Tottenham fans could be prevented from attending games due to security measures
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Concerns have been raised that new bag restrictions at Wembley, which Tottenham are also considering implementing at their new stadium, could discourage or prevent some Spurs fans from attending matches.
Saturday's London derby against Chelsea is the first Tottenham fixture where only bags sized A4 or smaller will be allowed into Wembley.
Supporters are now unable to enter with laptops or rucksacks and Katrina Law, the co-chair of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, fears that could be problematic, particularly for those who head straight from work to midweek matches.
"We're very conscious of the fact that we're living in challenging times and there is a real need for heightened security," she told ESPN FC.
"As fans, we want to feel we're safe at large, major events so it's not just us trying to be difficult, not wanting to be inconvenienced or to make any slight changes to our normal behaviour as match-going fans.
"But there needs to be a balance with what's reasonable and what's absolutely necessary. There are a few areas where we've asked Wembley and Spurs to go away and look at it again, particularly around laptops and that kind of thing.
"We've made the point very strongly that we understand we're living in 2018 and the landscape's changed -- but they also need to understand that we're living in 2018 and that carrying a laptop with you is not uncommon or unusual.
"The last thing we want is for fans to be prevented from coming to games because of the policies in place. There's no evidence whatsoever that you're any safer security-wise with an A5 bag than you are with an A4 bag, so we're very much hoping to push that back."
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Medical exemptions are available under the new policy, and the Supporters' Trust would like to see further flexibility.
"We have fans that are travelling from the north or far afield with children especially who will bring a rucksack, with food in there and maybe a change of clothes, and it's about recognising the exemptions -- just having a more practical approach," Law said.
"It will be interesting to see how things go on Saturday with Chelsea, but the kind of experience you have at a 5.30 p.m. Saturday game is not going to be the same as you have for Inter Milan [on Wednesday], in midweek straight after work, and I think that's going to be the issue.
"I agree with the concern to an extent but it can't get to the point that it's so draconian that people stop going to games. It can't be something that absolutely precludes them from attending.
"It's a conversation we're having with Wembley and one we'll definitely continue having with Tottenham as we try to feed into that finalised policy at the ground."
A Wembley Stadium spokesperson told ESPN FC that the new restrictions are designed to help with safety and experience.
"Wembley Stadium has introduced a new restricted bag policy to enhance public safety and improve the overall fan experience by making access to the stadium more efficient," the spokesperson said. "We would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst we introduce this new policy."
A Tottenham spokesperson told ESPN FC that A5 sized bags could be the limit at the new stadium.
"Our bag policy at the new stadium is currently still under review with both A4 and A5 sized bags under consideration," the spokesperson said. "We will monitor and assess how the new system works at Wembley. The policy of the NFL is for bags sized A5 and under."
Source: espn.co.uk