Sam Hammam interview courtesy of the South Wales Echo.
Was the programme fair?
No. Never. You'd expect me to say that but the worst hooligans are the BBC producers who made the programme. They had a pre-determined
agenda and they twisted the facts to fit what they wanted without only concern for the truth.
Did the BBC give you the right of reply? Do you feel you had a right to reply from the BBC?
The true answer is absolutely not. Yes, they cosmetically offered us the chance while at the same time ensuring we wouldn't be treated
fairly. We pleaded with them to allow is to go on the programme, we even asked the BBC to tell us how much time; how many minutes; they would give us to answer the allegations. That would have made sure we covered all the issues without the risk of any selective editing. They didn't want a balanced report, they just wanted sensationalism.
Are you angry with the BBC?
First I must stress that the BBC is a huge organisation. This programme came from just one small section of the BBC in London. The BBC in Wales, in general, are very supportive of the Club and, I assure you, are privatey very unhappy with their collegues in London and tried desperately to pursuade them to be more objective but, like us, they failed. But no. I am not angry with the BBC, just surprised and disappointed that they produced something far below their usual high standards. The producers responsible are in a minority of the BBC and, like the hooligan minority at the Club, it is now our duty to help them see the truth and become better people.
Are you ashamed of Cardiff City Fans?
What? You are talking about potentially one of the most ardent and biggest fan bases in the world. I'd be ashamed if I didn't recognise
that we had a problem with a minority or if we were not trying to do something about it. The problem existed long before I came onto the
scene and it's going to take a long time to solve.
Why do you associate with football hooligans?
For every hooligan I meet there are literally thousands I meet who are normal supporters. I say YOU'VE GOT TO MEET THEM TO BEAT THEM. When Prince Harry had a problem, Prince Charles was widely praised for his wisdom in taking him to meet the people who faced the same problem. Likewise, if you want to beat hooligans you do not meet the
saints. Beating hooliganism is a challenge and my policy is that if you give me the worst offender I will try to change him. Of course, at times I will fail and then society, thought the law and police, will have to act. The fans used to be frustrated that such a massive club was the most under achieving club in the country. Now that they see there is a chance that the club will achieve its rightful ambition they realise what they could lose and are now playing their
part in the fight against hooliganism.
But what about your bodyguard?
He isn't my bodyguard. He's never been my bodyguard. That's typical of the BBC distortions. He was simply a member of our temporary
match day security staff and he was appointed by our head of security; a former Chief Inspector. Initially I did not know him from Adam. On a match day I do not know who or where the security
staff are appointed or what their duties are. Yes, I now know that he was banned from football for a year but if he had reformed he deserved a second chance. Sadly I now understand he has been found guilty of another offence so the club will be relieving him of his duties.
Why did you go on a coach trip with the Soul Crew to Mansfield?
The idea was to try to instil a sense of responsibility; a feeling of being wanted; into a particularly notorious group. People like
that always look on anyone in authority as the enemy and by treating them as human beings for a change I was hoping they would start to improve and behave better. I wasn't so naïve to believe they would turn into choirboys overnight. I believe it was a very honourable thing to do. Significantly, the then Chief Superintendent Gerald Toms, knew about the trip, approved of it and helped plan it. Not only that, he also agreed to send three off-duty policemen on the
coaches, but the Soul Crew were unhappy about one of them so on the basis of all or none, they didn't travel. We even agreed to show a video of how tough it is for the police to cope with hooligans and that would have shown both sides that the others are human and suffer the same problems and grievances. The whole trip was
conducted in a humorous and friendly manner and we all enjoyed vintage champagne, lobster and prawn sandwiches at a hotel. So I was shocked when Gerald Toms criticised me on the programme. He is a good and honourable man and maybe regrets it now. But I certainly don't.
Did the club really provide legal advice to fans arrested at Stoke in 2000?
Certainly not. That's just another of the BBCs distortions. The simple truth is that one of the supporters is a solicitor and took on some of the cases. The club had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
Why haven't you banned more hooligans?
At the moment we've banned more than a hundred; that's by a long way more than the club has ever banned in its history and more than any club in the country. But it's not just about bans. It's also about all the other steps we've taken and as you can see elsewhere in this article we've done a massive amount.
