I’m singing from the same hymn sheet as you all the way with this.
Alcohol is absolutely no excuse or mitigating factor IMO, it’s just my educated guess that these bullies were emboldened with booze. Football fans get pissed before/during matches, with 95% able to handle it, not turning into a cowardly thug.
Whilst I’m not one of the ‘usual’ suspects some of this has made me feel uneasy, largely down to the lack of detail. So I’m going to play devils advocate.
Female doctor attending someone and attacked by them. The worse case is someone in their 20’s who’s had to much to drink spitting at/hitting a doctor. But it could also be the person in their 50’s who has had a tumble and has pushed away a doctor trying to help him due to embarrassment. There’s such a wide spectrum that could be covered by how it’s worded and that’s why it makes me a little uncomfortable.
My Granddad suffered from dementia and whilst in hospital woke up to two nurses speaking Thai. Confused and in unfamiliar surroundings he panicked and ended up twatting one of the nurses with his walking stick, hurting her pretty seriously. On the outside that’s a bloke assaulting a female nurse. But with context it’s much easier to understand why it happened. A vulnerable man woke up and his fight or flight instincts took over. He was a Brighton season ticket and away game regular for 40+ years, he still went right up until he was hospitalised. If he’d had a turn at a Brighton game...
Threatening to stab a steward? Fair enough, lifetime ban.
Attacking innocent away fans? Yet again, perfectly acceptable to be given a ban.
Assaulting a doctor? You literally can’t tell if it’s a fair punishment or not unless you saw the entire incident.
I wonder where their seats are?
