enter Stevenage Football Club’s Lamex Stadium at the weekend.
Supporters, some 70 years old, were stunned to be subjected to the airport-style security checks for Saturday’s League 2 fixture.
The Hertfordshire club has now launched an investigation after a deluge of complaints.
Jon Wood, chairman of Grimsby’s Mariners Trust supporters’ group, said in an open letter to the Stevenage club: “Several female supporters were asked to lift their tops up 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.
“Female supporters have also contacted us to state they were asked by female stewards if they could feel their bras if they confirmed they were underwired.”
Stewards searched children as young as five and at least one was visibly upset, fans claim.
Items seized included hand sanitiser, contact lens solution, cough sweets and medication.
Paul Savage, vice president of the trust, added: “It was described to me by a police officer as the same kind of search you would receive in a custody suite on a Friday night.
“As a football fan, there seems to be no reason why anyone would need to check a woman’s bra at any event, let alone a football match.” Stevenage general manager Bob Makin said the club had been “inundated” with complaints which it was treating “with the utmost seriousness”.
He said yesterday: “We are investigating and will issue a formal response in writing.”
Amanda Jacks of the Football Supporters’ Federation said: “Rest assured, we are going to get to the bottom of why this has happened and ensure it never happens again.”
Hertfordshire Police said officers had not been involved in the searches but would fully investigate any allegations it received.