‘ Cardiff City fan 'disgusted' after he was ‘

My View:
If your an avid football fan everyone knows nowadays you can’t go in the Home ends with an Away shirt on and you know you will Be ejected and even could be verbally abused or attacked.

Lucky it all pasted peaceful and WBA were right in what they did.


Don’t get me wrong I have gone in home ends and brought away fans in to the home end ,as well, but to not bring any attention No colours and had No problems at all .





Cardiff City fan 'disgusted' after he was ejected from West Brom stadium for wearing a Bluebirds shirt

The Bluebirds supporter had the ticket from his wife as an anniversary present


Tuesday 8th October 2019

By Glen Williams

Michelle and Martin Monnes-Thomas at The Hawthorns
The Bluebirds supporter had the ticket from his wife as an anniversary present

A 'disgusted' Cardiff City supporter had his seven-year anniversary present ruined when he was ejected from West Bromwich Albion's ground for wearing a Bluebirds shirt.

Martin Monnes-Thomas said he felt like he was 'treated like a criminal' when three police officers and four stewards escorted him and his wife Michelle out of The Hawthorns within five minutes of the game between Cardiff and West Brom starting.

The Bluebirds fan lives in Bridgend with his wife, who was born and raised in West Brom and is a Baggies supporter, and the pair thought last Saturday's fixture represented a perfect opportunity to celebrate their seven years of marriage.

It started off a normal, in fact a rather enjoyable, day. The couple parked their car a few train stations away from The Hawthorns and soaked up the atmosphere ahead of the match.

Mr Monnes-Thomas, an IT manager, and his wife, a solicitor, both 36, enjoyed some good-natured ribbing with a section of home fans, with one dad even asking if he was the next 'Gareth Bale in the making'.

And it was that sort of afternoon they had looked forward to, but Martin quickly realised something was untoward once the referee's whistle had blown.

One steward wandered over to their seats, then another and then a third.

Mr Monnes-Thomas recalls the conversation he had with the last marshal to sit next to him: "'Is that a Cardiff City shirt,' he said. So I said, 'Yes, I'm born down that way, it's nice to be able to wear it with my wife here too.'

"So he checked it again and said, 'Right then, we are ejecting you from the stadium.'

"I said, 'Sorry, say that again?'

"He said, 'Your Cardiff City shirt, we're kicking you out of the ground, you're banned.'"

Mr Monnes-Thomas said he offered to change his shirt, wear his coat over the top and was even willing to be relocated to a different section of the ground - they were in the family stand - but club officials said his face would still be recognised.



The couple were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary

"I looked up and there were three police at the end of the aisle and four marshals huddled round me when I stood up to escort me," he adds.

"And it wasn't just escorting me to the edge of the stand, but right out of the ground, out of the gate.

"They surrounded me with my wife following behind wondering what I had done. We weren't raising our voices, we were just in shock."

The Bluebirds supporter was quick to insist he isn't the usual type to kick up a fuss at these events. "I'm not a hooligan by any means," he says, "I'm tepid at best!"

But it's easy to see the pair were certainly shook up by the whole ordeal and, moreover, Mr Monnes-Thomas feels disappointed by the way the whole situation was handled.

In fact, he says he was appalled by the treatment.

"It was a really good day up until that point, until a guy twice the size of me turned up in an orange jacket told me to leave," he adds.

"I was thinking I'd seen this on Crimewatch or something, like I'd done something really nasty. I thought it was absolutely unbelievable.

"To be treated like a criminal was absolutely disgusting."

Mr Monnes-Thomas has voiced his complaints to West Brom, who say that his choice to wear a Cardiff City shirt while sitting in the home areas was 'not ideal' and had 'the potential to be inflammatory'.

It adds that the actions of the stewards were 'completely appropriate in the circumstances' and states Mr Monnes-Thomas will not be remunerated for his match ticket or travel costs.

He is pushing ahead in hope of obtaining a refund, having seen less than five minutes of the Bluebirds' 4-2 defeat by West Brom in a six-goal thriller.

But the humiliation, as Mr Monnes-Thomas puts it, lingered long into the night and ultimately ruined the weekend.

"My wife felt sick in her stomach," he adds. "She couldn't sit down. We went to eat a Chinese takeaway and she couldn't eat it.

"It spoilt the weekend at the in-laws.

