England football greats Gary Neville and Roy Keane fear the sport could be heading back to an ugly past following a string of attacks on players.
Manchester City’s come from behind win to secure the Premier League title on Monday morning was overshadowed when Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was assaulted by several fans.
Moments after the full-time whistle, fans flocked to the field to celebrate the win, which left the goalkeeper maneuvering his way through fans to reach the sideline as unruly spectators used the celebration as an opportunity to abuse the player.
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The club confirmed an investigation had commenced shortly after the incident, while also apologising to the Sweden goalkeeper.
“Manchester City would like to sincerely apologise to Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who was assaulted after the final whistle at today’s match when fans entered the pitch,” City said in a statement. “The club has launched an immediate investigation and once identified, the individual responsible will be issued with an indefinite stadium ban.”
The incident follows several grim moments this year in England football.
Just last week, a Nottingham Forest fan was jailed after pleading guilty to assaulting Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp. That incident left Sharp in need of stitches.
In another incident, Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira last week said “there is a big issue for the FA and Premier League to deal with” after he was forced to defend himself against an Everton fan when spectators flocked to the pitch after a game.
Neville, a former Manchester United star, who was at the City game working on local broadcast, was left speechless at the news of Olsen being attacked.
“This brilliant last 20 years, or 30 years, where we’ve brought the fences down in English football and the fans are respected and 99 times out of 100 they don’t run onto the pitch because they enjoy the family environment, far more children coming to the game, far more women coming to the game,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“All of a sudden in this last few weeks, months, we’ve got these idiots not just running on the pitch, which is a problem, but if you’re attacking managers and players – what are you doing?
“Running on the pitch, they’ve won the league, they’re delirious, I get that, but attacking the opposition players on the pitch. Where has this come from, why is it happening?
“I’ve got no idea, it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Meanwhile Keane, also a Manchester United legend, said he holds fears of a player or manager suffering a serious injury one day.
“A player or a manager is going to be seriously injured. If you’re mad enough to punch a player you’re going to be mad enough to do something stupid like stab a player,” Keane said.
“I think people have come back after COVID and forgot how to behave themselves. Idiots, scumbags, disgrace. Absolutely disgraceful.”
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