Jed Wallace, the captain of West Bromwich Albion, spoke candidly about the crowd unrest during the team’s loss to Wolves, their local rivals.
The two clubs met last weekend for the first time in twelve years as part of the FA Cup tie. Although Wolves won 2-0 at The Hawthorns, the game was tainted by crowd unrest after the team’s second goal. After the game was halted for 38 minutes, people were taken into custody.
Cameras captured Baggies defender Kyle Bartley looking to protect his family during the interruption while he was seen on the pitch with his kids. The players’ quick worry when the incident started in the corner of the West Stand and Birmingham Road End has been explained by club captain Wallace.
That is the corner where families of all sizes gather. Wallace said to BBC Radio 5 Live, “My parents were actually a row ahead. Fortunately, my mother had nipped off and missed the goal and, obviously, missed all the trouble.” The boys jogged over after realising where it was and that some people had children inside. It’s evidently a little upsetting.
Kilman and Craig Dawson, two seasoned men with the [Wolves], were attempting to get their men inside. “I told the referee that I wouldn’t go inside until I was sure my kids were okay, even if they were in there with me.” Fortunately, everything turned out OK at that point where [Bartley] stood out and made sure everything was alright.
Wallace continued, “In the English game, we recognise that we’re fortunate to have enormous football clubs with tremendous support, even in the second and third divisions in this country.” It’s not something you want to blow up the way it did over the weekend.
It’s a minority, always. I’m not entirely aware of all the details of what transpired, but we don’t want to see in the game. When you’re seeing people injured like they were, that’s not something that we want to see.”
In the ongoing investigation into the event, West Brom is collaborating with the Football Association, West Midlands Police, and the club’s Safety Advisory Group. According to a club statement, “a number of individuals have been identified” and their information has been forwarded to the authorities. Their ticket accounts have also been suspended, so they will not be able to attend games at The Hawthorns until further notice.
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