17 minutes ago, Wise Owl said:

No it isn’t. It is a criminal offence so life ban is the least he should get.

What about all of those Reading fans?

21 minutes ago, smithie said:

We might see Sturge on vs Cod on Saturday.

I was s little said the initial post didn't just read:

Sturge on the verge of signing.

8 minutes ago, MBE said:

What about all of those Reading fans?

They didn't run on the pitch to attack the ref

9 minutes ago, MBE said:

What about all of those Reading fans?

I've seen people keep mentioning Reading.

1. The FA did act on that - they've been told they'll be docked points if it happens again. 

2. If everyone is so upset with the Reading fans then what about the Vale fans coming on after we beat Swindon? Or is it one rule for fans of another club? If people want to keep saying Reading fans should be punished more harshly, should the same rules apply for the Vale fans on the pitch then?

I personally think the difference is that it's one thing to enter the field of play for a protest or a celebration. The rules say you shouldn't do that. Rightly, there is a level of punishment if you break them. In Reading's case it's very much a "don't do it again or else" (I think Vale got the same sort of message after Swindon so there's some consistency there).

However, it's another thing to enter the field of play and try and smack someone. That (to my view) is what was attempted on Saturday and was attempted by some fans (of both sides) during the Swindon game. That, I think, is a worse offence and deserves a greater, individual punishment. 

Speaking personally, I think the rules have it wrong here. The FA may charge the club with failing to control its fans and give Vale a fine. I think one way of stopping it would be to drop that notion (how can a club really control thousands of people) and just fine the individual.  

2 minutes ago, Osh said:

They didn't run on the pitch to attack the ref

Entering the field of play is a criminal offence regardless the reasons why.

 

1 minute ago, MBE said:

Entering the field of play is a criminal offence regardless the reasons why.

 

See Robs answer, above, which I fully agree with.  No doubt you condemn all Vale fans for invading the pitch on the evening of the play-offs, and you want them prosecuted, too...??

1 hour ago, Nippy Naylor said:

Where will the goals come from 

Garrity was our main goal threat 🙄

We scored 3 goals v Charlton without Garrity. Others have to step up. Uche did score v Charlton, but I think Loft can step into that role if the big front man approach is retained. 

2 minutes ago, robf said:

I've seen people keep mentioning Reading.

1. The FA did act on that - they've been told they'll be docked points if it happens again. 

2. If everyone is so upset with the Reading fans then what about the Vale fans coming on after we beat Swindon? Or is it one rule for fans of another club? If people want to keep saying Reading fans should be punished more harshly, should the same rules apply for the Vale fans on the pitch then?

I personally think the difference is that it's one thing to enter the field of play for a protest or a celebration. The rules say you shouldn't do that. Rightly, there is a level of punishment if you break them. In Reading's case it's very much a "don't do it again or else" (I think Vale got the same sort of message after Swindon so there's some consistency there).

However, it's another thing to enter the field of play and try and smack someone. That (to my view) is what was attempted on Saturday and was attempted by some fans (of both sides) during the Swindon game. That, I think, is a worse offence and deserves a greater, individual punishment. 

Speaking personally, I think the rules have it wrong here. The FA may charge the club with failing to control its fans and give Vale a fine. I think one way of stopping it would be to drop that notion (how can a club really control thousands of people) and just fine the individual.  

Point is individuals who entered the pitch committed a criminal offence. The law is either applied or not.

What we are basically saying is if you go on the pitch en mass  it’s Ok but if your an individual you will get banned. 
 

That’s not right.

When is the transfer deadline?

1 minute ago, Osh said:

See Robs answer, above, which I fully agree with.  No doubt you condemn all Vale fans for invading the pitch on the evening of the play-offs, and you want them prosecuted, too...??

See above mate. It’s not right. We can’t pick and choose to apply a law because it suits us to.

 

2 minutes ago, Diego Maradona said:

When is the transfer deadline?

What do you think this is, a Transfers thread? 

5 minutes ago, MBE said:

Point is individuals who entered the pitch committed a criminal offence. The law is either applied or not.

What we are basically saying is if you go on the pitch en mass  it’s Ok but if your an individual you will get banned. 
 

That’s not right.

No, I think what some of us are saying is the level of punishment depends on what you do when you enter the pitch.

Reading fans enter the pitch to protest. No violence ensues but game is disrupted - club is given a warning of points deduction if it happens again.

Vale fans enter the pitch (in the main) to celebrate a win over Swindon. Like Reading, the club is also warned.

Some individuals that night (who were threatening violence) were identified and had individual punishments. It was people from both clubs if I remember rightly who were picked up off CCTV.

This latest incident hasn't received punishment yet. The club is suspending him until the police report. I suspect the police report will weigh up if he was threatening violence and an appropriate punishment dished out. It ISN'T a lifetime ban yet because the decision hasn't been reached yet. 

3 minutes ago, The French Connection said:

What do you think this is, a Transfers thread? 

Apologies - I am as guilty as anyone of taking this off-topic 

3 minutes ago, Osh said:

See Robs answer, above, which I fully agree with.  No doubt you condemn all Vale fans for invading the pitch on the evening of the play-offs, and you want them prosecuted, too...??

Port Vale were fined £15,000 for that invasion and will probably be fined again for the latest infringement. Funds that could go towards players, whatever is right or wrong the facts remain Reading  F.C. and supporters have gone unpunished for their invasion and the people who have been penalised our the Vale supporters who went to Reading and Vale supporters who paid for ifollow for the game.

5 minutes ago, Warren said:

We scored 3 goals v Charlton without Garrity. Others have to step up. Uche did score v Charlton, but I think Loft can step into that role if the big front man approach is retained. 

Good post Warren - however, there is a problem here.  In the past Loft has been successful when he's been given the service into and around the box; right now we have no one delivering in that service.  Until we change how we deliver the ball in and play him in the danger zone - i.e. in and around the opposition penalty area and nowhere else, I fear it won't change.