Former England striker Alan Shearer has warned that players' lives could be at risk unless urgent action is taken to prevent pitch invaders as the Professional Footballers' Association called for a full inquiry.
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish was punched by a Birmingham fan and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling was confronted on the pitch by an Arsenal supporter in two separate incidents on Sunday.
It followed an episode on Friday in which Rangers captain James Tavernier was challenged by a pitch-invading Hibernian fan in his side's stormy Scottish Premiership draw.
English football has been blighted by a number of incidents of racist chanting and abuse over recent months that, together with the pitch invasions, are an unwelcome reminder of the hooliganism that used to mar the game.
“It is absolutely disgusting and if we don't stamp it out now, next time it could be a knife,” Shearer said in his column in the Sun newspaper.
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“It's that serious. Where are we at in football when some thug thinks that is what he is going to do?”
Grealish was assaulted at St Andrew's by Birmingham fan Paul Mitchell, 27, who was later charged with invading the pitch and assault, while Smalling was confronted in United's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
“The football authorities have to be seen to nail Birmingham for the behaviour of their fan,” Shearer said.
“If that means docking them points, playing in an empty stadium, so be it. There cannot be a strong enough punishment.”
Birmingham said Mitchell would be banned for life from St Andrew's and Arsenal later pledged the same punishment would be imposed on the pitch invader at its match.
Pub worker Mitchell pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court to assaulting Grealish.
He also admitted a charge of invading the pitch after magistrates rejected an application for his address to be withheld following social media threats made against him.
“He cannot explain what came over him yesterday morning. His initial foolish intention was to just go onto the pitch and whip up the crowd,” Mitchell's solicitor told the court.
Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie said the incident at St Andrew's was the worst of its kind that he had seen and backed Shearer's calls for urgent action.
Knife risk
Hendrie told BBC Radio : “It could have been someone running on with a knife - how are you meant to stop this?
“It's going to take something, that's going to cause a big, big scene in football, that's going to make people really stand up.”
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said the attack on boyhood Villa fan Grealish, who scored the winning goal against Birmingham, was “disgraceful” and “cowardly”.
He has called on the Football Association to work with the government, police and stewards at the grounds to help stamp out such incidents.
“It was disgraceful, cowardly and criminal. We have seen an increase in such behaviour at clubs this season. It's been racist abuse, it's been anti-Semitism and now it's real fear for the safety of players,” Taylor told Sky Sports News .
When asked about what sanctions could be implemented, Taylor said: “There's a combination you can consider - fines, ground closures, playing games behind closed doors and points deductions.”
United defender Smalling took to Twitter on Monday, remarking on the incident at the Emirates.
He said: “Commenting would only add to the attention he craved... Disappointed with yesterday's result but we'll learn from it. Looking ahead. Have a good start to the week everyone!”
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard called on fans to take responsibility for their actions after Tavernier became embroiled in a shoving match with a Hibernian fan who jumped out of the stands to kick the ball away.
“It is a huge concern. For the image of the game, it's not right at all,” said the former England player.
“Fans have to take responsibility and think before they do these type of things, because if it continues someone is going to get hurt and hurt badly, and no one wants it to get to that stage.”
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