The Wall
The issue with "The Wall" and the prohibition of any bottles in the stadium last night is potentially trying to mitigate against a “match behind closed doors” sanction from UEFA.
WHUST normally meets with the FSE (Football Supporters Europe), typically joined by someone from the Club/LS185 and the police match commander before any medium / high risk UEFA match. After the SK Rapid Wien home match, subsequent briefings mentioned the need to mitigate against the throwing of objects and the FSE said that many European grounds had nets between opposing supporters.
We also discussed the sanctions that might apply when it was announced that UEFA's match delegate at the SK Rapid Wien match would be reporting to their Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB). The Club were subsequently fined €60,000 (reduced to €30,000 on appeal). It was noted that only a fine was imposed because there had been no previous occurrence of such an offence in the previous 2 years. From the UEFA CEDB report:
Article 25(1)(c) Disciplinary Regulations stipulates as follows: “Recidivism occurs if another offence of a similar nature is committed within: […] (c) two years of the previous offence if that offence was related to order and security at UEFA competition matches”.
The CEDB takes into account the Club’s clean previous record, noting that the Club has not been punished during the last two years for the throwing of objects (cf. Article 25(1)(c) DR).
The full findings and decision against the Club by UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body can be read here.
SK Rapid Wien were fined €30,000 but also banned from selling tickets to its away supporters for the next UEFA competition match.
So clearly a repeat offence of throwing of objects within a 2-year timescale will involve more serious sanctions – one of which could be being ordered to play a subsequent match behind closed doors.
So why wasn’t netting considered instead of a wall? Manchester United put netting up between away and home supporters for Champions League matches in 2018 following instances of objects being thrown by away fans. It seems as though the Safety at Sports Grounds Authority are against the use of netting within spectator areas at grounds, although it needs clarification of exactly what is allowed.
The Club are meeting with the Independent Supporters Committee (ISC) next week. The Wall was already an agenda item but given how contentious it is, this is being followed up between the ISC and Club subsequently. WHUST and other ISC groups will also raise the prohibition of bottles at European fixtures in the London Stadium.