Following turnstile delays that resulted in large crowds outside at kickoff, Nottingham Forest supporters have continued to criticize the team. One season ticket holder sent an open letter outlining a number of grievances. The team expressed regret to the fans who had to wait to enter the stadium for Saturday’s FA Cup matchup with Luton Town (January 11).
While some fans missed the most of the first half of the 2-0 victory, others said they did not enter until halftime. Forest said in an official statement that “persistent and stubborn icy conditions” were the reason why turnstiles were stopped for the Upper Bridgford stand.
Leaders will meet urgently on Monday morning to discuss the issue, which a top club official stated is being treated “extremely seriously,” especially given the frigid temperatures. Supporters’ photos from the game’s 3pm start time appear to show hundreds of people waiting outside.
Among them was Rob Carlyle, who purchased a season ticket for Upper Bridgford and joined the social media chorus of critics. On social media, he posted an open letter that he sent to several club senior officials.
He claimed to have “witnessed real and justified anger” while waiting in the “freezing cold” for more than an hour alongside hundreds of other fans in the letter, which he posted on X, the former Twitter. “Why weren’t fans given any information before to the event? For those waiting in frigid temperatures, the club did not provide any welfare provisions. He wrote, “People were forced to urinate against walls.”
“One small, very distressed girl accompanied by her mother was desperate for the toilet and unable to find one.” According to Mr. Carlyle, the team ought to have let the fans use the concourse.
“Our club is Forest. Mr. Marinakis pushed us to embrace the club’s familial atmosphere. He continued, “Fans today seem to have been an afterthought and did not feel embraced.”
“This was a poor performance, well below the standards our club should set for itself.” Within ten minutes of the 3pm kickoff, the “vast majority” of fans were inside the City Ground, according to the club.
“Despite regular gritting ahead of kick off, persistent and stubborn icy conditions on the vomitories dictated that a small number of turnstiles providing access to the Upper Bridgford stand had to be closed in the interests of the safety of supporters,” the club stated.
“The club wants to sincerely apologize to any fans who were inconvenienced by this incident, even if fortunately the great majority of people were inside the stadium within ten minutes of kickoff. On matchdays, our top focus is the safety and security of our employees and fans. Ryan Yates and Ramón Sosa’s goals helped Nuno Espírito Santo’s team win 2-0 in the cup’s third round.
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