“How do we sort this? Something has to change.' Pitch invasions are on the rise, putting footballers at risk. What's the answer to stopping them? ✍️ RSooty73
Rotherham fans invade the pitch after Georgie Kelly scores their side’s second goal against Gillingham last season
“We worked with the League Managers’ Association to really try to communicate to the authorities quite how angry members were about this.” A quick glance at the police’s mid-season report into football for 2022-23 reveals arrests were up 11 per cent to 999 in the six months to December 31, while banning orders issued by UK courts rose by 230 per cent to 343.Arrests for pitch incursions were down by 79 to 120 for the same period, a fall of 39 per cent. Nevertheless, such behaviour remains a big concern for the police.
“Fans groups and others need to condemn it. It has to be unacceptable. And if someone does breach it, there has to be a sanction, a deterrent.”what extra measures could be taken, such as increased police numbers in the stadium or better qualified/paid stewards, Roberts replies: “I remember the days when we’d have police lining the pitch, certainly behind the goal. But we don’t want to deploy lots and lots of officers. Frankly, we have other things to police.
Automatic club bans were brought in for those invading the pitch, carrying pyrotechnics and drug use, while it was also made clear the consequences of having a criminal record. The FA also pledged to bring in tougher sanctions for clubs. The FSA, for their part, have reiterated their message “stands are for the fans, the pitch is for the players” several times already this season. That messaging will continue, as will the group’s engagement with the PFA and the game’s authorities.
Further measures are in the pipeline, including a revamp of how stewards are trained. Bob Eastwood, the EFL’s head of security and safety operations, told last Thursday’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s hearing into safety at major sports events that his body was working in conjunction with the Premier League on a new pilot scheme to standardise a national stewarding qualification.
“With football fans mirroring society and society’s problems, we ended up having those behaviours that we have now started working really hard alongside clubs and partners to tackle.” Fans of Manchester City invade the pitch at full-time after their side’s final-day comeback win over Aston Villa saw them win the league
The EFL also called for a review into what happened at the City Ground, something that Heckingbottom heartily backs. United were particularly vexed by comments made by Roberts after McBurnie had been acquitted. The UK’s football police chief admitted players must be protected from pitch invaders but also added they cannot have “carte blanche” to assault those who enter the field.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boffins, tech giants team up on blue sky chip researchYou there, boffins and tech giants, take this $50m and figure out better chips
Read more »
Phil Spencer acknowledges Xbox didn’t release enough games last year: ‘There has to be more’ | VGCPhil Spencer has acknowledged Xbox’s disappointing 2022. “Our commitment to our fans is that we need to have a steady release of great games... and we didn’t do enough of that'
Read more »
Man wins $1,000,000 lottery prize after rude person cut him in lineA man who kept his cool when someone cut him in line to buy a ticket from a lottery machine was rewarded in a big way - by bagging $1,000,000 💰
Read more »
I've never had sex, a boyfriend, or even my first kiss – and I'm not sure I ever will. Here's why I'm totally OK with thatI've freed myself from striving towards something that, actually, I don't think would serve me.
Read more »