The extraordinary lengths Fulham went to kick a Newcastle fan out of the home end
‘I’m careful and behave,’ says the 65-year-old Newcastle fan who has attended away games in the home seats for more than three decades
Charlie thought little of it when he received an email from Fulham 14 hours after buying a general sale ticket for the visit of Newcastle United in September.
It was probably confirmation of his purchase, or a marketing email. But then he read the short message.
Following a recent post on social media and a review of your purchase history with the club, we have reason to believe that you are a visiting supporter.
Tickets purchased through Fulham FC are strictly for home supporters and your ticket purchase has been cancelled and refunded in full.
Charlie isn’t his real name – when speaking to The i Paper about the story he is about to tell, he does not want his identity revealed or he will no longer be able to do what he has been doing for more than three decades.
For Charlie has a secret: he regularly attends Newcastle away games in the home seats. Look around you the next time your team hosts Newcastle United and Charlie might be there, keeping his head down and his eyes on the action, but not celebrating when your club scores, and stifling a cheer when his does.
He isn’t breaking the law, but it is a breach of the Premier League’s rules for away fans to buy home tickets, and after being banned by Fulham he does not wish other clubs to know his identity.