Sunderland could face a formal complaint to the Independent Football Ombudsman after Stoke City supporters saw coins confiscated ahead of the Potters' 5-1 win at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats made the decision to ban away supporters bringing coins, vapes or mobile phone power banks being brought into the ground earlier this year.
The decision was made after Burnley offered their 'sincere apologies' when a vape thrown from the away end struck a child, causing minor injuries. The club carried out an investigation to see whether away fans could be moved back to the South Stand, where they resided prior to 2012, and stepped up security measures in the short-term while also looking at alternative locations within the ground where away fans could be housed, but a decision has now been taken not to change the current configuration.
Part of those measures included Sunderland banning coins, vapes or mobile phone power banks being taken into the ground. Stoke City supporters were given a document headed ‘Enough is Enough’ when they arrived on supporters' buses last weekend in response to missiles being thrown from the away end in the upper tier of the North Stand – but away supporters have objected to ‘being treated like hooligans’.
