Patrick Vieira faces an FA investigation after lashing out at an Everton fan during a pitch invasion at Goodison Park last night, as violence continued to mar the end of the season.
Everton came from two goals down to beat Vieira’s Crystal Palace side 3-2 and secure their Premier League survival, prompting thousands of fans to flood the pitch in celebration, with a smaller number having already done so after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 85th-minute winner.
Everton could also face disciplinary action from the FA for failing to control a crowd after things turned sour as Vieira was goaded by a supporter while attempting to make his way across the pitch to the away dressing room at full-time.
Videos on social media showed the fan shouting abuse and making offensive hand gestures in the face of the Eagles boss, who then reacted by first grabbing and then swinging a kick at the invader.
Vieira declined to comment when asked about the clash, but Toffees boss Frank Lampard said: “I feel for Patrick. I didn’t get to him at the end. I would have said, ‘come in with us’. He ran 80 yards across the pitch, it’s not easy.”
The FA will investigate the incident but it is not yet clear what punishment, if any, Vieira will face, with little recent precedent to go on. Nottingham Forest boss Brian Clough received a fine and a touchline ban after striking several of his own supporters during a 1989 pitch invasion at the City Ground.
Merseyside Police said today they are investigating the incident and are working with Everton to gather all available CCTV footage and are speaking to witnesses. They added that no formal complaint has been received. Seven arrests were made amid wider disorder around the fixture, including after a police car was targeted with bricks and bottles near the ground.
The incidents were the latest in a number of similar, troubling occurrences across English football this week alone.
On Tuesday night, Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp was head-butted by a Forest fan after supporters invaded the City Ground pitch following their Championship Play-Off semi-final victory, with the man subsequently jailed for 24 weeks, while Sharp’s Blades team-mate, Oli McBurnie, is under investigation by the FA over an altercation with another fan.
Last night, there was further trouble at Port Vale, where Swindon boss Ben Garner said his players had complained of being “physically and verbally abused” by home fans during a pitch invasion after their League Two semi-final defeat.
“There’s a lad with a cut on his nose, there’s been all sorts of abuse,” Garner said. “I just don’t understand it, I just don’t know where this is coming from. I’ve seen it in some of the other games recently. Disgusting, it’s disgusting.”
At the division’s other semi, at Northampton 24 hours earlier, Mansfield’s Jordan Bowery was barged by a man running onto the pitch during the game.
The EFL have threatened partial stadium closures as a punishment for pitch invasions, as they promised to explore “further measures” over the summer in a bid to halt the worrying trend ahead of the new season.
In the Premier League, meanwhile, Brentford are preparing their largest-ever security operation for the final-day visit of Leeds on Sunday in the hope of avoiding similar scenes.
Jesse Marsch’s side are scrapping for survival and there are fears over potential fan violence whatever the result, with around 800 Met Police officers set to be on duty at the match and additional ticket checks planned for visiting fans.
Leeds must better Burnley’s result against Newcastle to stay up, and Toon boss Eddie Howe today called on football’s authorities to act fast, admitting he was “concerned for the safety of everyone connected with both teams” ahead of the fixture at Turf Moor.
“The scenes at Nottingham Forest, I thought, were shocking to see, and at Everton as well,” he said. “I think we’re going into dangerous territory where something could happen in a game that has terrible consequences. I don’t think anyone would want to see that.”
On Friday morning, Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt warned supporters could face rising ticket prices if clubs are forced to increase spending on security on a regular basis, as he hit out at offenders on Twitter.
“Get a grip you complete clowns causing the problems. You win, you draw, you lose. If you can’t cope with that STAY AWAY,” Holt wrote. “You’re ruining the day for many, increasing club security cost and as a result ticket prices for all.”
