Originally posted by Davo:
The Andy Gray column
I was at Ninian Park on Sunday and I saw nothing to suggest that the vast majority of Cardiff fans were not very well-behaved indeed.
When did I sugest 20,000 were on the pitch causing trouble
They were understandably excited to have beaten Leeds in the FA Cup but, apart from a small minority of idiots, people were celebrating rather than looking for trouble.
Agreed small minority of 20,000
Reports are suggesting that there were full-scale pitch invasions but there was never anyone on the pitch during the game, and the stewards made the decision to open the gates and allow the fans onto the pitch to celebrate as soon as they realised that a few would have been determined to do that anyway.
In other words the stewards could not control the crowd
The chief of police in Cardiff was satisfied with the way his officers controlled the supporters, and I was satisfied that things were being handled well from my position up in the TV gantry. If the powers-that-be were sitting alongside me during the game, there would be little talk of sanctions for the so-called pitch invasion.
Of course sitting high above the ground was the safest place to be...shame the fans, players and this twats officers did not have that luxury
I saw nothing in the way of fighting between the two sets of fans, and there was certainly nothing like the rioting some newspapers would have you believe took place. A few Cardiff fans did try to bait supporters in the Leeds section but that was, like I said, a few idiots, and any problems seemed to be controlled well by the police.
Agreed there was no fighting between fans as Leeds were fastened in a pen for their protection...bait the Leeds fans?? ..who were throwing all these bottles then?
People are saying that Sam Hammam contributed to the problems, but Sam was only doing what he has been doing for the last 20 years. I watched him walk around the outside of the pitch and he didn't gesture, he didn't taunt, he just walked around. If that is against the rules then someone should have told him before now, because he does that every week.
Just cos the loony does it every week does not make it right...can you seriously see Moores or Kenyon parading in front of the away fans? Hammam has permission to be in the technical area and was told NOT to walk round the pitch
The only thing I saw that I wasn't comfortable with was the throwing of coins and bottles at players - when they are only two yards away from the crowd there's a real danger that they could get hurt. If there's going to be any action taken at all, then it should be against those responsible for those acts of violence.
So throwing stones, bottles full of piss and shit, coins, advertising hordings at the police and fans is ok then?
The good thing about all the fuss is that it reminds you how unusual scenes like Sunday's are in modern football. When I was at my playing peak in the early Eighties that was how football fans behaved all the time. But thankfully, the fans have been re-educated and most realise that it is not the way to behave. That's something we can all be thankful for.
Shame the Taffys are stuck in the 80's then
When you get a big English club going to Cardiff there is always the possibility there will be some trouble. Although the atmosphere wasn't frightening, there was certainly an edge to it right from the off. But the picture being painted in some quarters was a far cry from what I saw - and I was at the ground for four or five hours.
I have no doubt it wasn't frightening for a TV presenter sat away from the trouble or for the police officer high in the gantry...try being penned in a cage being bombarded with bottles etc
What is sad to see is the sight of fans running onto the pitch during a game, as happened at Villa Park, but I think the manner of the comeback simply saw the Manchester United fans get a little over-excited.
He compares the MU pitch invasion to the Cardiff one.. 
it could be Daftaff writing this
I was listening to the game on the radio as I drove back from Cardiff and as soon as United's first goal went in, you knew that they had enough time to grab a draw or even a victory because once they get that momentum going, and with Ruud van Nistelrooy in such awesome form, they seem to be able to score at will.
I now look forward to maybe seeing Paolo di Canio at Manchester United. He is the rarest of things - a player good enough to play in this United side who is not cup-tied in European football. I am a great admirer of the man and at his age it will be good to see him get one last crack at actually winning something.
Let's just hope that if he does - the fans celebrate off the pitch.
Of course this will cut no ice with Marching. He wasn't there but managed to see damning evidence that was not shown on Sky of the entire 20,000 Cardiff following attacking the meek Leeds angels with flame throwers.<hr></blockquote>
For fecks sake Daftaff...I just might happen to know people that were there and actually did see footage on Sky showing the pitch invasion.
You yourself saw nothing and knew nobody there so how come you know everything? Thicko
