SOCCER THUG ATTACKS PLAYER
Outrage after he punched former Ireland U21 star
SOCCER fans and pundits expressed fury yesterday after a fan ran on to the pitch during an English league game and attacked a player from behind.
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was knocked to the ground by a supporter of local rivals Birmingham City who had sprinted past stewards.
Former Ireland under-21 player Grealish, 23, went on to score the winning goal in a 1-0 victory. But he then appeared to be kicked by a steward as he was celebrating the goal at City’s ground, St Andrew’s, and was later taunted by internet trolls over the cot death of his brother Keelan nearly two decades ago.
Birmingham City said Grealish’s attacker – named as Paul Mitchell, 27, a former pub manager – would be banned for life. He was helping police with their inquiries last night after being arrested on suspicion of encroachment on to the pitch and assault.
The incident on the pitch happened nine minutes into the game after Grealish was earlier fouled by a City player.
Mitchell sprinted from the stands before taking a swipe with his clenched fist at Grealish from behind, but only managed to catch the player on the side of his head with his forearm.
Stunned Grealish fell to the ground before a steward and players from both sides restrained his attacker, who was cheered by other City fans. Mitchell, who is understood to live in Nuneaton, near Birmingham, with his partner and young son, blew kisses to the crowd as he was led away by security staff.
The game was televised live on Sky Sports, where pundit Lee Hendrie – a former Aston Villa midfielder – said: ‘I’m all for the rivalry, but that is literally the worst thing I’ve seen on a football pitch.
‘A fan running on to the pitch and taking someone out, that could have been anything. There’s knife crime... anything could have happened out there.’
City said of Mitchell: ‘Rest assured he will be banned for life.’ Villa said a ‘red line has been crossed by this cowardly on-field assault’.
Grealish was later subjected to abuse by trolls over the death of Keelan. One, using the name Alfie Perkins, posted a photograph on Twitter of the boy’s headstone with the message: ‘Grealish went down quicker than his brother got lowered into the grave.’
City could have points docked over the incident.
Former soccer star Gary Neville tweeted: ‘The club are going have to take a huge punishment for this. A points deduction or empty stadium for 10 games!’
In an ugly day for soccer, a fan attacked a Manchester United player during the team’s away match at Arsenal yesterday, running on to the pitch and shoving Chris Smalling before being escorted off by stewards.
He was arrested on suspicion of assault and pitch invasion at the Emirates Stadium.