Blackburn Rovers safety bosses who have banned visiting football fans from wearing rival football shirts in home sections of Ewood Park today warned supporters: "You will be told to take them off".

But they assured families that stewards would use discretion where youngsters supporting alternative clubs are concerned after a 10-year-old boy was forced to remove his Liverpool shirt during the team's pre-season friendly against Rovers on July 31.

Young Liverpool fan Michael Gallagher was sitting in the Blackburn End with his Rovers-supporting dad and brother when he was approached by a steward and ordered to remove the shirt.

His furious dad Scott, of Westwell Street, Darwen, wrote to Blackburn Rovers to complain.

In his letter Mr Gallagher said all three of them were season ticket holders at Ewood Park and were looking forward to a friendly atmosphere at the game. He wrote: "The eldest wore his Rovers shirt and the youngest wore his Liverpool shirt but as we were seated a steward approached us and said: 'Get that shirt covered up'.

"As he was suffering from sunburn I thought this was unwise and even other fans in the section said to leave him alone. No one in that area objected to a 10-year-old wearing his favourite shirt."

The steward then brought a policewoman to force the child to remove the shirt.

Mr Gallagher went on: "This action upset the crowd around us which frightened my son, confused me and made the crowd react.

"They, like me, were there to watch a friendly match between two Lancashire clubs. I thought Rovers wanted to create a friendly family club atmosphere."

His partner Jayne Wells, who is originally from Liverpool, said: "Michael got frightened when the policewoman arrived and took the shirt off and turned it inside out.

"Now he is wary of going to the football again and he has a season ticket to go with his dad and brother all year. "I understand the policy but don't agree with the way this was handled at all."

Blackburn Rovers safety officer John Newsham said the steward was acting according to the club's policy but agreed he should have used more discretion in this case.

He said: "The steward was just acting on a policy we have here at Ewood Park. The wearing of away shirts in home areas is strictly forbidden because it may incite crowd trouble but each situation should be assessed individually.

"Stewards are told to use discretion and in this situation the child should have been able to sit with his family who are supporters of the club. That's common sense."

The club have written to Mr Gallagher regarding the incident and apologised.

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