Former Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill was subjected to 'unacceptable' abuse at the Mem in the wake of Shrewsbury Town’s 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers.
A report from the Press Association details how Cotterill was walking down the touchline to conduct his post-match media duties in front of the West Stand when he was insulted by a small group of supporters who had stayed behind in the lower tier, with the majority having vacated the stand following the conclusion of the game.
In his interview with Shrewsbury, Cotterill also turns and looks at fans abusing him as he speaks to club media, with a section of the audio briefly muted. The report from PA claims one supporter shouted, “I wish you were dead”. Cotterill spent significant time in intensive care at Bristol Royal Infirmary with Covid-19 and pneumonia last year.
When contacted by Bristol Live, Bristol Rovers have declined to comment on the matter.
Cotterill managed Rovers’ rivals Bristol City for two-and-a-half seasons leading them to promotion and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in 2015, is revered among Robins fans and still has a property in the city centre which he refers to as home.
“I came back here as a former Bristol City manager who has been successful and I’ve still got a home in the city,” Cotterill said. “That abuse is not acceptable but I have lots of good friends who are ardent Rovers fans.
“It’s a few people who decide they wanted to have something to say but I don’t know what you can do about it. You’ve got to take it. They are far enough away from you but there’s a lot of people who are brave when they are 20 or 30 feet away.
“The stewarding was pretty good and another guy told them to pipe down but unfortunately this happens in football. Thankfully, it’s an isolated incident.”
Cotterill spent 49 days in at the BRI in 2021, admitting he feared going to sleep because he was worried he wouldn't wake up.
Earlier this month Rovers contacted Barnsley following sexist chanting aimed at a staff member at Oakwell during their League One fixture. The Tykes are conducting an internal investigation into the matter.
At the most recent fixture at the Mem against Oxford United, former Rovers striker Matty Taylor was subjected to chants of, "We're all having a party when Matty Taylor's dead". Taylor infamously left Rovers to sign for City in January 2017.
Saturday's fixture against Shrewsbury was the first of this season in which the Mem was at full capacity following the lifting of restrictions by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), imposed after pitch invasions against Forest Green Rovers and Scunthorpe United last season.
The club have also been fined £16,500 by the FA for the incidents around the 7-0 win over Scunthorpe on May 7, which included the visiting goalkeeper being assaulted by a 16-year-old Rovers fan who has since been handed a banning order.
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