WALES FANS TURNED AWAY FROM CITY CENTRE PUBS?

Football fans claim they were turned away from Cardiff pubs for wearing Wales shirts
By Philip Dewey


Sunday 3rd September 2017

Fans who were celebrating Wales' victory over Austria claimed they were refused entry to some pubs in Cardiff city centre


Fans celebrating Wales’ stunning victory over Austria claimed they were turned away by pubs in Cardiff because they were wearing their country’s football shirt.

There was a party atmosphere in the capital on Saturday evening after young Liverpool striker Ben Woodburn scored on his debut to keep Wales’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup alive.

But a number of fans looking to celebrate their team’s victory were left out in the cold after they claimed they were refused entry to pubs in the city centre because they were wearing Wales football shirts.

Steffan Jones, 32, from New Quay in Ceredigion , watched the match at the Cardiff City Stadium with four friends and went to The Gatekeeper on Westgate Street after the game.

He said they all arrived at the pub at different times but that bouncers told all of them that they were not allowed in because they were wearing football shirts.

Mr Jones said: “We went to The Gatekeeper after the game and the bouncer said they weren’t letting in anyone wearing a football shirt.

“One of us was wearing a jacket and you couldn’t even see his shirt but the bouncer said he still couldn’t come in because he was wearing a football shirt.

“The place was empty and we were all refused entry. It wasn’t just us. There was a lot of people given the same treatment.”

His friend Bleddyn Davies, 31, from Cardiff Bay , said: “Loads of people were being refused entry and it had nothing to do with being drunk. We’d just walked from the stadium and were sober.

“It’s ridiculous when you think how many people are in there in rugby shirts when the rugby is on.”

A spokesman for Wetherspoon, which owns The Gatekeeper, denied that this was the case.

He said: “The Gatekeeper does allow people in wearing football tops and this was the case for the Wales versus Austria game.

“Some people wearing football tops were refused entry on grounds of behaviour and not because they were wearing a football top.

“The pub was busy all day and included many customers wearing football tops.”

The Yard on St Mary Street was also accused of refusing entry to people wearing football shirts.

Writing on Twitter, Iestyn Roberts said: “Refused entry to Yard - no football shirts said the doorman.”

The Yard said they did have a policy regarding sportsware but that this was not just for football shirts.

A spokesman said: “We had lots of Welsh fans in jerseys and tops before and during the game but every weekend after 10pm no sportsware is allowed.

“People aren’t allowed to come in in tracksuits or any kind of sportsware.”

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This is such bullshit they always hide behind the drunk or disruptive excuse. I was in a small group of 4 (3 in welsh shirts) we were completely sober and no way looking like trouble makers. We were refused entry into Tiny Rebel and The Gatekeeper and were clearly told it was because we were wearing football shirts. Hate these double standards when it comes to supporting your country, everyone wears rugby shirts in 6 nations and are welcomed everywhere. These establishments only have to say that the football crowd were causing trouble and everyone buys it.

In fairness a lot of city centre pubs have a clear out hour at some point during the evening to make way for the normal Saturday nighters most who had very little idea there was an important match going on whether that is rugby or football.

I bet on rugby international saturdays they don't have a clear out at 10pm to let normal saturday nighters in, and most fans wearing rugby shirts are totally bolloxed by the end of the game never mind 10pm at night. There is a definite bias against football fans regardless of what the pubs claim. They want your money any other day of the year. Makes you sick

I was in the gatekeeper before kick off and was packed with wales fans wearing football tops. But bouncers were being pr1ks and throwing people out for singing. Bully boy wnkrs who got picked on in school

I remember going in walkabout in the night after 2006 FA cup final and there was guys dancing with West Ham tops on.

Any other night no football tops would have been allowed in there so they will make an exception when it suits them.

I bet on rugby international saturdays they don't have a clear out at 10pm to let normal saturday nighters in, and most fans wearing rugby shirts are totally bolloxed by the end of the game never mind 10pm at night. There is a definite bias against football fans regardless of what the pubs claim. They want your money any other day of the year. Makes you sick

100% mate, worked in a city centre bar for the six nations and one Saturday we were the chosen bar for the city's away fans. Manager told us to expect trouble. All fans were told not to sing or they would be asked to leave. They were a right laugh, easy to deal with Absoutle joke. Complete different story on a rugby day.