Bolton stitch up

[Zippy]

Is there any word yet on why the players were taken off the pitch ? Are referees reports available by way of explanation? Is the club going to provide an update ? Or is it history now and nobody cares anymore ?. I view this as a very serious interuption to the game with 4,000+ spectators left in the lurch in freezing conditions , and no explanation why !

[redrobo]

Anyone else surprised how the Bolton lot seemed to believe it was a racist claim and started a chant aimed at us all as being racist bastards. They seemed to know before the vast majority of home fans.


As for the follow up it wouldn't surprise me if there was little if any evidence from those around the offender and that the case is dropped due to a lack of credible evidence.

[Relapsed_Shrimp]

Does anyone actually care? The racist card has become one of little power due to constant ignorance in the game and society. If stubborn actions and repercussions were granted from the beginning this became daily news then we wouldn't be in a position where clubs use it to their advantage. The very fact we are in a position to suggest a professional football club has used it as an excuse to interrupt a game plan is purely a product of the EFL, FA and bigger organisations within the games failure to act on such a problem.

If I walked in to the office on Monday morning and racially insulted a co worker or merely accused, it would be dealt with much quicker and an example made. We can't make examples of footballers or clubs though as they contribute far to much to the big fat pot of money, we all know that.

Zouma kicking q cat almost got as much coverage as Suarez and Evra them years ago. The world's puddled and won't change in our life time. I say move on and ensure the evil is stamped out of our terraces as it's there, perhaps not at Bolton game, but certainly others. We all have a part to play. Oust them as it happens, challenge them on the day, grass them up. We are Morecambe, a small club swinging punches in exceptional circumstances, focus on enjoying that, eradicating the racist bug and keeping ourselves out of the spot light. Any ger up for more information isn't needed.

[RapidShrimp]

Is there any word yet on why the players were taken off the pitch ?

Because there was an alleged incident of racist abuse in the crowd. Please get a grip. Racism is horrific and you can’t be claiming that it didn’t happen.

[Keith]

On the 7th Feb:

A Morecambe Police spokesman said: "We have today arrested a 61-year-old man from Morecambe on suspicion of racially aggravated public order and he remains in custody.

"Other lines of enquiry relating to the allegations of racism are being developed and we continue to take the matter extremely seriously.

Until the police either charge, or confirm there are no charges, then I wouldn't expect any comment from the club.

[Wild Bill]

So, someone has been arrested and bailed. This suggests to me that there's enough evidence to go to court but this might just be in the form of the Bolton bench. if I am being cynical had time with the timeout toget their statements consistent. I only hope there's a swift conclusion either way. TBH though it's not going to be great for us either way.

[jbc.shrimp]

On the 7th Feb:

A Morecambe Police spokesman said: "We have today arrested a 61-year-old man from Morecambe on suspicion of racially aggravated public order and he remains in custody.

"Other lines of enquiry relating to the allegations of racism are being developed and we continue to take the matter extremely seriously.

Until the police either charge, or confirm there are no charges, then I wouldn't expect any comment from the club.

As it states in the first paragraph of the police report. 'A 61 yo man from Morecambe arrested. It does not state the he was inside the ground, or anything to do with the Shrimps support. This could have been after the game, outside the ground, in all the 'crowd' trouble !

[Keith]

On the 7th Feb:

A Morecambe Police spokesman said: "We have today arrested a 61-year-old man from Morecambe on suspicion of racially aggravated public order and he remains in custody.

"Other lines of enquiry relating to the allegations of racism are being developed and we continue to take the matter extremely seriously.

Until the police either charge, or confirm there are no charges, then I wouldn't expect any comment from the club.

As it states in the first paragraph of the police report. 'A 61 yo man from Morecambe arrested. It does not state the he was inside the ground, or anything to do with the Shrimps support. This could have been after the game, outside the ground, in all the 'crowd' trouble !

It could be, although as I recall, the. police statement regarding the attack on the disabled gentleman stated that this was after the game. Regardless, the point remains, I wouldn't expect the club to be making statements until after the police conclude their investigation or prosecution.

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

So, someone has been arrested and bailed. This suggests to me that there's enough evidence to go to court but this might just be in the form of the Bolton bench. if I am being cynical had time with the timeout toget their statements consistent. I only hope there's a swift conclusion either way. TBH though it's not going to be great for us either way.

It suggests to me the exact opposite and in fact a huge amount of investigative work still needs completing before the CPS can decide whether there is sufficient evidence or not. Statements will require taking from any persons in the vicinity who are making these very serious allegations. For continuity purposes formal identification will then be required, (as we understand it the alleged offender wasn't identified to police at the time of the offence so now someone has been taken into custody identification procedures may well be required). This all takes time and whilst identification parades using an actual line up are a thing of the past they have now been replaced by Viper Digital I/D procedures which are carried out on computer in an I/D suite at a Police Station. Whomever the witnesses are they will have to comply with Police requests to co-operate with the aforementioned procedures before the case can be referred to CPS for the decision as to whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to court.

One things for sure I assume and hope that the accused person has had legal representation from the start and that arrangements are in hand to obtain witness statements from anyone in the vicinity who can rebut the allegations being made. Just so the accused is ready with a robust defence should the matter actually proceed to court.

One things for sure CPS normally require a very strong case before they take anything to court nowadays.