Town and Norwich City have jointly issued a warning that “totally unacceptable comment and actions on all social media platforms” ahead of the East Anglian derby at Carrow Road a week on Sunday could lead to fans facing stadium bans.

Incidents in the run-up to the Portman Road game between the sides earlier in the season led to the stance.

“Town banned two individuals from attending the derby at Portman Road in October after comments and images about former Norwich striker Justin Fashanu, while the memory of Sir Bobby Robson was also targeted,” the club said in a statement on its official website.

"Town MD Ian Milne said: “Online social media has many advantages but regrettably there is the darker side and a minority use social media to post content that is threatening, obscene and hateful.

""“This can provoke or encourage violence and abuse, and is often intended to cause offence to others, although content like this is condemned by the vast majority of users.

“Ipswich Town Football Club and Norwich City Football Club have come together to take action against those who post offensive remarks or pictures and those fans face a stadium ban.

“We have dealt with offenders in the past and will continue to do so. They have no place in football and we will have no hesitation in making the police aware of comments if we consider it appropriate.”

Milne’s Norwich City counterpart, Steve Stone, said: “The East Anglian derby is one of the great rivalries in English football and one to be enjoyed and celebrated in the right spirit by everybody connected with both clubs. We’re all looking forward to the latest instalment when we host Ipswich later this month.

“Unfortunately, however, when we last met at Portman Road in October there was some material posted on social media, by a tiny minority of fans of both clubs, which has no place in modern football or society in general.

“We are therefore determined to unite with Ipswich Town in dealing with this sort of material and we will issue stadium bans where we deem it appropriate. Of course in some cases, posts of this nature may fall into the realms of criminal offence and could also lead to police action.”""

#itfc have pledged support today to #SaferInternetDay alongside the rest of football in the UK and hundreds of schools and organisations across the country

👉 https://t.co/qwJ13v32NG pic.twitter.com/mRPoxWeMGT

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) February 6, 2018

Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Parkes, of Suffolk Constabulary, added: “The club has taken a really strong moral stance on this issue which has to be applauded.

“Suffolk police monitor social media in the build up to significant games. Whilst we investigate any crimes identified, my main concern is to ensure that where postings are aimed at provoking violence we notify the club straight away so that they can consider banning the offender.”

Photo: TWTD

tractorboybig added 09:12 - Feb 7 FREE SPEECH NOT CENSORSHIP????????????????
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Karlosfandangal added 10:06 - Feb 7 I have to say it's the so called fans that stop me going to as many matches now not so much the football...... I use to sit in th pioneer stand next to a lovely old couple......they would put a cushion down on the seat blanket on their knees and a flask full of tea which they would offer me a cup. One of the worst comments I heard from them was “how dare he book D'Avray don't they know who he is........now I can't keep the top of my bottle of coke in case I throw it at someone...

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Scuzzer added 10:14 - Feb 7 OK so their opinion on this situation is laudable however I think this action is quite illegal. How come the clubs have elected themselves to become internet thought police....where have they received the moral right to monitor these social media platforms? This is so big brother I feel someone needs to challenge this....they are clearly stepping over the bounds. Yet another own goal by the club. How much more?

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dukey44 added 11:03 - Feb 7 Mo ITFC you a muppet? Why mark me down??
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baxter7 added 11:31 - Feb 7 Does this mean mcarthy will stop insulting us fans in his interviews
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lightingblue added 11:51 - Feb 7 Tbh in today's world, it'll be nice to think that we have moved on from the dark old ages of the 70's and 80's where there was abuse and violence beyond belief. My father who's a West Ham fan was actually pleased I chose Ipswich. My first game being against wolves on Boxing Day 1983. The moral of the story that nowadays and with the access to varied technology forms of social media, going to watch a game with either your children or somebody who's elderly, or people from different ethic or cultureral backgroundsshould be fun, without the feeling of intimidation in any form. Taking our rivalry with Norwich. To personally abuse an apposition player or fan or player should not be tolerated. You can have the rivalry and banter, but only if done in the correct manner. As mentioned the dark days of yesteryear should be a place in the history books, and make a game of football an enjoyable experience with not unacceptable intimidation and hostility. I'd like to that both sets of fans have enough intelligence to know what's right and wrong. Support your team, but being respectful to both the players and fans of both teams, And do it with a bit of class

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PortmanTerrorist added 13:08 - Feb 7 Quite correct stance in this day and age; don't want my teenage son to hear that horrific Fashanu song.....and then have to try and explain it to him a week Sunday.. Fans who are living in the dark ages, use inappropriate language, and disrespect other supporters should indeed be censured. Mick, obviously you can do what you please. Strong moral stance by the Club.....my ####.

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bugledog123 added 13:22 - Feb 7 I hope I can do my usual twitter picture post of Delia with her ITFC rosette - or is that considered abuse?
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dukey44 added 16:26 - Feb 7 Hahaha imagine if we can't post our opinions!!!! Muppets some of you!!!
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cat added 17:12 - Feb 7 dukey44 - (lol) chill dude, a few minuses are good for you, means your being honest and controversial. I agree that posters who love to minus who don't post (I.e dyedblue) are irrating but that's just the way it is. I've actually sussed out a couple of posters so far who have created multiple aliases to actually mark themselves up. Relax you guys, I won't ‘out' you unless......

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dukey44 added 17:36 - Feb 7 Imagine if we were all perfect? I personally have never been to Naarwiche as I just can't even contemplate going there but it is mad that fellow Ipswich supporters have to minus people they don't even know ? Irritated it does make me feel as people give opinions yet they are t..sh comments in the first place they make themselves? So to who ever yes I do HATE the birdie bashers and hey that's my opinion!!

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blueboy1981 added 17:47 - Feb 7 ....... how pathetic ? - as if everything else in this Country is perfect .... !!! Social Media is not a good place to be in my opinion - however, it has been created, massive, and here to stay. Far too much money involved for it to be otherwise now - is the truth of it.
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blueboy1981 added 17:54 - Feb 7 ..... like the rest this Country - Football is on a capitulation course to oblivion. Just wait for it to arrive .... !!
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 18:26 - Feb 7 I thought the whole point of a derby was to call the other team scum? Assuming no fights break out and no property is damaged, where is the harm in playful ribbing? Are we so PC that we can't even make fun of each other now? And if town bans too many fans, there won't be anyone left.
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Northstandveteran added 19:52 - Feb 7 Dukey 44. Listen to cat. Not everyone is going to agree with you. It would be a very boring world if everyone had the same opinion. Don't get upset because someone pressed a little blue arrow, I'm sure it wasn't meant personally. If you're going to post your thoughts, some will like, some won't. Most of my comments get up and down arrows? It doesn't matter. I personally only ever click up arrows if I agree with a post. If I disagree, don't see the point in downing someone. What I will say is that sometimes, as in all social media, posters find it very easy to start being personal, it's happened to me. I choose to ignore it. Because believe me, it's very brave being rude and obnoxious to someone from the comfort of your living room on your laptop but you wouldn't have the balls to say it to my face! 😀 So chin up dukey, take it easy and keep posting

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SuperBlueLCB4 added 07:54 - Feb 8 Better tell that to Nelson Oliveira then when he used the most inappropriate language of all..he said Norwich were a better club than us....I'd ban him frI'm stadiums too coz that is offensive!
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