Bradford issue fan bans

The club will also ban a supporter who attempted to take fireworks into the Madejski Stadium for the replay and have reaffirmed their pledge to ban for life the fan arrested for alleged racial abuse of Reading winger Garath McCleary if he is found guilty.

A statement issued on the club's official website said: "The football club has been delighted with the fantastic support from the vast majority of its fans during the recent FA Cup run.

"The support, in both its number and its vocal backing for the team, has been one of the highlights of the club's outstanding cup run.

"However, there are one or two individuals who have abused the success of the team and behaved in a way that is unacceptable to the club and its supporters and damaged the image of Bradford City FC.

"So following recent isolated, but serious, incidents at the Reading games, three people have been informed that they are to be banned from the club and two more will be banned, subject to further information from Thames Valley Police."

A fan who "directed foul and abusive language at stewards and threatened them with serious physical violence" during the initial home tie has been banned for five years and another who ran on to the Valley Parade pitch and was later arrested was given the same suspension.

Another supporter, who sprayed a steward with tomato sauce at Valley Parade, has been banned until June 30 this year.

The statement added: "The person who was arrested and charged by Thames Valley Police for racial abuse of a Reading player, an incident seen by millions live on BBC 1, will be banned from the club for life if found to be guilty.

"This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable to everyone within the club and the vast majority of its supporters and has been hugely damaging to the image of the club during a great season where it has previously made headlines for all the right reasons.

"The person who used social media to announce that he planned to take pyrotechnics into the Madejski Stadium and on a targeted search was found to have a pyrotechnic amongst his possessions will be banned for 5 years.

"Carrying these devices into any stadium is a serious offence and, for Bradford City fans in particular, can never be justified.

"The club hopes that by issuing these club bans, it will remove a small number of fans who are, quite simply, not wanted here at the club.

"In addition, it hopes to send out a message that as the club becomes more successful, this small band of people who are responsible for unacceptable behaviour that tarnishes the good name the club is developing will not be tolerated."

Source : PA

Source: PA