Shock ban for Birmingham City and Aston Villa shirts

Feb 12 2012 by Ben Goldby, Sunday Mercury

ASTON Villa and Birmingham City football shirts have been banned at a Midland prison.

Bosses at HMP Hewell, run by the Prison Service, fear that rival team colours could spark a riot at the jail and have banned inmates, staff and visitors from wearing team colours.

More than 1,400 offenders can be held at the lock-up near Redditch, Worcestershire, ranging from violent and dangerous Category B crooks to those being rehabilitated for release.

They are allowed to wear their own clothes in return for good behaviour. One prisoner has called the ban, which covers all football team tops, “outrageous”.

“Here at HMP Hewell there is a rule banning football shirts or any item of clothing containing ‘offensive slogans’,” he said.

“Everyone knows of the tribalism in football and how it can lead to violence.

“But there is also a ban on rugby shirts, both international and club teams.

“Rugby does not have the same unfortunate associations as football and there is not, as far as I know, a hooligan element in rugby. What next, a ban on cricket jumpers or no items of clothing showing the names of hockey teams? It seems outrageous.

“And if all sports tops are banned, where does that leave clothing with sports brand names such as Nike, Umbro and Rebok.