by STAR Voice »
26 Oct 2006 12:32
There seems to be a bit of confusion on what sort of bans these are - they're
not "Football Banning Orders" under the appropriate Act, which are requested by the Police for a variety of offences (in my opinion too many, but that's a different argument) and imposed by magistrates. They apply across all designated football grounds (i.e. top 5 tiers) and also oinvolve things like surrender of passports when international matches are not. That's wat most people thibnk of when they talk about "football bans".
These are "local bans", which only apply to the MadStad, and which RFC, like any private organisationhas the legal right to apply on their property.
As previously stated, we're happy to take up the case (both with RFC and via the FSF if required) of anyone who is unjustly banned - and CCTV evidence is available (with the relevant consent) for anyone who wants to argue against their ban.
As I sidenote, in my FSF role, I have had a number of long discussions with both FA & FL about the case of Alan Liptropp, who has been banned from Gillingham for having a public diagreement with the Gills Chairman. Many woul say he's lucky

but his local ban is clearly njust and is being fought and argued against consistently.