The charge for the club should set a precedent for all pitch invasions. At the end of the day, it's the club's responsibility to keep people off the pitch, they failed that whether the invader is celebrating a goal, going to punch someone or just having a drunk run across the field. I think they should be punished harshly, but I also think all pitch invasions should be treated the same way, in terms of the punishment upon the club.
And no one will disagree. What has seemingly been brushed under the carpet in the ongoing media circus surrounding the trial is that the family of the defendant have beem forced to flee that family home for their own safety. Welcome to the modern world where the wife and young kids of a moron are now classed as fair game.
There was a "one punch" fatal attack at the Club I used to drink in back in Donny in the late 70's. A lad who had just moved into our village and professed to be a keen drummer, applied to the Club Committee to replace the drummer who accompanied the resident organist. His application was refused, so he started a campaign of intimidation. Eventually the lad who was being bullied, had had enough and reported him to the President of the Club who " put him in the book". He eventually faced the Committee and was barred for one month. One night, he hid behind a car near the Club entrance. As the unsuspecting drummer was leaving, he was struck on the head from behind. As he fell, his head made contact with the wing of a car and he blacked out and hit the concrete floor heavily with his head. He was rushed to Hospital with a bleed on his brain and never regained consciousness and sadly he died during the afternoon the following day. The assailant was banged up at Thorne nick, but was moved elsewhere when twenty or so Colliers who used the Club turned up with a rope. If they could have got hold of him, a policeman I knew said such was their mood they weren't kidding, they'd have strung him up. The guy at Birmingham City is a 27 year old barman. His name is Paul Mitchell of Rubery Worcs. The judge refused to allow his address to be held. Just read that after receiving death threats, members of his family have now had to leave their homes.
He had that before he did it, I've got a couple of mates who support Leeds and they say he was known for getting into stuff at matches which is surprising cos getting away with a 3 year ban for punching a player given his supposed previous is mental, where as this guy who up until Sunday seemed a normal guy whos just acted like a monumental idiot will get a complete ban from all stadiums for ever
Live updates here with the outcome due shortly..... https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/live-updates-paul-mitchell-appears-15953653
Not surprised regarding outcome of sentence, slightly more disappointed he didn't receive a lifetime football ban though. 6 or 7 weeks in prison will hit him like a tonne of bricks if he has no previous. Hopefully he's put on a wing with a load of Villa fans
As a response to a fan coming on the pitch on Saturday Steven Gerrard is saying he’ll take the players off the pitch ...Unless he can pick the half time music
And has to pay 100 quid to Jack Grelish as compensation[/QUOTE] Hope Jack doesn't spend it all at once!
I hope it ******* kills the thug, missing that 100 quid, then Grelish wipes his ******* arse with it.
Hopefully they send him to HMP Birmingham - That should be entertaining when the other prisoners there find out what he is in for - Guess there will be a few Villa thugs fans there who might enjoy a word.
As mentioned earlier, first offence etc. Had this happened in the street rather than on a football pitch (ie a bloke runs up behind another one and clouts him on the ear) the police would probably not even bother to turn up. And if they did he would probably just get a caution.