Let's just say that in the section where I sat there was no restriction on obviously drunken people being served alcohol; infact I commented that it was illegal to be served in such a state yet the bar did fantastic business...money talks!

FA is right.

The important word isn't "football" but "designated", and that is designated by statutory instrument. So far, only association football has been so designated.

It coiuld, however, constitute a public order offence, either under section 5 (behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress), section 4A (behaviour intended to cause harassment, alarm or distress), or section 4 (threat of violence or likely to provoke violence).

Also, "assault" means apprehension of a battery (i.e., a strike), hence the distinction between common assault and common assault by beating.

This is not a comment on any potential criminality committed by those on the pitch. It is not an offence per se to go on the pitch, but doing so could be construed as committing a public order offence, depending on the context of the invasion.

Does the RFL not have responsibilty for all this as it was their event?

Who was responsible for the staffing levels of stewards as it proved they were wholly inadequate. Where were the police?
So who had the responsibility for the security at Leigh? The RFL, the Leigh club, the police or or is there a match day co-ordinating effort?
Either way punishing the Widnes club seems very unfair.
Widnes had no security control at the event and most certainly no control over those invading the pitch.
The RFL, Stewarding and the Police surely were the ones with the control, or lack of it, it is they who should take full responsibility, not the Widnes club.
Prosecute the individuals yes, the Widnes club, no!

I agree in principle BUT some of these individuals have no doubt caused trouble on other Widnes away trips - a look at You Tube videos shows other examples of yobbery. At least one of those on the old videos looks as though he could have been the same person as was heavily involved at the semi. So, you could argue that if the Widnes club had weeded these people out some time ago then there would have been no need for security at the semi.

Stewarding/policing levels would have to be risk assessed. I would guess they based it on a sell out crowd but with v little expectation of any trouble which would seem a sensible thing to do given the low level of disorder amonst RL fans when compared to football fans.

But there WAS a low level of disorder, looked at objectively. There were apparently a couple of assaults, for the most part what there was was a hundred or so assembling on the pitch and making their way to the far ed to posture, bare their chests and shout at the cas fans. It could have caused a fight but didn't, due both to restraint by the Cas fans and the barrier formed by the stewards, and then the arrival of some police.

We hate to see it, the perpetrators are assholes, and it gives terrible publicity for RL but (assaults apart) what can you actually do to someone for walking across a pitch, with his shirt off? The CPS won't touch most of them as it is indeed a breach of peace at best and in terms of criminal law that is hardly worth a slap on the wrist. It is the reputational damage to both the Widnes club and the game, but the criminal law will not help in restoring that.

I repeat, it is up to Widnes to identify and deal with them, and the only thing the RFL can do is act against the Widnes club. to encourage them and their fans.

Stewarding and policing would have been based on information supplied by both clubs, the police forces covering both clubs and from the RFL. Levels would have been dictated by a risk assessment of a number of factors. "Widnes had no security control at the event".....why not? Warrington stewards were present at the Warrington V Leeds game. Were they not asked, could they not be bothered (Warrington stewards often attend Widnes for the local derby games but Ive never seen Widnes stewards at the HJ) ?

Ultimate blame lies with those who carried out the act but there will be other factors around it that will need to be looked into.

AND......how many of those who have criticised the stewarding/policing on here have actually done the job or would be willing to "show them how it should be done" next season

I do wonder why the MPs stayed awake long enough in the House to make laws for this country rlTheserl - when no one does anything that results in anything more than a slap on the wrist.

I was hoping for a number of arrests by now but it seems the BBC were busy in Berkshire and abroad,where that excellent former prime minister is now proving to be just as good as a Middle East peace envoy.

He's left a great country behind....

If your link is meant to suggest that an offence of violent disorder would be made out, then clearly you are wrong. Even the examples listed in the text clearly show that this incident fell well short of violent disorder.

"Dragging The Reputation Of RL Fans Through The Mud" is sadly not yet a criminal offence. Charging the knuckleheads with offences that they are bound to get off is worse than not charging them at all.

Is this thread still going on? Its been, its gone lets move on.

Has anyone been arrested or banned yet?

Absolutely nothing to do with the Leigh club. We don't own the ground.

If they did have a risk assessment then they got it very wrong.
Just that when at the DW I've looked out from the East Stand to see stewards shoulder to shoulder along the touch lines to prevent encroachment onto the pitch.
The small number that did invade the pitch at Leigh would have been prevented and may not have attempted it had there be that shoulder to shoulder cordon which is often seen at many, many grounds.
I just feel that those who had the responsibility to get it right failed and due to their failure they will blame the Widnes club.
Deal with the offenders and no one else.

It's a bit late to suddenly decide to let Widnes off the hook; the established principle in the sport is that the club bears some responsibility for the behaviour of its fans, and I guess the ability to punish the club is an incentive for the club to do some awareness work to discourage its own tribe of morons from attending games; or at the very least, to keep their shirts on and behave like half-decent, semi-sentient human beings if they do.

I don't think it's an either or; the individuals should be dealt with, the match-day management arrangements should be looked at, the role of stewards should be revisited and at the same time, Widnes will need to take some responsibility - if not, then I'd expect the victim mentality of, for example, Cas fans, to exceed any normal measurements, since they were handed a hefty punishment when a minority of their idiots found it impossible not to comment on a players sexuality.

Yep and people are still trying to blame the RFL, the stewards, the police, even Leigh Centurions. Sorry guys there is only one group of people to blame. If you visibly staff f6ir trouble you will get trouble. Oh and I forgot for people looking for loopholes in the law. Get this thread locked amd lets have a thread naming in big letters the cretins