BBC SPORT | CRICKET | New crowd laws ruled out

No new laws are to be introduced in the wake of crowd trouble during this summer's one-day series involving England, Pakistan and Australia.

The competition was marred by a series of incidents, prompting the government to set up of a Cricket Disorder Review Group.

Under the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999 an arrest can be made for entering the "playing area or adjacent area to which spectators are not generally admitted without lawful authority or excuse".

The group's report concludes, however, that existing public order laws are tough enough and cricket does not need to mirror the legislation in place for football.

The Group's conclusions are sensible and proportionate

Richard Caborn

It does, however, call on police and cricket officials to keep the matter under review and that more effort should be made to inform spectators of possible penalties they face for invading the outfield.

Other recommendations include the introduction of a common level of steward training and a co-ordinated ticketing policy, plus the appointment of a Safety Officer at each international venue with the power to suspend play.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn said the proposals should help ensure that cricket grounds are "fully able to meet the challenges of accommodating both cricket's traditional public, and its welcome new audiences, without compromising their well=earned reputations as safe and civilised sporting environments".

Steward hurt

England conceded the Headingley match following crowd trouble
The injured steward is carried off

There was trouble at four games during the tournament.

At Edgbaston, thousands of people invaded the outfield with six overs left of a game beteween England and Pakistan, causing a half hour hold-up in play.

There were similar incidents when the two teams met again at Headingley 10 days later and a steward suffered broken ribs and a damaged spleen.

Australian captain Steve Waugh led his team off the field during their game against Pakistan at Trent Bridge when fireworks were let off in the crowd.

And the final at Lord's was marred when a beer can hit Michael Bevan as Australia celebrated their victory on the dressing room balcony, forcing organisers to hold the trophy presentation indoors.

Shared problem

But the report refuses to point the finger exclusively at Pakistan supporters.

Michael Bevan was hit in the face by a beer can
Bevan is checked out by Australian doctors

"Coverage of these events tended to depict violent crowd disorder in cricket as being a phenomenon which is exclusively associated with matches involving visiting Pakistan national teams.

"The Group does not believe that conclusion to be supported by the available evidence of disorderly behaviour over recent years," the report states.

At the time of the incidents, the England and Wales Cricket Board was in favour of stiff new penalties to deter spectators from disrupting games.

But chief executive Tim Lamb insisted he was satisfied with the outcome of the Review Group's inquiry.

"Whilst the Group's report does not recommend the introduction of specific legislation, I am very pleased that its deliberations have resulted in a series of recommendations which I believe will be of tremendous assistance to cricket," he said.

"I am confident the cricket community will do its utmost to ensure that the recommendations of this report are implemented successfully, however, the full support of Government and the police will be essential to this outcome."


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