Steward punched and ref’s watch and phone stolen in matchday chaos
VIOLENCE ERUPTED AT WORKSOP’S HOME GAME
A STEWARD was assaulted during an outbreak of violence during a Nottinghamshire football match, which a club director says was the “worst we’ve had it for years”.
Police were called to Worksop Town’s Sandy Lane ground during their game with Macclesfield Town on Saturday.
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and banned from attending the ground, Nottinghamshire Police said. He was also given a conditional caution.
A video of clashing fans was uploaded to social media, with one supporter shown repeatedly punching a steward before being pushed away. Keith Ilett, a director at Worksop Town, said the referee’s possessions, including his watch and phone, were also stolen from the changing rooms.
“It kicked off just before half time for about 10 minutes, a steward got bad facial injuries,” he said. “It simmered down then until the end of the match. Fans were stood waiting outside and then people started fighting in the middle of the road.”
Mr Ilett speculated that some of the people who were fighting were fans of other clubs. “We’ve had no trouble in the ground since the 2000s, we haven’t got fighting fans, we take about 100 to an away match,” he said.
The director vowed to hand out instant bans to anyone who was found to be involved in the violence, adding: “If anyone has caused any problems and has been caught on camera they will be banned from the games.”
He said the Northern Premier League team have plans in place to segregate home and away supporters next season, but this was not prompted by fears over violence.
A police spokesperson said: “Officers arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of assault after a steward was reportedly assaulted inside the ground.
“He was subsequently given a conditional caution, including a ban from attending the ground.”