"We sat there feeling the anger of it all, conned out of £40, and to be treated like criminals and pushed away, I felt used."




In a statement West Brom said: "We are aware of a number of ejections from home areas of Cardiff City supporters who were wearing Cardiff football kits.

"Ground regulations say the ticket purchases are for home fans only in home areas.

"Saturday was a fixture which posed its own particular challenges, it was a full house and visibility of away supporters in home areas of the ground is something we had to take action about."

When asked specifically about the situation regarding Mr Monnes-Thomas, West Brom declined to comment.

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What did he expect? Lucky to leave the ground safely to be honest.

Reply FB

Alan Connor:
To be honest Annis, when the Man U fan was Ejected and Abused the first thing that come to mind was “ he shouldn’t have been there “ so why did he feel that wearing a city shirt was Excepted

Reply From FB


Dill THOMAS:
Sorry, but any fan in the home end with an away shirt on has got to expect to be ejected. Those of us that's been fans for a few years will know the score. We had Man U and Liverpool fans in our end last season and we all cheered when they got kicked out. He may be a nice guy and all that, but he should have known the score. If you have a ticket for the home end, then don't wear colours and keep your head down. No sympathy.

Reply Fb


Samantha Gambling:
What I dont understand is why wear a bluebirds shirt in full view in the home teams stand??? Surely it would raise suspicion

My View:
If your an avid football fan everyone knows nowadays you can’t go in the Home ends with an Away shirt on and you know you will Be ejected and even could be verbally abused or attacked.

Lucky it all pasted peaceful and WBA were right in what they did.






Cardiff City fan 'disgusted' after he was ejected from West Brom stadium for wearing a Bluebirds shirt

The Bluebirds supporter had the ticket from his wife as an anniversary present


Tuesday 8th October 2019

By Glen Williams

Michelle and Martin Monnes-Thomas at The Hawthorns
The Bluebirds supporter had the ticket from his wife as an anniversary present

A 'disgusted' Cardiff City supporter had his seven-year anniversary present ruined when he was ejected from West Bromwich Albion's ground for wearing a Bluebirds shirt.

Martin Monnes-Thomas said he felt like he was 'treated like a criminal' when three police officers and four stewards escorted him and his wife Michelle out of The Hawthorns within five minutes of the game between Cardiff and West Brom starting.

The Bluebirds fan lives in Bridgend with his wife, who was born and raised in West Brom and is a Baggies supporter, and the pair thought last Saturday's fixture represented a perfect opportunity to celebrate their seven years of marriage.

It started off a normal, in fact a rather enjoyable, day. The couple parked their car a few train stations away from The Hawthorns and soaked up the atmosphere ahead of the match.

Mr Monnes-Thomas, an IT manager, and his wife, a solicitor, both 36, enjoyed some good-natured ribbing with a section of home fans, with one dad even asking if he was the next 'Gareth Bale in the making'.

And it was that sort of afternoon they had looked forward to, but Martin quickly realised something was untoward once the referee's whistle had blown.

One steward wandered over to their seats, then another and then a third.

Mr Monnes-Thomas recalls the conversation he had with the last marshal to sit next to him: "'Is that a Cardiff City shirt,' he said. So I said, 'Yes, I'm born down that way, it's nice to be able to wear it with my wife here too.'

"So he checked it again and said, 'Right then, we are ejecting you from the stadium.'

"I said, 'Sorry, say that again?'

"He said, 'Your Cardiff City shirt, we're kicking you out of the ground, you're banned.'"

Mr Monnes-Thomas said he offered to change his shirt, wear his coat over the top and was even willing to be relocated to a different section of the ground - they were in the family stand - but club officials said his face would still be recognised.



The couple were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary

"I looked up and there were three police at the end of the aisle and four marshals huddled round me when I stood up to escort me," he adds.

"And it wasn't just escorting me to the edge of the stand, but right out of the ground, out of the gate.

"They surrounded me with my wife following behind wondering what I had done. We weren't raising our voices, we were just in shock."

The Bluebirds supporter was quick to insist he isn't the usual type to kick up a fuss at these events. "I'm not a hooligan by any means," he says, "I'm tepid at best!"

But it's easy to see the pair were certainly shook up by the whole ordeal and, moreover, Mr Monnes-Thomas feels disappointed by the way the whole situation was handled.

