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Saturday, 12 January, 2002, 19:22 GMT
Fans urged to stamp out hooligans
Cardif City fans study chairman Sam Hammam's anti-violence leaflet
The chairman wants fans to join his campaign
Cardiff City owner Sam Hammam has urged fans to be his eyes and ears in the fight against hooliganism following the violent scenes at Sunday's FA Cup tie against Leeds United at Ninian Park.

Writing in pamphlets issued at Saturday's Nationwide League match with Peterborough United, he accused the media of waging an"orchestrated and vicious" campaign against the club.


We will close ranks and fight together against this evil and wicked campaign

Cardiff City chairman Sam Hammam
Mr Hammam himself has been banned by the Football Association of Wales from making his traditional pitchside walkabouts but he urged the authorities to take no action against the club.

He also pledged his support for minder Neil MacNamara despite revelations about the security guard's convictions for hooliganism.

The pamphlets were issued to launch the chairman's war on hooliganism.

Neil MacNamara and Sam Hammam
Neil MacNamara will stay at the chairman's side
Mr Hammam urged supporters to unite and "fight those wicked people who are so unfairly trying to put us down".

"In my 25 years in football I have never witnessed an orchestrated and vicious media campaign like the one Cardiff City is having to face," he wrote.

"Let there be no doubt there is only one outcome - triumph to the people of Wales and Cardiff City FC.

"What you are going to see is that all Cardiff City supporters are going to get much closer together," he added.

Police outside Cardiff City's ground
Police deterred any repeat of the violence
"We will close ranks and fight together against this evil and wicked campaign.

"We will unite under the motto `All for one and one for all' and in the end we will win."

In the pamphlets Mr Hammam also promised to stamp out hooliganism at the club, which he warned "could destroy everything we are trying to achieve."

He has pledged to take the Second Division club to the Premiership with plans for a new 60,000-seater stadium.

South Wales Police monitor
Officers have been sifting through hours of footage
South Wales Police have charged a total of ten people with public order offences in connection with the clashes which marred Cardiff City's FA Cup victory over Leeds United and an earlier Nationwide League game against Bristol City.

Four arrests were made on Sunday and another nine in dawn raids on Friday following the study of CCTV footage.

Three people were released without charge following Friday's raids but police say more arrests could follow.

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
News image BBC Wales's Nick Palit
"Many fans are now hostile to the media but agree hooliganism needs to be tackled"
News image Sam Hammam
"The most important thing is the image of the game"
News image City fan Tony Jeffries and journalist Joe Lovejoy
debate the hooligan issue
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