‘I hope there are no repercussions’ – Exclusive: Pundit reacts to West Brom & Liverpool fans did
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips can understand why West Brom, Leeds and Liverpool supporters made their way to stadiums to celebrate successful seasons.
Leeds won the Championship title to return to the top-flight after 16 years while Liverpool celebrated their first-ever Premier League crown.
Hundreds of West Brom fans made their way to The Hawthorns on Wednesday night to celebrate with the players after they sealed promotion to the Premier League with a 2-2 draw against QPR.
Phillips does not want to see fans breaking any more social distancing rules but admits he understands the feeling that Albion fans felt on Wednesday.
“Did I expect it? I did,” Phillips told West Brom News. “It’s a huge occasion. I didn’t want to see it but, of course, it’s happened.
“We were asking them to respect the country’s feeling to stay away but you’ve got to remember it’s been a couple of years since West Brom were up there. I’ve been a part of that promotion before and I know what it means to the Baggies’ supporters.
“With Liverpool supporters, it’s happened and I hope there are no repercussions from it. Let’s hope the fans adhere to the rules from now on until they’re allowed back in the stadiums.”
We are not going to condone the fact that hundreds of Albion fans gathered at The Hawthorns last week but when the FA, Premier League and EFL do nothing about it when the same happened at Anfield and Elland Road, what do you expect?
Albion fans were told to stay away but the club also knew that wasn’t going to happen if they won promotion.
That’s why there were stewards everywhere, it’s why the Astle Gates were opened up to allow fans in off the busy Birmingham Road and it’s why there was fencing up to separate fans and players.
At the end of the day, the club did the best they could with something that was going to happen that was out of their control.
In other West Brom news, a Portuguese newspaper has issued an update on the Baggies’ pursuit of Filip Krovinovic.
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