Mass Brawl - Hyperthetical

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Have you ever been in attendance where the whole pitch erupted into a mass brawl ? (Amateur Rugby)

If so did you carry on shooting. If subsequently, there were legal proceedings, were you called to provide photographic evidence.??

This just out of curiosity :)
 
eeerm does it have to be a mass brawl?

I have been asked on more than one occasion to produce my pictures as possible evidence from summat thats happened at a match.. .. one by the police and twice by people or solicitors... However they are not my pics so I have to direct them to the newspaper as they have people who deal wiht this kinda fing :)
 
Been there, done it at an amateur under 18's match and i provided photos to the governing body, no idea of the outcome.

Coincidently i covered the games on Sky yesterday where a stand was evacuated for a fire, there was trouble boiling up between rival fans on the field and in the stand, i was approached by police and an official and asked to take photos while the police got their video cameras going, they booth took my contact details, got a nice shot of a police dog having a dump on the field.

One Halifax fan underwent emergency brain surgery after being kicked senless and left for dead in the coach park by reportedly up to 12 Featherstone fans, the incident was witnessed by possibly hundreds of Featherstone fans yet no one has come forward to the police.
 
I covered the Hull City v Millwall fa cup game a couple of seasons ago and was asked to send any images of Millwall fans ripping out seats throwning objects or just thought to be causing a disturbance to Humberside Police.
 
Im sure all of you guys were working at the above games for agencies or at the clubs request.


What would your advice be to a tog who was attending on a speculative basis, with a view to shooting and then posting on a website, Possibly to sell images on to parents and spectators. Carry on shooting the fracas or point the lens away ...

What I'm getting at, as you can probably tell, Is it worth the hassle if you are there on spec ??
 
Watch out for any legal or police investigations. This could be followed up by personal grudges? Bit of a mine field so ask if it would be worth the hassle!

However if a newsworthy piece, shoot away as theres cash in these shots!
 
I dont shoot fan trouble.. fans on pitch fans fighting... the teams I shoot I ahve to shoot again home and away..I get to be pretty well known in each league as well... so best not to antagonise them :)
 
snapzz said:
Watch out for any legal or police investigations. This could be followed up by personal grudges? Bit of a mine field so ask if it would be worth the hassle!
However if a newsworthy piece, shoot away as theres cash in these shots!
Click to expand...

Cheers Graham. I'm expecting a call.


KIPAX said:
I dont shoot fan trouble.. fans on pitch fans fighting... the teams I shoot I ahve to shoot again home and away..I get to be pretty well known in each league as well... so best not to antagonise them :)
Click to expand...

I think this makes sense Tony, I do a lot off different clubs too both home and away, Think I'll just turn the lens away and watch the entertainment ;)
 
Short time reader, 1st time poster!
I mainly cover League of Ireland for my local club and was recently asked by the police if I could supply an image of a certain person from the away support. The person in question lit a flare and threw it at someone but then denied all knowledge of the incident when questioned. As it happened I had a snap of him with the flare so they just told him he was caught on camera with it and he caved in so I wasnt needed any further.
 
I had a similar thing at a game at the end of last season. Some trouble started in the home end, a guy threw a flare and I took pics as he did so. The police asked (very nicely) for copies of the pics which I supplied. Said scrote was then taken to court, pled guilty after seeing the pics, and was given a fairly decent punishment.

For crowd trouble you need your wits about you and need to know whether to get well away, or get in close & shoot it. At the above match, the head policeman briefed all the togs and said it was likely to all kick off, and to be ready to move quickly, so I had all my sundry kit packed away with 5 mins to go in my backpack which was on my back, leaving the two cameras ready to shoot any untidiness.

I always take shots of any fight action on the pitch, though it's usually just handbags as they dont want to get injured (at the higher level leagues anyway!).
 
Happened to me last year but with video.

Went to watch my son playing rugby league.

Two players were scuffling on the floor. He went and joined in and all hell broke loose.

I carried on filming but no-one ever got to see the tape except me.
 
My big concern, should this ever happen to me, is if someone gets seriously hurt or even worse....Its a messy situation to be getting involved with.
 
I've had several serious motorsport accidents (includsing fatals), always offered the images to the clerk of course, not always just about legal actions, but also used for marshall/safety training etc.
 
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