SPECIAL WIN United’s victorious players dedicate trophy to victims
Wembley security set-up a ‘shambles’
WEMBLEY’S security has been described as a ‘shambles’ by a senior insider just two days before the stadium hosts the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal. The damning criticism from inside Wembley — when the terror threat level is ‘critical’ following the Manchester atrocity — follows a series of incidents at recent matches blamed on poor leadership and mass redundancies, which have left the stadium short of operational expertise. The League One play-off final was marred by a pitch invasion by fans — the first since the
stadium opened in 2007 — and there are claims Wembley stewards did nothing to stop further anti-social behaviour by Millwall fans, including drug-taking and smoking.
Police concerns have also been raised over the chronic lack of planning and ensuing safety risks after the Checkatrade Trophy final between Coventry and Oxford, when there was huge congestion at Wembley train station.
Most worryingly, Wembley have stopped using the security agency who were responsible for surveillance of hostile behaviour at matches — in other words, the stadium’s early-warning system for terrorist activity.
Police will carry out that role on Saturday because of the heightened terror threat, but the Wembley team had already been disbanded.
There are also claims that cost-cutting means too many inexperienced stewards are on duty. Wembley only employ as many stewards as they need on the day, unlike clubs who retain staff to work at every home match.
And morale among staff has not been helped by safety officer Alistair Hill having to apply for his own job.
Wembley counter that their stewards are highly qualified, the Checkatrade Trophy final problems were outside the stadium, there has been a change of policy over hiring a security agency but no decrease in investment, and that Hill was an interim appointment.
An FA spokesman said: ‘ Spectator safety at Wembley is paramount and we work with the Met Police on our security strategy.
‘To lead this we brought in Chris Allison as strategic security adviser to oversee our policies on both event and non-event days.’
KEVIN PIETERSEN’S views on this winter’s Ashes cricket series would have been fascinating after his England career went into meltdown during the last Test tour Down Under. But rather than work as a BT Sport pundit as expected, KP (above) has chosen to play Twenty20 in South Africa’s Ram Slam followed by the Big Bash in Australia.
Coulthard doubles up
DAVID COULTHARD’S company Whisper Films have a notable double role this weekend. Not only are they producing Channel 4’s coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix, but also BT Sport’s Indy 500 shows, with interest in the latter heightened by Fernando Alonso’s involvement. IndyCar coverage will be presented by Suzi Perry and veteran
Guardian sports writer Richard Williams. Meanwhile, Clare Balding, whose presenting career away from horseracing has been very hit and miss, will be anchoring 23 days of America’s Cup sailing for BT Sport.
THE way Millwall fans misbehaved at Wembley during the League One play-off final must have been a considerable embarrassment to the FA’s new head of professional game relations, Andy Ambler, who was the club’s chief executive at the start of the season. Ambler even went on BBC Radio 5 Live before the match to sing Millwall’s praises.
THE Professional Cricketers’ Association are essentially employing agent Rich Hudson on a full-time basis to negotiate contracts for their county players. But PCA chief executive David Leatherdale will continue to represent England stars in talks over their central contracts with the ECB. And the big names are sure to want plenty more money if the ECB bring in anywhere near their £1billion target for TV rights.
THE newly retired Sam Allardyce is said to be responsible for a trend that is the bane of football scouts’ lives. Some are now required to send reports on all 22 players plus substitutes in a game, rather than just transfer targets. Everton, both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Crystal Palace are among those who now demand such a service.