LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Chelsea warned their fans on Friday against throwing celery during matches, saying it was a criminal offence and that anyone caught lobbing the popular salad vegetable could be banned.
The unlikely warning follows referee reports which mention
celery-throwing at two recent Chelsea matches and which are
being investigated by the Football Association, the club said on
its website.
The FA's investigation could result in sanctions being taken
against the club, who said 'the throwing of anything at a
football match, including celery, is a criminal offence for
which you can be arrested and end up with a criminal record.
'In future, if anyone is found attempting to bring celery
into Stamford Bridge they could be refused entry and anyone
caught throwing celery will face a ban.'
The club also urged fans who spot anyone throwing celery in
the stadium to call a telephone number, adding that 'all calls
will be treated in confidence.'
Though apparently a growing problem with it landing on the
pitch, Chelsea fans have been throwing celery among themselves,
and singing an unprintable song about the vegetable, for more
than two decades.
