A&H

Villa v Tottenham

jojo

jojo

Assistant World Cup Sweepstake Organiser
Level 7 Referee
Anyone see the linesman get hit after Spurs' first goal? Somebody through a flare onto the pitch and hit the linesman on the back/neck.

Truly horrific and disgusting how a football fan can attack an official in that way. I hope the person who threw it faces consequences for it.
 
The Referee Store
Apparently, the fan's already been identified and removed from the ground. Will assume that it's not the last he hears of it!
 
Doesn't surprise me, the amount of camera that will be watching the fans. I hope it's not!
 
Fair play to the assistant for not making a fuss and getting on with it. It looked like a canister type made of metal so that must have hurt as it hit the back of his neck
 
Listened to sky then, assistant said he was fine, police have escorted someone out but haven't said if it's for that.
 
Very good to see the AR wasn't hurt and was able to get on with the game plus the authorities at the match appear to have caught the idiot.

There was a 'fan' a year ago (Oxford I think) who got banged up for over a year just for possession of a flare at a game. Hopefully the moron who threw this one will get substantially more and a ban from all grounds for a long time.
 
Throwing of missiles.

It is an offence for a person at a designated football match to throw anything at or towards—
(a)the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted, or

(b)any area in which spectators or other persons are or may be present,

without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for him to prove).


What is the law governing smoke bombs and flares at football matches?

The Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985.

It is on offence for a person to enter or attempt to enter a football ground while in possession of a flare, smoke bomb or firework. The sentence for these offences can be as much as three months in prison, and in many cases, fans who have no previous convictions are being given prison sentences for attempting to enter a football ground with a smoke bomb in their pocket as the courts take these offences very seriously.

There are two different offences (1) possession in the football ground; and (2) possession while attempting to enter. Although logically, attempting to enter a football ground seems to be less culpable than a fan who has managed to get the smoke bomb, flare or firework into the football ground, in real terms the courts do not consider one offence to be more serious than the other. Fans searched prior to entering the football ground and found to be in possession of a firework, flare or smoke bomb, have still been given custodial sentences.

Also looking at an assault charge - common assault - which holds 6months HMP.
 
Just been on Sky News that two people have been arrested. Hope they get what they deserve! Glad to hear that the linesman is ok.
 
For what it's worth, the word on the Spurs messageboards is that it was basically a fiasco all round. A young guy brought it in, set it off and then realised it was (literally) too hot to handle and sent it forward into other Spurs fans. The older guy who then threw it was simply trying to lob it down the gangway to get the smoke away from him and his son but threw too hard with completely unintended consequences. That said, just goes to show the ridiculousness of bringing them into football grounds in the first place ....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top