Sunday
May202007
Wembley's banned wagon
Sunday, May 20, 2007 
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had been to Wembley for one of the new stadium's warm up matches. Thanks to a bizarre ban on cameras I had to smuggle mine in under my jumper. Writing in today's Sunday Times, following yesterday's Cup Final, reporter John Aizlewood comments on the seemingly endless list of prohibited items:
"Only terrorists and pyromaniacs could argue with explosives and fireworks, but those Trading Standards Swat teams might wonder why flags and air horns were on sale outside, but banned inside. And outlawing fans' cameras is a childish and venal step too far."
Footballs, too, are banned. At this rate it will be easier, and quicker, to list the things we ARE allowed to take in.
Reader Comments (5)
Simon I understand how it might gall some of us when we go to somewhere like Wembley to find we aren't allowed to take cameras in. I would object to that if I hadn't been warned about it before leaving home with a camera bag but otherwise I don't know why you are posting about it. Wembley stadium is private property and the owners have the right to make whatever restrictions they like don't they? As far as I know these aren't being imposed on them by government which would be an entirely different matter.
If you extend the purpose of this site to include those things we are and aren't allowed to do on private property then, it seems to me, you are promoting divisions between people on purely arbitrary lines and there can be no sane and sensible solution to such problems.
Private property rights is what enables us to solve such problems as what we should and shouldn't be allowed to do within the confines of property be it someone else's or our own. On my property I make the rules and on yours you do and we each respect the other's right to make those rules. You simply ask who owns the property. Can you think of any other way that would avoid conflict and make any sense?
I concur with Bernie re private property. BUT Wembly statium isn't entirely private. It recieved public funds (although the exact figure is a bit of a mystery).
I have two problems with the so called public funds thing. The lesser problem is that when something is "publicly owned" it means that no one outside the state machinery (or what you might call the ruling class) is allowed to exercise any of the rights of ownership. It is a well worked and very old con trick. Everyone owns it but only the elite have any rights over it.
The other problem is for that money to have gotten into "public" hands it had to be taken out of private hands first and that was done through the threat of violence. If we were all willing and consenting in the payment of taxes there would be no need for a law against not doing it.
I'm a big sports fan but I see no reason whatsoever why someone who hates sport should be forced to pay for my enjoyment.
so youre not allowed cameras or air horns at wembley right?
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