Cardiff City F.C. - Rivalry

Rivalry

Cardiff City's most significant rivalry over the last 25 years was with neighbours Newport County and Swansea City; though traditionally there is also plenty of ill-feeling between the club's supporters and followers of Bristol City, known as the Severnside Derby, (and Bristol Rovers to a lesser extent). In April 2006 relationships between Cardiff City supporters and Swansea City supporters were not helped after Swansea won the Football League Trophy final against Carlisle United 2–1 in the Millennium Stadium Cardiff. During their celebrations, Lee Trundle and Alan Tate brandished a Welsh flag with an anti-Cardiff obscenity written on it in huge black writing. As well as carrying the flag, Trundle was also seen wearing a T-shirt with an image of a Swansea City player urinating on a Cardiff City shirt. Though there has been no violence at the development or youth level between Cardiff and Swansea, as usually they are poorly attended and more of a calmer atmosphere. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said the images paraded at the match, which took place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 2 April, were "of an extremely offensive and insulting nature and such behaviour is totally unacceptable". After committing these deeds the two players in question were arrested by the Police on suspicion of section four public order offences, fined £2,000, and handed one match suspensions. Cardiff City for many years was seen as most likely to be promoted to the Premier League. Swansea have since been promoted to the Premier League and there will be no South Wales derby in the 2011–12 season (unless in cup competition). Over several previous meetings between Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers fighting has broken out between the two sets of supporters resulting in 17 arrests during one meeting last season. This has led to the 20 January 2007 meeting being moved forward to 1.00pm with no Cardiff City fans allowed to attend the match. This decision, which was taken by Wolves' Chairman Jez Moxey, was met with widespread criticism from many supporter groups throughout the UK, including the Football Supporters Federation (FSF). A peaceful protest, organised by the FSF, took place in Wolverhampton on the day of the game and was attended by fans of many clubs who wished to show their opposition to such a ban. An FSF statement read: "We are appealing to all football supporters who can make it to be there to show their opposition to all away fan bans. It could be your club next. Time to reclaim the game!"

Similarly, there has also been a significant amount of bad feeling between Cardiff and Leeds United, which stems from the FA Cup tie at Ninian Park on 6 January 2002. On this occasion, Cardiff (then a Second Division side) beat Premier League Leeds 2–1, and shortly after the late winning goal was scored (but before the full-time whistle had blown), Cardiff's then-chairman Sam Hammam walked around the edge of the pitch, gesturing to the crowd – an act Leeds fans saw as his gloating over their defeat. Following the conclusion of the game, Cardiff fans spilled onto the pitch to celebrate whilst there was also a stand-off between rival fans outside the stadium, and a number of arrests were made. Three years later on 15 January 2005, Cardiff played Leeds at Elland Road in a Championship fixture, and a hardcore hooligan element amongst the Leeds fans saw this as an opportunity for revenge; again there was rioting, leading to a high profile court case two years later, in which several dozen so-called Leeds fans received banning orders.