Red Badge · Yellow Fever Nga Wana Kowhai · Supporters of the Wellington Phoenix

A few points from the other side of the fence.

I have worked for Red Badge for several months generally in the Yellow Fever zone.

Red Badge apply the rules imposed by Westpac for the general safety and welfare of all persons entering the stadium.

Object throwing is not tolerated by the stadium therefore will be enforced by security when they can identify offenders. This includes bottles and the cardboard holder they come with. It's not so much that you threw it but who they hit and their subsequent complaint to management. I also try to stop any objects from hitting you!

Beer throwing will result in the same actions against the offender. The cause of most of the fights in the last few weeks was because of people deliberately or otherwise throwing beer over others.

Friday night against Perth, beer thrown, fist thrown. Someone had their season card taken off them because the beer throwing started it and the punch was a result.

Lately supporters have taken offence to the ticket checkers on the aisles to the fever section. This has been bought in to counter the people who wander across from other sections and take your seats, another cause of flash points. It's for your benefit.

You may not be aware but you are all watched on camera and this can be replayed to supply backup evidence for an eviction. The 3rd referee will decide if you leave or stay.

I usually stand at the entrance to aisle 21 and anyone I have spoken to will tell you I generally give a warning about the offence and what the outcome will be if it dosn't stop.

I call you sir and I say please and thankyou.

Most offences call for immediate ejection from the stadium but I try to be firm but fair. In most cases the warning is heeded and you get to stay and watch the whole game.

If you have a good night out at the football, it is because many people, earning minimum wage have helped to ensure it happens.

I will not knock the fever because of a few incidents where 1 beer less might have produced a different outcome.

Thank you for your time.

A word from the Fever ...

Thanks to our Red Badge rep for the senisble words.

The Red Badge guys are there to do a job, and we need to support that as a group. So far, they have been pretty reasonable, they have rarely over-reacted and they have been professional enough to resist our generally good natured taunting and baiting.

If people throw bottles they will be thrown out - and we support that. If people scrap they will be thrown out - and we support that. We can all have a good time and get stuck into the game without any of that carry on. And if we do not draw lines, then there is a risk the culture of YF zone degenerates. At the moment, it is a great atmosphere, so let's keep it that way.

The one area of concern, that is causing niggle within the zone and which needs to be knocked on the head is the throwing of beer. It aggravates many people, so dont do it. Simple as that. Of course, there may be some spillage when your jumping up and down celebrating our 6-0 drubbing of Queensland. That is hard to avoid. But there are one or two people who think it's a hoot launching beer two or three rows in front of themselves. That's not necessary and not on.

OK, that's enough from The Fever.