Rugby stars dive in to save children from crowd brawl
THESE were the disturbing scenes as violence erupted in the crowd at a rugby league match yesterday.
Players leapt into the stands to rescue their frightened wives and children who were being crushed during brawling among their own fans.
Team members from the Salford Red Devils were involved in angry confrontations with supporters following their 26-24 victory against Huddersfield Giants.
Witnesses said trouble broke out shortly after a flare was thrown from the Salford end at the Giants’ John Smith’s Stadium and a supporter escorted out.
Salford players had gone over to applaud their fans after the final whistle but as they did violence blew up near the area where their wives and children were sitting. After hearing cries from their families, Salford stars Junior Sa’u, 28, f rom New Zealand and Justin Carney, 27, from Australia, jumped over the advertising hoardings and into the fracas to protect their loved ones.
Sa’u was pictured grappling with a fan and then pinning him to the ground with his fists on his throat i n an apparent attempt to restrain him.
Salford head coach Ian Watson said: ‘The players went in to get their children.’ He said the children were OK but ‘shaken’.
Stewards tried to quell the fighting and opened gates on to the pitch to help bystanders escape the fighting.
One steward was injured during the clash at the First Utilities Super League game and had to be treated by paramedics at the scene. Salford Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash tweeted: ‘My apologies to [Huddersfield Giants] and to the decent fans.
‘The thugs responsible will be identified and dealt with. There is no place in [rugby league] for them.’
The team offered no explana- tion at the post-match press conference, but said on its official Twitter account: ‘We’d like to apologise for the behaviour of some of our fans today.
‘We’ll be working with @Giantsrl to find those involved. We do not condone any behaviour of the sort.’
Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood said: ‘We will conduct a full investigation into the events that took place. ‘We do not condone violence of any kind and will ensure that anyone found to have acted improperly is dealt with accordingly.’
Some witnesses said there had been trouble between two rivals factions among the away fans all through the match, which eventually turned violent.
Salford fans used the club’s social media page after the match to condemn those who had been involved.
Liam Darby posted: ‘ Didn’t recognise faces but they dressed like at the football, ie no Salford colours. Get them banned.’
Nicola and Paul Jones wrote: ‘Mindless idiots. It’s a family sport’, and Wesley Dore added: ‘An embarrassment to us all. Name and shame these clowns and get them banned.’
‘Thugs will be dealt with’