There is no place for fans to leave the stands and attack players.
Soccer is the beautiful game, but its fans at times can be the most ugly.
The sport of soccer is the most popular past time around the world and rivalries among teams, players, fans, and countries run deep.
The intensity can run extremely deep for fans passionate about their teams and sometimes it boils over into criminal behavior.
Such as the case that took place this morning when Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was attacked by a fan.
As reported by Sky Sports and News, Aston Villa was playing Birmingham City when 10 minutes into the match a fan leapt the fence and attacked Grealish, a Birmingham native son, punching him in the side of the head.
Security was slow to react and players from both teams surrounded the man as he was eventually arrested and taken out of the stadium.
The fan has not only been arrested, but according to Birmingham City he has received a lifetime ban from the stadium.
The fan was seen blowing kisses to fans as he was being escorted out by police.
Birmingham City issued a statement that said,
“We deplore the behaviour of the individual who committed this act and rest assured he will be banned from St Andrew’s for life. The Club will be working with the relevant authorities to investigate all the circumstances and we will be reviewing our stadium safety procedures. What happened has no place in football or society. Jack is a Birmingham lad and regardless of club allegiance should not have been subjected to this – there are no excuses.”
Grealish would get the last laugh however as he scored the game-winning goal in the 66th minute to defeat their rival in the Midlands Derby.
Grealish said of the attack,
“I was just unaware at the time, I was walking into position and then just felt a whack around the side of the face. Obviously there’s rivalry and stuff in football but I don’t think there’s any place for that really. I just tried to get on with my job. To score the winner was unbelievable – after what happened in the first half, I think it was set up for it.”
Good for Grealish and shame on that ridiculous fan that tried to end him during today’s match.
Flip the page to see Grealish’s attack.