A football fan who was jailed for punching Jack Grealish after running onto a football pitch has been found dead.
Tributes have been pouring in for Paul Mitchell, 32, after he was reportedly found dead at an address in Birmingham. Mitchell admitted that he invaded the pitch "as a joke" on March 10, 2019, as he plead guilty to assault before serving four weeks of his sentence.
As reported by the Mirror, he was also handed a 10-year ban from attending football matches as part of his punishment. A number of fellow football fans have shared tributes to Mitchell on social media with messages coming in from Birmingham City fans, as well as supporters of other clubs.
The late football fan's cousin Lucy Mitchell told The Sun: “Paul absolutely adored his three children. He always had a smile on his face no matter what. He had the kindest heart. He is sadly going to be missed by a lot of people.
His heartbroken mum, Debbie Drew, added: "Our family loved him so much"
Other fans called him a "legend" and shared messages of support. One wrote: "Rip Paul Mitchell, football is everything, sad to see a fellow football fan taken so soon."
Another said: "I’ve been busy all day and on and off twitter so I’ve only just heard about Paul Mitchell a Brummie boy and legend I tell you it’s such a s*** time for blues but he was a good lad RIP Paul."
Other fans who knew Mitchell shared photos of them together. One wrote: "FFS another lad gone. RIP Paul Mitchell just 32 years old."
An Aston Villa fan wrote: "Rivalry aside, he’s way too young to go, RIP Paul, rest easy".
Others shared their condolences and offered messages of support to his family.
One person added: "Someone’s lad and someone’s dad, no age and very sad. RIP from a Cov fan."
Fans from across the country shared their own messages of support, including multiple messages from Aston Villa fans.
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