Contrary to media reports, representatives from each club’s supporters’ trusts had not met as of Wednesday evening. A conference call – also including officers from the Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police (BTP) – was scheduled for Thursday evening.
Katrina Law, the co-chair of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST), told the JC that taking stewards to away games was not uncommon practice among Premier League clubs – although Chelsea tend not to.
She said: “What happens ahead of any London derby is we would sit down with opposing fan representatives, the Met Police, BTP and club representatives, and we go through everything you would expect in a planning meeting.
“This would be plans for getting fans in and out of the stadium; pre-match and post-match; the layout of the concourse, et cetera.
“Tottenham take stewards to every away match we play – it’s just best practice.
“From the THST point of view, if Chelsea want to crack on and deal with their own fans, it’s a good thing.”
Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, who is Jewish, gave his approval to the open letter published last month by Bruce Buck, in which the Chelsea chairman condemned the “deeply unpleasant but vocal minority which refuses to join us in the 21st century”.
Tottenham fans typically self-identify as “Yids” or the “Yid Army”.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust and Chelsea FC have been approached for comment.