What have you got to say about Dai Thomas?
We acted instantly and decisively. He disgraced Cardiff City and he never played for the club again. He was given the maximum permissible fine and given a free transfer. What more could we have done?
And what about Anis Abraham?
He's someone I care about and I know he appreciates what I am doing in general and what I've done for him. Okay, he might not have
always been as angel but I am certain he's a good man now. He's followed Cardiff all his life his home is like a shrine to the Club and banning him wouldn't achieve anything. Also, how could we
justify that? Remember, he's never been arrested or convicted.
And John Simmonds?
Simmo intrigues me. When he is with me I feel he is a loving and caring man. He is a man to whom life has dealt a bad hand. By being with me I am certain he is much better that he could ever have been. He carries a lot of influence among his peers and if I can win him over then together we might also change the way some of his friends
think.
Why did you use those four letter words in talks to fans?
Those four-letter words and many similar to them are used on the BBC all the time. So are scenes portraying what they mean. Every football supporter in the country knows me as Sam. No one calls me Mr Hammam or Mr Chairman. It's because I speak their language and that's what I was doing when the BBC filmed me surreptitiously. If
they had wanted to show the truth they would have shown a bit more of the film and I'd have been heard time and again spreading the anti-hooligan message I do at all meeting all over the country. But. Of course, that wasn't what the BBC wanted.
Why wouldn't you publish the police photographs of suspected hooligans after the Stoke game in 2000?
We didn't refuse. We simply asked the police to give us a written undertaking that if we published them and were sued by anyone as a
result of the police giving us a photograph of an innocent person, that they would take responsibility. They wouldn't so we couldn't.
Why did you sell a book about the Soul Crew?
We didn't. It's not a banned book in the first please and is available in any bookshop. But the club decided not to sell it at the shop and it has never been part of the club's official stock.
The man did sell it off his own bat and sold two books including the one to the BBC. Okay, he shouldn't have done so but remember, the BBC set him up. He's been warned and he certainly won't fall for it again.
How do you feel about being filmed by hidden miniature cameras?
Frankly, the underhanded tactics of the BBC were contemptible. They clearly paid one of our fans to do the dirty on his friends. Corrupting someone like that is not only unethical, there has got to be a serious question mark whether the secret filming they did at a private meeting is legal. The unsettling thing now if that every
time I go for a meet the fans session, everyone will be apprehensive and suspicious. The BBC ought to be ashamed.
What do you have to say about the ex Chief Superintendent Gerald Toms who said you're all words and no action?
How much time and space have you got? How dare he? Just how misinformed is this honourable man? There isn't a club that's done more than we have. For example, these are just some of the measures
we've taken:
Appointed an ex-police chief as head of security
Increased CCTV capacity 12 fold on the terraces and outside the ground.
Put cameras in the bars and rooms inside.
Installed modern turnstiles.
Improved supporter segregation.
Covered open areas.
Created family enclosures.
Improved toilet facilities.
Improved food and drinks.
Taken our own stewards to away games.
Allowed only season ticket holders and members to go to key away games.
And sometimes the only permitted method of travel is by coach.
Closed roads for big games.
Banned more than 100 people.
Paid for 22 coaches to bring Swansea fans to Ninain Park.
Listened to local residents.
Created 16 non-professional childrens teams.
Created five womens teams.
Set up 200 centres training 15,000 youngsters.
What are you going to do next?
The most important thing now is that last week I called for a summit meeting between the Leader of the Council, the Chief Superintendent, the FAW and ourselves. It is uncanny and perhaps
providence that as I wrote to Mr Russell Goodway, he was writing to me proposing the same thing. We recognise that hooliganism is a problem and it is not just a football problem. The club can't be
held solely responsible and certainly we cannot resolve it on our own. It is something society as a whole has to accept responsibility for and help eradicate. If we work together there is no limit to what Cardiff can achieve. But if we don't the club hasn't got a future.
Any final message?
City fans and the people of Wales will see through the bad intention and twisting of the facts about the club and myself by the BBC. The
only positive outcome is that we will close ranks and become even closer. We will not get bitter we'll get better.