Charlton Athletic fan 'thrown against wall by security for carrying North Korea flag at game'

A young Charlton fan was allegedly "thrown against a wall" by security guards for carrying a North Korean flag after a match at the club's home ground.

A group of angry fans held demonstrations against the League One club's owners before Saturday's game against Coventry City.

But the protest turned nasty after the match at the club's Valley ground in south London when a young fan holding a North Korea flag was allegedly manhandled by three security officers.

It is believed he was carrying the flag to compare the club's leadership to the tyrannical regime in North Korea.

Supporters claim to have seen the young fan grabbed and assaulted by private security guards.

Scuffles: the scene at the game at Charlton

This then led to scuffles between security and both sets of supporters, witnesses claim.

Will Bollen, who saw the incident, told the Standard: "He was walking out, grabbed and thrown. The fans then started to chant 'let him go and we'll f*** off home,' which they did eventually.

"Then as the accused security guard walked off away like he was in the right, the police and security charged the fans.

"I then left because I didn't want to get hit by a security guard looking for a fight."

Charlton fan Darryl Chamberlain also saw the alleged incident outside the ground.

He said: "I saw an unmarked security man - no ID on - drag a young man across The Valley car park holding him by his throat.

"He was one of the people protesting in the stands against [club owner] Roland Duchatelet by holding a North Korean flag up.

"Both Charlton and Coventry fans surrounded them, and the fan was eventually let go after a stand-off.

"There were some scuffles after some of the other unmarked security guards walked back into The Valley - these guys weren't wearing ID at all."

A spokesman for Charlton Athletic has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is taking place.

A large group of Charlton fans held peaceful demonstrations yesterday as part of a long-term battle against the club's ownership outside the ground before their club's 3-0 win.

The majority of Addicks fans want Belgian owner Roland Duchatalet to resign after the club has fallen from the Championship to the lower half of League One under his stewardship.

Fans have even set up their own coalition group, Coalition Against Roland Duchatelet.

Supporters have also targeted chief executive Katrien Meire, who has claimed to have suffered extreme verbal abuse from supporters.

Saturday's protests carried on inside the ground and the game even had to be stopped due to supporters throwing plastic pigs onto the pitch.

Fans were also seen marching through the streets around the ground with placards calling for a change of ownership.

Previous protests have seen fans disrupt a game by throwing beach balls onto the pitch and stage a mock funeral at the Valley.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers at the ground were aware of an ejection by ground staff. It was not a criminal matter.

"The man was spoken to by officers and no offences were alleged.

"Should any allegation be made to police it would be investigated as appropriate."

A Charlton Athletic spokesman said: "The individual involved was stopped due to his anti social behaviour before, during and after the game following complaints from supporters.

"An investigation is ongoing and we can assure our fans if our staff acted inappropriately we will take necessary action."

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