Netting to keep rival fans apart at stadium

The new security measures are being introduced after trouble broke out between Doncaster Rovers and Millwall fans during the first match of the League One season last Saturday. Fighting also happened outside the ground.

Police had to draw batons and use pepper spray to subdue the rival supporters during the goalless draw and some fans have criticised the way the match was policed.

Now police and Doncaster Rovers staff have met with the stadium management team to discuss what could be learned from Saturday’s clash and the main outcome was a decision to erect the netting between home and away supporters.

A Keepmoat Stadium spokesman said the meeting had been “very productive” and discussed steps that could be taken at future matches.

“Saturday’s game was a category-A match for which we had the appropriate levels of stewarding in place.

“We had received no prior intelligence of fans planning to cause trouble, however, as an extra measure we decided not to sell alcohol to away fans and seated the MIllwall supporters in the central area of the north stand to create large buffer zones on either side.

“The police have stated that they were satisfied with the stewarding in place and we in turn were satisfied with the support given to us by South Yorkshire Police.

“Along with the police and the club we have identified some further segregation measures that could potentially be introduced including the use of netting to cover the buffer seating areas which we believe will be highly effective.

“It is important that all supporters at the Keepmoat Stadium are safe at all times and we will always work with the police and the club to explore any further measures to ensure this.”

But some fans had criticisms of the way the Millwall game was policed.

Stainforth-based fan Lee Croft said: “The Millwall fans did go too far yes, and were drinking before the game, but at recent football games at the Keepmoat, the away fans are normally separated from the home fans by a line of police and stewards.

“This was not enforced until after the Millwall fans charged towards the north west section of the Keepmoat.

“I am outraged that the football fans had the blame thrown at them, when a few minor enforcements that are usually given at normal games would have lowered the chances of this happening.”

But police communications officer Lindsay Rust said the match was not policed any differently from any other at the Keepmoat and drunken fans are not let into the ground.