...if this had been us...

Tottenham may still face a heavy Football Association fine for failing to control their fans during Saturday's north London derby, despite the fact that the referee Jeff Winter did not notice a bottle that had been flung at Arsenal's former Spurs defender Sol Campbell. The FA awaits Winter's report but the official confirmed yesterday that he had "no knowledge of the incident" - Campbell was almost hit by a plastic water bottle thrown from the crowd - which would not be included.

However, the missile is likely to feature in the police report of an afternoon of ferocious abuse directed at the England defender. "We are awaiting the report from the match officials and the police," confirmed an FA spokeswoman. "We could still take action if the evidence proves an incident did take place, even if it is not included in the referee's report or that of the other match officials."

The Arsenal team coach was pelted with coins and bottles as it arrived at White Hart Lane. That barrage continued after the match, with the vehicle attacked by fans hurling glasses and bottles from a pub beer garden next to the club car park as it left the stadium.

Tottenham are unlikely to face further punishment for incidents outside the stadium, coming as they did technically outside the club's jurisdiction. "If the bus was ambushed it is appalling but it is a matter for the police," said the Tottenham vice-chairman David Buchler.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Answers

Ah, but Swift, people outside London find it so hard to appreciate the depth of passion in our noble capital's supporters. Northern industrial cities and provincial clubs cannot aspire to the heights of feeling engendered in the more enlightened and evolved citizens of this jewel on the cloak of Europe. Correspondingly, allowances must be made and winks must be tipped.

Cockney wankers.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

That happened at Sunderland last year, except it was bricks at the bus, no FA action.

One of the bricks went through the window of a bus my uncle was on and although nobody was hurt he said he was a bit scared - 6 year old kids being handed stones by their mothers who are patting them on the back when their kid hits a window. A few have told me similar stories so it is probably true. Nowt in the papers though.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Silly discussion boys

Spurs vice chairman says 'his fans were impecably behaved. Only three or four were involved in anything unsavoury and they were immediately dealt with by the police.99.9% of our fans were impeccable'

Now this confuses me

ALL bloody week we had to suffer..Campbells return to WHL and all that Spurs fans had planned. Glenda pleading for this and that .

On the day -

1. Bottles thrown onto the Arsenal bus before the game - shown on SKY

2. Bottles thrown during the game onto the pitch from all parts of WHL

3. Abusive chants and banners continualy used throughout the whole game.

4. Bottles again thrown at the Aresenal bus after the game - more than one hour after the game finsished. Again seen on TV.

Yet it seems that

a) A vice chairman is at the game and sees it all happening in front of his eyes and can deny it

b) the ref can deny all knowledge of it happening - ie no mention of it in his report

SO:

1) the media build it up before the game

2) focus on it during the game

3) Talk about it after the game

4) Glenda, Campbell and Wenger all saying they hope 'that is the end of the matter'

Yet it would seem nowt has happened

Typical- Yet given almighty Spurs yards of positive media space as the hard done to Cockney twats who had the disaster of losing someone on a Bosman.

Never mind bottle throwing and the like - lets focus on giving those Geordie twats a hammering for encouraging values amongst their playng staff

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Starting to hate Spurs too much for my liking - this pro Glenda media thing get up my tits

'Oh Sorry - I must have misunderstood. I really thought the Tottenham Hotspur boys must be several places above those boys from Newcastle, judging by the glowing reports in the newspapers. However despite indifferent performances from a relitavely young Newcastle side,still awaiting the return of two of its most promising and valuable yougsters in Cort and Dyer,it would appear that they are two points ahead of a rather ageing Spurs side and have a game in hand'

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Didn't Glenda also say in the after match interview words to the effect that "thank God the Fans did not get out of hand"

Well if bottles hurled onto the pitch etc isn,t out of hand what is?

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

I listened incredulously to the Spurs Vice-Chairman on radio yesterday applauding the magnificent Spurs fans for their impeccable behaviour on Saturday. I thought it was a send up to start with, but clearly the Spurs Board work to a different set of values to most of the planet.

Yes, we can be thankful no one was killed, but what message does this buffoon possibly think his statement sends to the morons who took the most extreme action at WHL on Saturday? Tosser!

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

I don't understand why they're doing this to Campbell, it's a bit hypocritical of them really. Why don't they shout the same abuse at Glenda for deserting Southampton is such a manner? Can't have it both ways Spurs fans can you?

If Shearer had left us for Barcelona or Juventus, and then returned with them in a Euro match, would he get bottles thrown at him? Campbell was easily Spurs' most valuable player and without him they may have gone down a league. I bet he's even more glad he left now, with tossers like that at Spurs.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

or Ginola coming back to SJP, he wouldn't get booed would he, nor Hamman

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001

most fans boo those guys, but i don't think anyone would chuck bottles at them.

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001

small step in press coverage from guys looking to fuel a story and it could happen, all you need to do is replace 'plastic glasses' with 'Mars Bars'

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001

I had my bobble hat nicked off me head when I was 7 by a mag.....

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001

Roly, that would be the infamous fashion police, it wasn't anything to do with the colours at all

-- Anonymous, November 21, 2001