Seagulls Against Apartheid is shocked by Brighton & Hove Albion’s draconian 5 year ban imposed on Roger Wade. Roger is a 10 year season ticket holder and respected local businessman working in finance. On 16th August at the first game of the season he removed his jacket in the early season sun. He was sitting in the stands which formed part of the hospitality area behind the manager’s dugouts and was wearing a Palestine football shirt.
At half time he was invited to ‘go outside’ by a steward to discuss a matter which was not revealed to him. Roger had no issue with the discussion but was not prepared to effectively be removed from the ground, the interaction remained calm and courteous throughout. For his ‘offence’ Roger was handed a 5 match ban.
At time of writing 4 matches have been played and Roger has been active on social media questioning the club’s attitude. The background drew attention to the hypocrisy emanating from major football authorities and Brighton & Hove Albion in respect of their actions regarding conflicts in Palestine and Ukraine. (In season 21/22 Brighton & Hove Albion had a 3rd choice away kit in blue and yellow, and wore it at the away game vs Newcastle on 5th March 2022. Proceeds from sales of the kit were donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross).
On 3rd October Roger was hit with a 5 year ban as season ticket holders are apparently not allowed to ‘besmirch the good name of the club’. This would suggest that any criticism of the club could result in a ban, a clearly ludicrous suggestion regardless of the small print attached to your season ticket.
As an organisation we stand fully behind Roger, his approaches to the relevant football authorities and the legal processes employed to lift the ban.
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