Millwall launch campaign to clamp down on missile throwing: Don’t Be A Tosser

Millwall have launched a campaign to stamp out missile throwing at games – called Don’t Be A Tosser.

Lions chief executive Steve Kavanagh fears the club could be fined, supporters banned or stands closed if they do not act.

The club will start emptying any bottles brought into the Dockers Stand at The Den, starting with Saturday’s home game against Nottingham Forest.

Drug detecting dogs will also patrol the ground.

The Millwall supremo’s warning follows four days after incidents of discriminatory abuse and insults and missiles hurled at opponents during Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup third round home defeat by local rivals Crystal Palace.

Eagles player Michael Olise was hit by a bottle during the match.

Two of those under investigation following incidents on Saturday are season ticket holders, the chief executive revealed.

Kavanagh said: “If one of the missiles thrown on to the pitch caused any sort of injury to a player or member of staff then the consequences would be beyond anything the club or supporters have experienced in recent history. I cannot stress that enough.

“The severity of this threat is very real, and it is with that in mind that we are launching a new ‘Don’t be a Tosser’ campaign which we hope will contribute to the prevention of such incidents in the future.

“A campaign like this is clearly not enough on its own, however, and in certain areas of the ground – starting this Saturday – we have no choice but to start decanting all bottles into plastic cups.

“The damage to the club caused by events like we saw on Saturday is very real and ultimately we all care immensely for Millwall. Nobody wants to see our name or indeed the reputation of fans tarnished.”

The operation will begin in the Dockers Stand – apart from Zampa’s Family Stand – and in the stadium’s hospitality area. But this may widen into all other areas of the stadium.

He added: “It is essential that staff having to carry out this process are respected as it is not their choice, and while it was a difficult decision the club simply has no other option. Any abuse towards them given they are only carrying out instruction would be grossly inappropriate and will not be accepted.

“Bringing bottles into the stadium has not been allowed for some time which is a measure respected and followed by almost everyone and this is an unavoidable extension of that policy which again is designed to protect the health and safety of all in attendance, the reputation of the club and therefore the interests of the majority of supporters.”

There will also be a clampdown on drug taking.

Kavanagh said: “When we surveyed supporters back in January of last year, the reason most commonly cited as to why fans do not enjoy their matchday experience as much as they could, or why they no longer attend, is because of drug taking (and smoking) in the toilets.

“We received multiple reports of it again on Saturday but it is not a behaviour which is exclusive to the biggest games.”

There will be drug detecting dogs at matches and any supporter found in possession will of course be subject to police investigation and a long club ban.

Dogs will also be present at the away end to detect pyrotechnics.