In fact, he says he was appalled by the treatment.

"It was a really good day up until that point, until a guy twice the size of me turned up in an orange jacket told me to leave," he adds.

"I was thinking I'd seen this on Crimewatch or something, like I'd done something really nasty. I thought it was absolutely unbelievable.

"To be treated like a criminal was absolutely disgusting."

Mr Monnes-Thomas has voiced his complaints to West Brom, who say that his choice to wear a Cardiff City shirt while sitting in the home areas was 'not ideal' and had 'the potential to be inflammatory'.

It adds that the actions of the stewards were 'completely appropriate in the circumstances' and states Mr Monnes-Thomas will not be remunerated for his match ticket or travel costs.

He is pushing ahead in hope of obtaining a refund, having seen less than five minutes of the Bluebirds' 4-2 defeat by West Brom in a six-goal thriller.

But the humiliation, as Mr Monnes-Thomas puts it, lingered long into the night and ultimately ruined the weekend.

"My wife felt sick in her stomach," he adds. "She couldn't sit down. We went to eat a Chinese takeaway and she couldn't eat it.

"It spoilt the weekend at the in-laws.

"We sat there feeling the anger of it all, conned out of £40, and to be treated like criminals and pushed away, I felt used."




In a statement West Brom said: "We are aware of a number of ejections from home areas of Cardiff City supporters who were wearing Cardiff football kits.

"Ground regulations say the ticket purchases are for home fans only in home areas.

"Saturday was a fixture which posed its own particular challenges, it was a full house and visibility of away supporters in home areas of the ground is something we had to take action about."

When asked specifically about the situation regarding Mr Monnes-Thomas, West Brom declined to comment.

If it's ok to wear an away shirt in the home end why doesn't he try the same away at Swansea, and celebrating when Morrison scores our third?

rightly ejected. I've put up with a gradual sanitising of football for decades and Somehow i still pay to go.
A move towards mixed area "seating", comprising of both fans would be the last straw for me. But it's probably coming.

I'd like our fan groups to push for a singing section nearer the away fans in the CCS. Improve the atmosphere no end.

Reply again by

Alan Connor

They seem to be Intelligent couple . It’s not like the old day when we Accidentally found our way in the home End But with no colours on . All I can say is well done West midland police, could have been a lot worse.

Get a fuckinf grip you attention seeking tw*t

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

Sorry mate but you showed absolute naivety, you probably would have got away with it if you had no City colours on and kept a low profile, no sympathy I'm afraid.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

Football is the most popular game in the world for a reason.

I've done loads of city away games and sat in "home" seats though not often the home "end". Variety of reasons, better view of game, taking poorly family members who couldn't stand, taking young children. Its enjoyable to chat to opposition fans about their take on our team as well as their own. Games have been spoilt some times mind by home fans not welcoming it. I've also been to our homes games and got tickets for mates who are fans of days opposition. Have to be discreet and wouldnt dream of wearing colours. Asking for trouble regardless of company, anniversary or anything else. If you chose to have home seats you need to realise where you are.

Naive but having offered to take the shirt off and move the stewards could have taken a less hard line stance. Common sense on behalf sides would have been a good thing that could've avoided this being as an unfortunate a situation as it was.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Guy was with his wife in the family stand. If he was in the middle of whatever West Brom stand the ‘ultras’ sit in then fair enough. He even said he was having some friendly banter with people around him, didn’t look like anyone had kicked off.

Weird people on here who want to try and cling on to being young by making out they’ll be trouble, he doesn’t look or sound like a troublemaker.

The Man Utd fans last year were different celebrating and trying to cause a scene so in that case can see why they were ejected

Very stupid to wear away colours in the home end, what was he thinking? The coppers / stewards are right on this occasion.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

A Solicitor and an IT manager!

Sums it all up for me, not in the real world either of them.

Next thing they’ll be off to Iran on a holiday with the kids.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

You been listening to the BBC for too long.
Football is largely about men who want to shout and swear. Long may it continue.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

You been listening to the BBC for too long.
Football is largely about men who want to shout and swear. Long may it continue.

Its for letting off steam aswell in right way of course! Whilst could been handled better by stewards wearing city top no matter where in ground he was guaranteed to be removed!
In old days just moved you to your own support maybe he should have asked to go there? He was just being naive at best.....

