2 Manchester City Fans Charged After Thousands Invade Pitch

Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen reacts after a blue flare is thrown onto the pitch during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on May 22, 2022. Stu Forster/Getty Images

Two football fans have been charged after thousands of Manchester City supporters invaded the pitch at the club’s Etihad Stadium to celebrate them clinching the English Premier League title on Sunday.

Manchester City came back from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3–2 and pip Liverpool to the championship on a dramatic final day of the season.

Greater Manchester Police said two men had been charged and an investigation had been launched after the goalkeeper with visitors Aston Villa, Robin Olsen, was allegedly assaulted by City fans.

A police spokesman said, “Inquiries into the reported assault of a player on the pitch after the final whistle are ongoing with officers working in partnership with both football clubs.”

Manchester City's Fernandinho lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Premier League at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on May 22, 2022. Hannah Mckay/Reuters

Phillip Maxwell, 28, of from Knowsley, has been charged with throwing a pyrotechnic onto the pitch, and Paul Colbridge, 37, from Salford, has been charged with going onto the pitch.

Last week G. K. Still, a visiting professor of crowd science at the University of Suffolk, said a recent spate of pitch invasions was “alarming” and could be linked to lockdowns during the pandemic.

Still told The Epoch Times: “They are basically celebratory. But restrictions are being lifted and people have forgotten the rules and have become over-excited.”

On May 17 Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp was headbutted by a Nottingham Forest supporter who had run onto the pitch after the team’s play-off semi-final. Two days later Robert Biggs, 30, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was jailed for 24 weeks.

Then on May 19 Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira clashed with Everton fans who invaded the pitch after they won a crucial Premier League match, securing the Merseyside team’s place in the top tier of English football.

On Sunday there was another pitch invasion at the Etihad Stadium after City’s victory secured them the title.

With 15 minutes to go City were losing 2–0 and Liverpool were winning against Wolves, which meant the title was heading to Merseyside.

But two goals from German substitute Ilkay Gundogan and one from midfielder Rodri completed an astonishing turnaround and gave the title to the Manchester club.

Thousands of City fans came onto the pitch and several pulled down the goalposts in scenes reminiscent of scenes involved Scotland fans at Wembley in 1977.

City manager Pep Guardiola did not comment on the crowd invasion but said of his players: “We are legends. We will be remembered. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club. What we achieved, it is so difficult to do it.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “You can’t do more than give your absolute best and that’s what the boys did again. We chased the best team in the world to the wire.”

PA Media contributed to this report.