No security measures for Thatcher

Hampshire Police have decided against taking extra security measures for Charlton’s Premiership visit to Portsmouth on Saturday when Ben Thatcher is likely to be included in Alan Pardew’s relegation-threatened side.

Thatcher was banned for eight matches earlier this season after he hospitalised Pompey’s Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes with an elbow-led challenge in a match at Manchester City in August.

He is sure to face a hostile reception from Portsmouth fans at Fratton Park after joining Charlton last week in a £500,000 (€761,000) move and making his Addicks debut last Saturday against Middlesbrough.

The police force who cover Pompey’s home matches believe a reinforced security presence would not be appropriate.

A spokesperson said: “We are aware of the circumstances but we are confident our standard procedure for Pompey matches will be sufficient to cope.”

Mendes, who was put on a drip and faced several days of uncertainty over his football future after the clash with Wales international Thatcher, has already declined to make comment about the incident in the build up to Saturday’s encounter.

Portsmouth’s stand-in captain Gary O’Neil, who misses the game with a one-match suspension after his fifth yellow card of the season at Sheffield United last Saturday, insists Thatcher has to accept the consequences of an attack that shocked football.

O’Neil told The Portsmouth News: “What he (Thatcher) did to Pedro was the worst thing I’ve ever seen while on a football pitch. It was a terrible incident.”

There have been suggestions Thatcher might not be selected by Charlton for the Fratton Park game but O’Neil added: “He should make a decision himself about whether he plays. If I were Charlton manager, I’d ask him what he wanted to do.

“If it was me I’d take the stick I deserved. I’d take it on the chin just like Pedro had to.

“He has been punished and said sorry and has to play football. He can’t avoid playing at Fratton Park for the rest of his life.

“I think the fans will be upset with him. There will be quite a reaction because Pedro is a big favourite here. He will get a very warm welcome.”

But O’Neil, who is likely to be replaced by either Niko Kranjcar or David Thompson on Saturday, warned his team-mates not to get involved in any vendettas and to concentrate everything on their push for a European place.

He said: “It would be unprofessional if we let it change the way we approached the game. We can’t let it get us distracted from winning. It’s another Premiership game, one I believe we can win.”