Cardiff City fan slashed on night out

Feb 13 2008 by Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo

‘It’s worrying to think people are carrying knives in Cardiff pubs’

CARDIFF City Supporters’ Club chief Vince Alm has been slashed across the face in a city centre knife attack.

The life-long Bluebirds supporter was celebrating his birthday in Flares, St Mary Street, Cardiff, on Saturday night, when he was attacked.

Today the dad-of-two appealed for anyone who saw what happened to come forward.

Mr Alm said the incident happened when a doorman alerted him to his son Matthew, 20, being set upon outside.

“I was stood at the bar when the bouncer tapped me on the shoulder and told me my son was involved in an altercation outside,” he said.

“I went outside and Matthew told me one of the two men he was arguing with had a knife.

“So I went out to confront them and they attacked me straightaway.

“One punched me in the face while the other one slashed me from my right eye to my nose.”

Mr Alm, 46, of Fairwater, Cardiff, said he alerted a policeman in Wharton Street immediately after the incident, just before 2am, but the two attackers, who he described as of Turkish origin, had run off.

“It all happened so quickly. I was shocked,” said the city supporters’ club travel officer, who now has two black eyes and a wound across his face.

“There was blood all over my face and all over my shirt. The first-aid man who examined me said he could see that I had been attacked with a blade. Matthew had been slashed in the back too.

“It is worrying to think there are people carrying knives in pubs in Cardiff.”

A police spokeswoman confirmed they are investigating the attack and looking for two men with black hair, who are possibly of Turkish origin and were wearing dark clothes.

Anyone with information should contact Cardiff Central Police Station on 029 2022 2111, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

gareth.rogers@mediawales.co.uk