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Angry Welsh football fans have received no response from the game’s governing body in Wales, when they highlighted their concerns about a controversial supporters’ brass band who have been banned by a social media company, denied calling a politician a “lying cunt” although we have found the evidence, proclaimed publicly “fuck you” to Brexiteers, and declared about a UK cabinet minister “Go fuck yourself you Tory bastard“, The Eye can disclose.
BBC Radio Cymru (BBC RC) and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) were due to stage the ‘Red Wall’ with The Barry Horns at Pontio in Bangor in three days time, although the venue has now been closed due to coronavirus/Covid-19.
The event was to mark “the amazing journey supporting our national football team through Euro 2020”, with the controversial band as ‘guest’ performers, and officials claimed it was “Suitable for all ages”.
But one football fan was so incensed, he contacted the governing body for Welsh football, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and asked: “I would like to know what the FAW position is on the Barry Horns who having affiliated themselves to South Wales football now appear to have adopted an aggressive political agenda.
“Some of their language on Twitter is worse than I have ever endured on football terraces. Is this the sort of agenda the FAW condone?”.
Another demanded action from the FAW but neither have received a reply.
The Barry Horns have been described as “a foul mouthed bullying group of yobs” in a comment to The Eye, and said on Twitter that they didn’t use the “‘C’ bomb”, despite the facts.
The ‘lying cunt’ insult was hurled at politician Nigel Farage and the ‘Tory bastard’ comment was aimed at Jeremy Hunt.
The band were barred from Twitter following remarks like these, and after the ban was lifted said they were “beautiful”, yet serious questions have been raised about this contentious decision.
The former leader of Plaid Cymru (PC) Leanne Wood spoke out against the restriction at the time, saying on Twitter: “… you ban the Barry Horns? For defending the NHS?”, this was then re-tweeted by PC MP Jonathan Edwards.
On Sunday he said in his Sunday Times column: “A new society will, I hope, emerge…”
Mr Edwards was talking about the coronavirus crisis, but his words could equally apply to The Barry Horns.
They clearly support their party because before the Twitter ban, they exhorted followers to “Join @Plaid Cymru”.
The Barry Horns are an eleven-piece brass band, made up of fans of the Welsh national football team, created in 2011 by BBC Wales promos director ‘Fez’ Watkins.
Their first public appearance was outside the Wales v England World Cup qualifying match in Cardiff on 26 March 2011.
They also appeared at the Welsh Cup Final in the same year, which was broadcast on television.
In March 2017, they were banned from the Republic of Ireland v Wales World Cup 2018 qualifying match in Dublin.
In September of the same year, they gave a headline performance at the first Welsh Independence music festival in association with Yes Cymru, held at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff.
That month The Barry Horns also gave football fans from North Wales a surprise welcome to Cardiff with a performance at Cardiff Central Station ahead of Wales’ match against Austria at the Cardiff City Stadium.
At the time they declared: “The Horns couldn’t wait to greet the train upon its arrival to Caerdydd. Next stop – 3 points!”.
Arriva Trains Wales stated: “The atmosphere on board was amazing with everyone in great spirits all the way down and for The Barry Horns to be welcoming the train and fans into Cardiff was the icing on the cake”.
A Welsh TV company said: “The Barry Horns know how to get a party started, even on a station platform”.
Perhaps the FAW was too deafened by this party to respond to concerns raised by fans about The Barry Horns.
Or perhaps not…
Tomorrow – when the BBC’s conflicts of interest guidelines are described as “useless” after a senior executive’s officials commissioned a programme hosted by a presenter he was having an affair with.
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