This from Kings Lynn:
King’s Lynn Town FC regrettably informs supporters that the Club has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for failing to control spectators in relation to two incidents that took place at our home League fixture vs Scarborough Athletic FC on Tuesday 7th December 2024.
Following an extensive investigation by the Football Association, the club has been charged with two counts of misconduct for breaches of FA Rule E21 in respect of the match. It was alleged that King’s Lynn Town FC failed to ensure that spectators and/or its supporters (and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending the match.
Charge 1.
It is alleged that in/or around 65th minute, King’s Lynn Town FC failed
to ensure that its spectators and/or its supporters (and anyone
purporting to be its supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an
orderly fashion whilst attending the Match and do not use words or
otherwise behave in a way which is improper and/or offensive and/or
abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting with an express or implied
reference to sexual orientation, contrary to FA Rule E21.1 and E21.4.
Charge 2.
It is alleged that in/or around 75th minute, King’s Lynn Town FC failed
to ensure that its spectators and/or its supporters (and anyone
purporting to be its supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an
orderly fashion whilst attending the Match and do not use words or
otherwise behave in a way which is improper and/or offensive and/or
abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting with an express or implied
reference to sexual orientation, contrary to FA Rule E21.1 and E21.4
The club is subject to the following as a result of these incidents:
• A Fine of £3,000.00.
• A Ground Closure. The terms are as follows:- Kings Lynn Town FC shall
be subject to a Partial Closure Order for two (2) consecutive First Team
Competitive home matches at The Docherty Walks Stadium, limited to the
North Terrace, save for that section designated for the use of away
supporters. Such Partial Closure Order shall take effect 14 days from
the date of the publication of the Written Reasons, the affected games
will be published in the near future.
Any misconduct involving our supporters, whether it be at The
Docherty Walks Stadium or away from home, which is reported to the
Football Association, leaves the Club liable to be charged.
Once again, this charge has been the culmination of a tremendous amount
of hours of the Club resources to provide our observations, evidence and
defence to prevent or mitigate such charges to be imposed on the Club,
which ultimately has cost the Club money in addition to the charge which
is something as a Club we cannot sustain.
To have charges against the Club is disappointing as an incredible amount of work has gone on behind the scenes since the Club have been under an FA Action plan for a previous charge of Crowd Disorder, as a Club we will continue to work with the relevant authorities including the FA and the local police with a view to making The Walks a great day out for people of all backgrounds and ages. To enable this to happen we need our supporters to call out this behaviour and hold those responsible accountable; these incidents are avoidable but we must stand together.
Therefore on behalf of the Football Club as a whole, we must urge each and every spectator visiting us here at The Docherty Walks stadium, and also travelling to away games to represent the Football Club, to please refrain from entering the field of play, the use of pyrotechnics, be mindful of the words used and avoid any other misconduct which could see the Club penalised. All of these incidents are reported to The Football Association each and every time they occur and really do have an impact on the Club.
As always, we are talking about a very small minority of spectators who are engaging in this unacceptable manner, but these people in the minority continue to cause us the Club a major problem which results in serious consequences.
Once again, we would like to remind supporters that if there are incidents of this nature reported, then the Football Association have the power to impose serious financial penalties on the Club which will almost certainly impact on its playing resources. The Club continue to be closely monitored by the Football Association following an accumulation of incidents that are being reported. Offenders will be subject to lifetime club bans should they be identified.
We will inform supporters which games the partial stadium closure will effect in due course.