Statements released to Wolves and West Brom fans as lifetime bans possible | OneFootball

Wolves and West Brom have released a joint-statement before the Black Country Derby.

With Wolves and West Brom battling it out in the Black Country Derby, both sides have issued a joint-statement regarding fan behaviour for this coming Sunday.

It’s all set to be an enthralling match between two excellent sides who will be giving their all to win the bragging rights heading into the three-week international break.

But many can’t forget the unsavoury scenes that occurred the last time Wolves and West Brom met in the FA Cup, with many arrests and even banning orders issued by West Midlands Police following such unrest.

So, with that in mind, both clubs have issued statements on their respective club websites, warning supporters that such behaviour will not be tolerated again.

Wolves and West Brom’s impressive starts to the season

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One of the fieriest and most passionate fixtures in the EFL Championship calendar is approaching, with a first league meeting between the two bitter rivals since 2021 set to get underway at Sunday lunchtime, with the pair aiming to keep their impressive starts to the season going.

Wolves, recently coming down from the Premier League, are hovering around the promotion picture, with a 1-0 victory away at Sheffield United last week meaning they’ve won three out of their last five league games and have 11 points on the board heading into the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Baggies have carried on their excellent turnaround under James Morrison, with Albion taking 14 points from their opening seven matches and also staking a claim for a promotion push.

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With this, there should be a lot of quality on the pitch throughout the duration of the 90 minutes, with the game hopefully remembered for what happens on it rather than off of it.

Unsavoury fan scenes in last Wolves v West Brom meeting

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While Wolves and West Brom haven’t met in a league match since 2021, they did lock horns back in January 2024 in the FA Cup.

Wanderers went on to progress through with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha, but the talking point was what happened off the pitch, with supporters from both sides violent towards each other.

The crux of it was that some Wolves fans ended up being amongst the home supporters at The Hawthorns, with violence breaking out when the visitors doubled their advantage through Cunha’s strike.

The fighting also erupted close to the area in the stands reserved for the players' families, while missiles were also thrown by both sets of supporters, leading to the game being suspended for a total of 38 minutes.

It also saw former Albion defender Kyle Bartley leave the ground with a child in his arms and not taking part in the latter stages of the match.

Meanwhile, another supporter was escorted out of a home area with blood streaming down his face while another fan was taken out of the stadium on a stretcher.

In the aftermath of such ugly scenes, 43 people were arrested, 12 people were charged and sentenced by the courts, one Football Banning Order was issued, and five supporters received permanent club bans.

Wolves and West Brom warn supporters over behaviour in joint-statement

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Publishing onto their respective club websites, bitter rivals Wolves and West Brom have issued a joint-statement to their supporters before the Black Country Derby on Sunday, warning supporters to be on their best behaviour, with the threat of lifetime bans issued should there be any troublemakers.

The statement reads: “The Black Country derby is one of English football's oldest rivalries and remains a fixture of great significance to both clubs and their supporters.

“For generations, matches between Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers have been played with immense passion, creating unforgettable occasions for players and supporters alike.

“This Sunday, more than 30,000 supporters will come together at Molineux to enjoy another chapter in that proud history. Both clubs are committed to ensuring the focus remains where it belongs - on the football and the atmosphere created by our supporters.

“Following the last Black Country derby in 2024, supporters responsible for unacceptable behaviour faced serious consequences. A total of 43 people were arrested, 12 people were charged and sentenced by the courts, one Football Banning Order was issued and five supporters received permanent club bans.

“These outcomes demonstrate that disorder, violence and criminal behaviour carry significant consequences and will continue to be dealt with robustly by both clubs and West Midlands Police.

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“Supporters are reminded that anyone found engaging in violence, discriminatory behaviour, entering the pitch or trackside areas, throwing missiles, using pyrotechnics or breaching Ground Regulations risks arrest, prosecution, football banning orders and long-term or permanent exclusion from their club.

“Both clubs have worked closely with the Safety Advisory Group, local authorities and police to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for the fixture.

“Supporters can expect enhanced stewarding, policing, robust ticketing controls and additional safety measures designed to protect everyone attending the match while allowing both sets of fans to enjoy the occasion.

“We also ask supporters to play their part by:

“The overwhelming majority of Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters attend this fixture to support their team passionately and responsibly, and we are confident that will once again be the case.

“Let's ensure this Black Country derby is remembered for the football, the atmosphere and the passion in the stands.”

Wolves and West Brom firm on stamping out fan unrest

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What’s crystal clear is that those scenes from the FA Cup clash in 2024 cannot be repeated.

It is the most modern-day smear on English football, with hooliganism like that dating all the way back to what was seen in the 1970s and 80s.

While there should be passion and animosity between the two sets of supporters, it should be in a controlled manner, with the FA Cup meeting showing the dangers of when it goes way too far.

Hopefully, this statement is enough to convince supporters to not repeat such behaviour, with many likely to be banned from football for life should they carry any offences out on Sunday.

Such punishments are the only way normal order can be restored, and hopefully the latest instalment of the Black Country Derby can be remembered for what the players produce, not the supporters.