Angry fan chases referee in English third-division game
The Port Vale fan tried to confront referee Craig Hicks after he awarded an 88th-minute penalty to League One leader Portsmouth, which secured a 1-0 win for the visitor.
Published : Jan 28, 2024 08:23 IST , LONDON - 2 MINS READ
REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: Angry fan chases referee in English third-division game. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
An angry supporter ran onto the field and chased the referee after a late penalty decision in England’s third division on Saturday.
The Port Vale fan tried to confront referee Craig Hicks after he awarded an 88th-minute penalty to League One leader Portsmouth, which secured a 1-0 win for the visitor.
The supporter chased after Hicks, who ran into the dugout, before members of the coaching staff on the sideline intervened and stopped the fan.
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Port Vale posted a statement on social media saying it condemned the fan’s actions and “will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the matter and the individual is dealt with a zero tolerance approach.”
EFL and PGMOL also posted a joint statement on social media saying “Match officials should never feel threatened for their safety when playing a pivotal role in the staging of games in our competitions.”
The loss left Port Vale only one place above the relegation zone.