Town say there was no intention to try to stop supporters from selling the one-off Turnstile Blues fanzine at the ground prior to Saturday’s match against Cardiff City. One seller was spoken to by police officers, telling him they had been asked to do so by the club, and says he was threatened with arrest if he didn't move on.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the incident took place: "Staff at ITFC spoke with two plain-clothed officers working at the Ipswich v Cardiff match on Saturday 6 October making them aware of a man selling an unofficial fanzine outside the entrance to the club.
"The man was spoken to and words of advice were given. The officers advised the man that although he was not doing anything wrong it may be an idea to move along the way by about 50 yards.
"The man was asked his name and address for checking against the Police National Computer (PNC) but also advised that he was not obliged to give [it to] them. The man agreed to give his details and the officers went on their way.”
We understand that a member of Town’s security staff, who had earlier been told not to interfere, queried with the officers whether a licence was required by the seller, who was stationed close to the main entrance to the ground in Constantine Road.
Steve Pearce, Town’s press manager, told TWTD that the matter wasn’t raised by anyone further up the club’s chain of command: "It’s possible that one of the security guys on the gate asked the police liaison whether the seller had a licence.
"It was not our intention to stop anyone selling the fanzine and we know for a fact that they were selling up to kick-off.”
He says the club has no problem with people making critical comment and accepts that it’s inevitable in the current climate: "People are entitled to express their opinions.
"Obviously supporters are disappointed with the way results have gone and when you’re not winning you’re always going to get criticised.”
The seller, who wishes to remain anonymous and was accompanied by his 11-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son, has made a complaint to Suffolk police.
Saturday’s match was one of a number of ‘police free’ matches staged by Town with only a handful of plain-clothes officers, such as those involved in the incident, present at Portman Road.