I HAD DUTY TO PROTECT HIM, SAYS GERRARD

OLDHAM captain Anthony Gerrard has relived the astonishing moment he stepped in after a fan raced on to the field to confront the referee. The 32-year-old, cousin of Liverpool legend Steven, heroically jumped into action amid scenes he described as ‘surreal’ during his side’s derby match at Rochdale on Tuesday. Gerrard had given a penalty away in the League One relegation clash for a foul on the hosts’ Joe Thompson, when a supporter raced out of the Oldham section towards official Peter Bankes. The fan slipped when he approached the referee, cannoning into Gerrard who then held him until stewards arrived. ‘It was a bit surreal to be honest,’ Gerrard told Sportsmail. ‘I just saw the kid running on and I shouted to the ref who sidestepped him and then he slid into me. It was a bit silly from him, very silly.’ The FA have opened an investigation into the incident, which happened in the 36th minute of the fixture. Police have arrested and charged a 27-year-old Oldham man with pitch encroachment, possession of a Class A drug and a public order offence. He will appear at Manchester Magistrates Court next month. Oldham said yesterday that they had issued a two-year ban to a supporter. ‘You see it at other events where some people come on for playful reasonsns and do something like a streak butt others do a lot worse,’ addedded Gerrard. ‘If someone comeses on to the pitch you have too be cautious about it. On Tuesday night he wasn’t coming on for a friendly handshake.’ Gerrard (right), who boxess in a Huyton gym on days off,ff, added that he felt he had to intervene. ‘I am the captain,’in,’ he said. ‘I have a responsibilitybility on behalf of our club, our fans and the referee. I cottoned on to what was happening and grabbed him — boxing wasn’t needed.’ Rochdale could be in hot water with the FA, although Sportsmail understands that they may be offered safety advice rather than having more draconian measures imposed. Gerrard said: ‘That it was one out of 2,900 Oldham fans there on the night tells you everything you need to know from both sides,’ he said. ‘You can’t tarnish everyone by the actions of one.’ Gerrard added that he has yet to hear from his cousin after video of the incident went viral. ‘I doubt he’d have any of that at Anfield,’ he joked.

Sportsmail’s refereeing expert Graham Poll said it was no coincidence that the incident came soon after Gianluigi Buffon’s ferocious criticism of Michael Oliver, who awarded Real Madrid a penalty before sending the Juventus goalkeeper off in the Champions League last week. But Gerrard said: ‘I don’t think because a player has a go at a ref then the fans think it’s all right to come steaming on the pitch. I don’t agree with that.’ Rochdale’s Joe Rafferty’s penalty was saved and the match ended 0-0, so Oldham stayed a place above their hosts and out of the relegation zone.