Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has spoken out after he was caught on camera kicking a fan.
At Nottingham Forest's play-off semi-final match at the club's City Ground, footage showed Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp being assaulted by a Forest fan after crowds surged the pitch. His assailant, Robert Biggs, was jailed for 24 weeks yesterday (19 May).
However, just days later, a recording also captured Patrick Vieira appearing to kick out at a fan at the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park, Liverpool, on Thursday, 19 May during a similar pitch invasion.
When asked about the incident in a post-match news conference, Vieira stated: "I have nothing to say about that."
Frank Lampard, who manages Everton, said: "I feel for Patrick. I didn't get him at the end. I would have said, 'Come in with us' – although he might not have wanted that.
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"Of course, he ran 80 yards across the pitch and it's not easy."
Lampard dubbed the pitch invasion as being a result of 'pure elation of fans' who came onto the pitch 'after avoiding relegation'.
He stated: "If it is done in the right way let them stay on the pitch, let them have their moment. As long as they behave, no problem."
Dion Dublin, an English former pro footballer and striker, heavily condemned the crowds who surged onto the pitch.
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He said: "We know how overjoyed the Everton fans are but you can't be doing that. You can't be pushing managers and pushing players, touching players and shouting in their faces.
"We know it is only one or two who spoiled it for everyone else. Having fans on the pitch is not the way forward. We need to stop letting fans, or allowing fans to get on the pitch. It is too dangerous."
Following Biggs' assault of Billy Sharp, former Nottingham Forest defender Michael Dawson spoke out about the conduct of fans: "It happens every year at the end of a season when one team has disappointment and one team has joy, I worry for the opposition when fans run on. It only takes one situation for someone to be really hurt."
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom also highlighted the 'danger' players face in simply coming 'to a place of work'.
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He said: "How can you come to a place of work minding your own business and be assaulted in that fashion? It’s just bang out of order and it’s everything that’s wrong.
"Too many times we hear people condemn it, but nothing’s done about it. We’re the ones that suffered."
Poppy Bilderbeck