Sam the man what a man......
From the BBC
The chairman of Cardiff City Football Club has been plunged further into controversy as it is revealed his personal bodyguard is a convicted soccer hooligan.
During his infamous walk around the pitch in Cardiff's 2-1 victory over Leeds at the end of the third round tie on Sunday 6 January, owner Sam Hammam was accompanied by Neil MacNamara.
Hammam gestures to the crowd during a pitch walk
Mr MacNamara, 37, has recently completed a 12-month ban from every football ground in the UK.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service, based at Scotland Yard, lists him as a Category C hooligan, which is the highest rating possible.
The category defines Mr MacNamara as a hooligan who is prepared to "use violence or an organiser of violence."
The news is an embarrassing revelation on the eve of a top-level meeting into the crowd trouble at Ninian Park.
Speaking to BBC Wales, Mr Hammam told he knew about Mr MacNamara's past, but described him as a "poacher turned game-keeper."
Court fine
In March 2000, Mr MacNamara was arrested at Cardiff City's away match in Blackpool.
He admitted a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour when he appeared before Blackpool magistrates.
He was fined £100, with £60 costs, and the court also placed the 12-month banning order on Mr MacNamara.
Police dogs were used at the Ninian Park ground
"Our records show that Neil MacNamara appeared here on that date," said a Blackpool Magistrates Court spokesman.
In September 1999, Mr MacNamara also appeared at Cardiff Crown Court charged with violent disorder following a match between Cardiff City and Millwall.
However, the case against him was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
South Wales Police have revealed that Mr MacNamara is not part of their investigation into the violence at Ninian Park.
Officers are poring over CCTV and video footage to track down those responsible for the unrest, and have charged four men who were arrested at the tie.
They are due to appear before the city's magistrates on the 17 January charged with public order offences.
However, a senior South Wales Police source is also reported as saying: "In my view, Mr MacNamara should not be guarding Sam Hammam."
"A lot of the fans know Mr MacNamara is a convicted soccer yob - it will only encourage them to misbehave if they see him acting as Hammam's minder," added the source.
Hooliganism debate
Following the violence at Sunday's match, a top-level summit will be held on Friday between the Football Associations of England and Wales.
It is expected that Cardiff will face disciplinary action but Leeds could also find themselves reprimanded over the behaviour of their fans.
The crowd trouble at Cardiff has sparked a heated debate on the problem of hooliganism in football.
The spotlight on the problem has intensified after further incidents of pitch invasions and missile-throwing by fans at other high-profile games.
The matches affected include Manchester United's third round FA Cup tie with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur's semi-final clash with Chelsea in the Worthington Cup.
From the BBC
The chairman of Cardiff City Football Club has been plunged further into controversy as it is revealed his personal bodyguard is a convicted soccer hooligan.
During his infamous walk around the pitch in Cardiff's 2-1 victory over Leeds at the end of the third round tie on Sunday 6 January, owner Sam Hammam was accompanied by Neil MacNamara.
Hammam gestures to the crowd during a pitch walk
Mr MacNamara, 37, has recently completed a 12-month ban from every football ground in the UK.
The National Criminal Intelligence Service, based at Scotland Yard, lists him as a Category C hooligan, which is the highest rating possible.
The category defines Mr MacNamara as a hooligan who is prepared to "use violence or an organiser of violence."
The news is an embarrassing revelation on the eve of a top-level meeting into the crowd trouble at Ninian Park.
Speaking to BBC Wales, Mr Hammam told he knew about Mr MacNamara's past, but described him as a "poacher turned game-keeper."
Court fine
In March 2000, Mr MacNamara was arrested at Cardiff City's away match in Blackpool.
He admitted a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour when he appeared before Blackpool magistrates.
He was fined £100, with £60 costs, and the court also placed the 12-month banning order on Mr MacNamara.
Police dogs were used at the Ninian Park ground
"Our records show that Neil MacNamara appeared here on that date," said a Blackpool Magistrates Court spokesman.
In September 1999, Mr MacNamara also appeared at Cardiff Crown Court charged with violent disorder following a match between Cardiff City and Millwall.
However, the case against him was dropped due to a lack of evidence.
South Wales Police have revealed that Mr MacNamara is not part of their investigation into the violence at Ninian Park.
Officers are poring over CCTV and video footage to track down those responsible for the unrest, and have charged four men who were arrested at the tie.
They are due to appear before the city's magistrates on the 17 January charged with public order offences.
However, a senior South Wales Police source is also reported as saying: "In my view, Mr MacNamara should not be guarding Sam Hammam."
"A lot of the fans know Mr MacNamara is a convicted soccer yob - it will only encourage them to misbehave if they see him acting as Hammam's minder," added the source.
Hooliganism debate
Following the violence at Sunday's match, a top-level summit will be held on Friday between the Football Associations of England and Wales.
It is expected that Cardiff will face disciplinary action but Leeds could also find themselves reprimanded over the behaviour of their fans.
The crowd trouble at Cardiff has sparked a heated debate on the problem of hooliganism in football.
The spotlight on the problem has intensified after further incidents of pitch invasions and missile-throwing by fans at other high-profile games.
The matches affected include Manchester United's third round FA Cup tie with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur's semi-final clash with Chelsea in the Worthington Cup.
