Soccer: Charlton consider ban on Man United fans

LONDON - Charlton Athletic are considering banning Manchester United fans from future games at The Valley after incidents during Saturday's English premier league game.

Charlton said a female staff member was sexually assaulted by a United fan, a steward was injured by a crowd surge in the away end, and security staff were pelted with broken seats and spat upon.

The club said the woman was helping disabled fans in the away end when the assault occurred.

A spokeswoman for London's police force said today a man in his 20s was arrested for alleged sexual assault.

"It is utterly despicable that anyone should be subjected to this sort of attack," said Charlton chief executive Peter Varney.

"I have never heard of anything like this at a football match before, and we would like to thank those Manchester United fans who witnessed it, and came forward to make statements to the police."

Varney said it was the third time in four seasons that United fans had caused trouble at Charlton.

"When you consider the extra safety and security measures we take for games with Manchester United, you begin to wonder whether it's all worth it," added Varney.

"I think, when we see the reports from the police and the local authority, it will leave us with little alternative but to refuse to sell tickets to Manchester United fans for future games at The Valley.

"I'd rather have the away end empty than to run the risk of further incidents like those we saw on Saturday."

United won the match 3-1.

- REUTERS