10 months ago
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COPS found traces of cocaine in Wrexham FC’s toilets on three occasions during their record-breaking 2022-23 season.
Officers tested for the Class A drug on three matchdays, a Freedom of Information request revealed.
AFP
EPACops mounted a hat-trick of operations to test for remnants of the Class-A drug at the Welsh club’s 10,700-capacity Racecourse Ground last year.
Traces of cocaine — linked to footie violence — were found at the ground last February at games against Wealdstone Athletic and Dorking Wanderers, and two months later for the clash with Oldham Athletic.
It comes after the 2022 Boxing Day match when a fan was caught snorting powder in the toilets.
He admitted possessing cocaine and was fined and banned from matches for three years.
Lee Fernandes, of the UK Addiction Treatment Group, said: “Unfortunately it has become commonplace for men to associate a football game with taking cocaine and drinking alcohol.
“Mixing cocaine use with alcohol, plus the added adrenaline from the excitement brought about by the football match can lead to bouts of aggression from fans.
“Cocaine is a highly addictive substance that we see ruining lives every day.
“It can go from being a social drug to something much more sinister very quickly.”
North Wales Police were the only force to respond to the FOI request. Wrexham were approached for comment.
A Sun investigation in December 2021 – after cocaine-fuelled violence marred England’s Euro final with Italy – found traces at the grounds of clubs including Arsenal, Man City, Spurs, and Chelsea.
Some police forces are known to have started to use sniffer dogs outside grounds in a bid to deter fans from taking illegal drugs into the stadiums.
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