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

Nothing to do with growing up it is just being responsible and acting with a bit of common sense. Yea football is for children and by wearing an away top in the home end puts them at risk regardless of whether that is right or wrong. What ever the reason for being in there and regardless of if they are behaving or looking for trouble they are putting kids and every other supporter around them at risk with the potential of causing trouble. I wouldn't want someone in an away top coming and sitting down next to my little boy, he could be the nicest person in the world but that persons actions could potentially put my boy in harms way just by being there.

If the stewards and police ever become more relaxed on the situation they are only setting themselves up for trouble. There are home and away ends for a reason and as mentioned above a move to a rugby setup would be the final nail in the coffin of the dying atmospheres at football grounds.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

I'm not suggestion people should be 'attacked'. I'm saying your point to get rid of segregation like the rugby would kill football for many.

A Solicitor and an IT manager!

Sums it all up for me, not in the real world either of them.

Next thing they’ll be off to Iran on a holiday with the kids.

Exactly, many so called “intelligent” people have absolutely no common sense whatsoever

It was obvious what was going to happen to them, got everything they deserved

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

I'm not suggestion people should be 'attacked'. I'm saying your point to get rid of segregation like the rugby would kill football for many.

And it would never work .... thank god!

I went in the KOP when we played Liverpool away in the Carling Cup on Halloween and celebrated when we scored.

Most of the scousers were quite surprisingly sound about it, but a few started throwing sneaky punches at me from behind so I left.

It's a stupid thing to do, I'm not sure if he thought it would be OK as lots of family stands welcome away fans these days but still, daft to do it without checking.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

I'm not suggestion people should be 'attacked'. I'm saying your point to get rid of segregation like the rugby would kill football for many.

I never said get rid of segregation, I said its pathetic that a person with no interest in causing or being in trouble cant gonand watch a football game because some dickhead cant behave or control there beer. Like I said the thugs throwing punches at normal football fans should be banned not the person who wants to watch a game.

This is the one part of football that really let's it down.

They should absolutely be allowed to sit where they want to watch a game. It is the dickheads who attack them who should be kicked out and banned not 2 people quietly using a present.

In football is the only sport in the world with segregation amongst fans and its pathetic. We could learn a lot from the way rugby police events.

The sooner the hooligans and trouble makers are weeded out and banned the better

You dont half chat some shit mate fair play. As if football atmospheres aren't already dying a slow and painful death you want them to follow suit with rugby?

I agree on the hooligan element but do you really wana be sat next to a swansea or bristol fan shaking a happy clapper? Get a grip.

Not really but I wouldnt attack them for supporting another team if they are just sat enjoying it

Its pathetic and anyone who thinks differently need to grow up. Football is not only for loud men who want to sing shout and swear, it's also for children and in this case couples who want to enjoy a day out.

I'm not suggestion people should be 'attacked'. I'm saying your point to get rid of segregation like the rugby would kill football for many.

I never said get rid of segregation, I said its pathetic that a person with no interest in causing or being in trouble cant gonand watch a football game because some dickhead cant behave or control there beer. Like I said the thugs throwing punches at normal football fans should be banned not the person who wants to watch a game.

Prevention not cure. Rules are there to prevent situations. As escott explained above, this idiot is putting other people at risk by breaking those rules. So yes, he definitely should have been ejected.

The tickets, just like outs will comes with T&C's explaining they are for home fans only. This guy has not only ignored that but decided to wear a city top too the tool.

Numpty....he could have been sat next to a right idiot and got slapped....he must have known wearing the colours would cause a problem

I went in the home end at West Brom the day we had Bolton away in the FA Cup and it was called off. Albion were playing Blackburn who had Nathan Blake playing for them.
There were 9 of us in there and all was ok until one of our lot chanted ' Blakey, do the ayatollah' and unfurled a Welsh flag with CCFC on it.
All you could hear was hundreds of seats clanking as the locals went for us.
Stewards and police moved in and marched us around the pitch past Frankie Burrows who told us to f**k off!! He was Albions assistant manager.
We were then stuck in a corner with about 150 other City fans and had Blackburn on one side and Albion on the other. I think it was 3-4 or 4-4, and each goal was met with absolute chaos in our end.
Its the only time I've been threatened by 2 sets of fans at the same game.