Uproar as football fans are told to be quiet during matches

Gagged: Andrew Leigh belongs to the lively section of fans targeted in the letter

Football fans are furious after their club told them to keep quiet during matches.

Middlesbrough supporters were told they could cheer when their team scored - but must keep the noise down at all other times.

With Middlesbrough struggling against relegation - and just one goal scored in the last nine games - the club's edict could make for a very quiet stadium.

Fans in one corner of the club's stadium were asked to stop the 'constant banging and noise' following complaints from other home fans.

A letter handed out before Saturday's match warned: 'Make as much noise as you like when we score. But this constant noise is driving fans mad.'

Fans in block 53A were so angry that many protested by turning their backs on the game against Wigan Athletic.

Now they are calling for the resignation of the club's safety manager Sue Watson, who wrote the letter.

It was aimed at a group of fans called Red Faction who have congregated in the Riverside stadium's south-east corner in order to create a singing area.

Complaints had been received by other fans in the same block about 'persistent standing and the constant banging and noise coming from the back of this stand', the letter said.

Red Faction member Andrew Leigh, 46, from Middlesbrough, said: 'Are they going to give us prompt cards to tell us when we can sing and when we can't? This is a working class sport and a passionate sport.'



Quiet, please: Middlesbrough fans look on as David Wheater, right, battles Wigan Athletic's Amr Zaki during Saturday's home match

Fellow fan Stephen Fenwick, 45, has sat in the block for years and says the Red Faction's decision to move there has rejuvenated the atmosphere.

He said: 'It's made the games so much more enjoyable - they are just trying to give the game a bit of life.'

Hush: Middlesbrough FC's safety officer Sue Watson wrote the letter

Former Middlesbrough player Bernie Slaven was incredulous when he was first handed a copy of the letter at the ground.

He said: 'I thought it was joke. Do they want the place to be like a morgue?'

Former referee Jeff Winter said more applause, not less, would help the team.

'For fans who don't like noise on sat afternoon I suggest they go down the library,' he added.

The club today apologised to fans upset by the letter.

A Middlesbrough FC spokesman said: 'The fans' backing is absolutely essential and we would never discourage passionate support.

'The letter was designed to ask those fans new to block 53A to continue to back the team with passionate and noise but do have respect for fellow fans too.

'However, we totally accept that the letter was not well worded and understand the strength of feeling on this issue.'