McLeish fumes after fan face-off

16 October 2010 21:00
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was unhappy with the actions of Arsenal supporters behind the dugout during the Barclays Premier League game at Emirates Stadium. McLeish became involved in a brief altercation with a fan in the first half, and feels more should be done to stop such incidents - labelling the Arsenal stewards "pathetic". Speaking after his team's 2-1 defeat, McLeish lamented: "It was just a guy getting out of his seat. Where are the stewards? What are they doing? What is their job? Should people be allowed to get out of their seats? I am allowed to get out of my seat to shout instructions, but this guy was out of his seat, coming three or four steps down. Why is he allowed out of his seat? He should be sitting in his seat. It causes problems and is not right. "Managers get hauled over the coals, but you get the punters coming out of their seats and shouting expletives at you. I just told the guy, `Sit down, sit in your seat' - and then I asked the stewards, `What are you doing about that guy?'. They are all sitting looking at the spat between the two of us and laughing, enjoying it. It is pathetic. "I know they can get up when there is a chance because you have got to try to see the action as well, but to come two or three steps down and start shouting at a manager, what are the stewards doing about that? Anyway, it is more important we start to get back getting some Premier League points." Arsenal made no official comment on the issues raised by McLeish.

Source: PA