Let me begin by congratulating our football team on a convincing league win on Saturday. We were made very welcome by everyone at Brechin City who were very gracious hosts. I also wanted to thank our loyal travelling supporters who made the journey south.
Unfortunately, there was a small group of ICTFC supporters who disgraced the Club by behaving in a threatening, abusive and disrespectful manner. The local Police evicted 6 fans who were supporting our team. The Club has now received correspondence entitled “Unacceptable Conduct” from a senior representative of the Scottish Professional Football League who was at the game and observed this small group of ICTFC fans behaving so badly. Additionally, I have received multiple complaints from other supporters of the Club who were at the game and who have expressed their utter dismay at the dreadful behaviour of some of our supporters. Moreover, D & E coaches have advised us that one of their vehicles was badly damaged by these rogue supporters on the journey home. We are in discussion with representatives from Caley Jags Together and the ICT Travel Club to seek their input. By any measure, this kind of shameful conduct by supporters of ICTFC is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Inside our last matchday programme (Issue 4 dated 19 August 2017) for the game with Greenock Morton, there was a half-page article entitled, “Unacceptable Conduct at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and Away Matches”. This article sets out the Club’s policy in this regard and a copy is included here for reference.
“ICTFC will not tolerate unacceptable conduct at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium or away football stadia. Unacceptable conduct is conduct which is deemed violent or disorderly. Violent Conduct includes any actual, attempted or threatened physical violence against any person or intentional damage to property.
Disorderly Conduct includes conduct which stirs up or sustains or is likely or is designed to stir up or sustain hatred or ill will towards individuals or groups based on their membership of the following categories:
- Gender, colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin.
- Membership or presumed membership of a religious group or of a social or cultural group with perceived religious affiliation.
- Sexual orientation.
- Transgender identity.
- Disability.
- Or against an individual who is or is presumed to be a member of such a group.
- Using threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct.
- Displaying or writing anything which is threatening, abusive or insulting.
- Using words or conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicated support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation or group proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000.
All persons who enter Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on a matchday are subject to these rules, including all employees and volunteers of ICTFC whilst discharging their duties for the Club. Any person who engages in Unacceptable Conduct will be liable for sanctions imposed by the Club which may involve possible criminal proceedings, ejection from the Stadium, withdrawal of a season ticket and/or exclusion from future matches involving the Club.”
I can confirm that the Club is finalising its review of what happened and identifying those who were involved, and that we will take decisive action with the objective of stamping out this form of unacceptable behaviour at both home and away matches.
Graham Rae