I can't tell whether this is serious. Maybe I'm getting old. Surely a bucket collection would be seen as a de facto protest, and if the club allows it, then the club will be seen as condoning a protest against FA and police rules on safety, which would create the following situation:
1. If anyone does get injured in future the club will be held responsible, for having condoned people 'having a good time'.
2. Any insurance will surely be invalidated
3. The next time our licence to host games is considered, this would be top of the agenda for the meeting (regardless of whether anyone is hurt)
Surely responsible custodians of the club would prioritise this? Surely the top priority, for fans and club alike, is that we can continue to watch matches at Moss Lane? And surely the club would prioritise this without ever hinting, without evidence, that they think Alty fans might have been responsible? This is what they have done. The club statement refers throughout to 'both clubs'. If other people want to jump to conclusions about who they think might be worthy of accusation, that's their concern.