BY JOHN DAVIDSON
A fan has spoken out about the vile abuse she and her family suffered at a recent Super League match.
The unnamed Leeds supporter was attending the semi-final between the Rhinos and St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium on October 1 with her parents.
At the game she claims her and her elderly parents were subjected to abusive language from several Saints fans.
“There was only 40 of us Leeds fans and the problem was they sat us right in the middle of the St Helens fans,” the fan told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“There were people in front of us and people behind us who were absolutely vile. I thought they were going to hit my Dad, but I didn’t realise the people behind had called my Mum a c%nt.
“This St Helens fan started chomping on about Leeds laying on in the tackle. It’s a bit of banter and I said you know it’s called tactics.
“Well, they started going on [with the abuse], and they must have been in their late 40s or early 50s. They weren’t drunk or anything.
“I don’t know if my Mum or Dad kept turning around. At one stage my Dad said I’m going to get the stewards, you’re vile. I said just leave it and they were goading and goading in the first half.
“There was about 40 of us Leeds fans sitting there. And the fella next to me eventually turned around and said stop goading him, he’s an old man, leave him alone.
“If they were drunken people I could have understood it, but the vitriol and the bile that was coming out of their mouths was vile.”
At half-time they complained to the stewards about the foul-mouthed abuse and they were moved seats, as were the offending Saints supporters.
“We walk out at half-time, we see some stewards and there was about three of them,” she said.
“We told them what had happened and they said well you move seats and sit in the disabled bit for the second half. And a lady steward went over to them and asked them to move.
“In the second half the fellas in front of us were vile again. My Mum was absolutely terrified.
“At the end of it I was going down in the lift and this couple said that is the worst I’ve ever seen, we’re never coming to St Helens again.
“I’ve been all over the world to watch rugby and I’ve sat at my many grounds on my own, and I said you are the worst of the worst I’ve ever had to deal with.
“I said to them what’s your problem? You’re going to win, why do you have to be like that?”
The fan is speaking out about the abuse to make others aware of the atmosphere being created at matches, and to ensure it is not ignored.
“I was worried for my Mum and Dad,” she admitted.
“They’re 85. They shouldn’t have to not go to an away game because of what might be said.
“If you sweep it under the carpet they’ll do it again and again. The game wants support but the supporters need to behave don’t they?
“Why do you do it to old people?”
There has been a number of incidents involving fans at rugby league games this season, with one that occurred at Featherstone’s semi-final against Halifax currently being investigated by the RFL.
Bradford were sanctioned after a referee suffered homophobic abuse from the crowd during a match against Newcastle earlier this year.
The RFL and St Helens have both been approached for comment.
