Charlton Athletic Football Club are boldly leading the way in the field of 'ABCs'. Or 'Agreed Behavioral Contracts' in full. Remember the name and remember the acronym. For make no mistake. These things are the future.
It might seem reasonable for Charlton to require their employees and playing staff to sign an 'Agreed Behavioral Contract'. Less so, when they are requiring their supporters to do so.
One Charlton Athletic supporter, who recently purchased his season ticket for 2016-17, received a letter back from the club.
The club's Duty Safety Officer Cliff Eager told the applicant he was concerned about comments said applicant had made on social media.
These comments were described as 'not particularly constructive'. We're not in a position to gauge the level of euphemism being employed here. We hope for Charlton's sake, it is a 'heroic' level of euphemism.
Suffice to say, Charlton Athletic Football Club's present attitude to 'free speech' doesn't appear to be the most robust.
Not only this, but Eager has said he will only present the applicant with his season ticket in person. And the fan will receive the ticket on the condition that he signs the 'Agreed Behavioral Contract'.
@SamWallaceTel#cafc started blackmailing fans with their season tickets to stop them protesting against the board pic.twitter.com/iTU4q3SMLw
— James Maddison (@JamMad83) August 12, 2016
Charlton are currently owned by Belgian millionaire and liberal politico Roland Duchatelet. The club sunk into the third tier of English football last season.
Laugh at Charlton now, for sure. But it's only a matter of time before other beleaguered chairmen get on board with this. Soon the 'ABC' contract will accompany the granting of every season ticket.
