Success Overshadowed

Swansea's excellent Football League Trophy success was overshadowed today by the leading stories in most new programmes and papers about a flag lifted by both Alan Tate and Lee Trundle during the after match celebrations.

All of the news programmes have led with the story of the flag as their main story today with interviews from Cardiff fans and others regarding the situation. The Real Radio sports phone in only had the one topic up for discussion and the South Wales Echo had the front page headline of "Ban This Idiot" above a picture of Trundle.

For their part, Swansea City released an apology this afternoon on behalf of the players and the club for the flag - the full wording on the statement reading as follows

With regard to the unfortunate events at the end of yesterday's Football League Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium, Swansea City Football Club would like to apologise unreservedly for any offence caused, particularly to Cardiff City Football Club and its supporters.

In the euphoric atmosphere following the presentation of the trophy certain players, caught up in the moment, picked up articles thrown from individuals in the crowd without realising the offensive nature of some of these items.

The players concerned, Alan Tate and Lee Trundle, wish to personally apologise to all those offended by their actions. Both players stress that no malice was intended.

Once again, Swansea City Football Club apologise for any distress caused on a day when nearly 30,000 of its fans had a marvellous day out, with little or no incident. South Wales Police has applauded the supporters for their good natured and orderly behaviour on the day.

We would like to thank the people of Cardiff for their warm welcome and their help in making the day a memorable one.

The Supporters Trust backed the positives of the day praising the organisers of the travel arrangements and the fans for a superb day out whilst sending their own congratulations to the team on a second cup victory inside a week.

The Football Association of Wales left it until late in the day before reporting the following in their own statement

The Football Association of Wales is investigating the events involving Swansea City players immediately following the Football League Trophy Final on Sunday, 2nd April 2006. The images paraded by Swansea City players were of an extremely offensive and insulting nature and such behaviour is totally unacceptable. Currently, the Football Association of Wales is collating evidence in relation to these events which may result in charges of misconduct being preferred against certain individuals and the Club.

And on a day when Swansea should have been the headline makers for all the right reasons we are left with hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons.

I have to say that it was a great day in Cardiff yesterday - not just because of the result - but the fact that the day passed without incident between Swansea and Cardiff fans - something which the media did not believe could happen. There have been a few reports of minor incidents inside and outside of the stadium but nowhere near the level that had been predicted.

And it is a shame that one story has taken the gloss off that fact and also what was an entertaining game between two sides who harbour ambitions of a second successive promotion.