EFL fans warned not to get arrested for ‘moment of madness’ this weekend as Championship reaches dramatic conclusion
EFL fans have been warned not to get arrested for a “moment of madness” this weekend as the season approaches its dramatic closing stages.
Football League chiefs have warned they are prepared to take action in conjunction with police over fans that enter the field of play.
Football League CEO Trevor Birch told The Mirror: “My message to supporters would be: think before you act.
“Going onto the pitch can have significant ramifications that may ruin your life.
“One moment of madness can see you banned from attending football or given a criminal record, while some supporters have lost their jobs or gone to prison as a result of their actions.”
Ugly scenes last month appeared to show a Portsmouth fan attacking a Barnsley player as Pompey celebrated promotion to League One with a massive pitch invasion.
While other pitch invasions, such as the ones at Wrexham and Derby went by without incident, there are real fears for the safety of players and officials should pitch invasions take place this weekend.
Birch continued: “Before choosing to misbehave at a football match, supporters really need to weigh that up and ask themselves whether or not the risk is worth it.
“Ultimately, the law is clear. It remains a criminal offence to come on to the playing surface without permission and there can be very tough consequences for those that do so.
“Even if every single supporter means well and has no malicious intent, it gives the green light for that minority of people to enter the pitch who are intent on causing harm either to players or officials.
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“We must avoid this at all costs and even if it seems harsh at times of great emotional excitement to ask fans to stay off the pitch there can be no ambiguity; the pitch is for the players and the stands are for supporters.”
Both promotion and relegation are still being played for in The Championship, making for a high chance of pitch invasions on Saturday.
Referee Josh Smith, who has taken charge of several EFL games this season told The Mirror there is always “fear” when a ref blows the full-time whistle on the final day of the season.
He said: “Towards the last five minutes of the game, as you’re looking up at the fans, you can tell if they’re going to end up on the field of play and it’s always a shock how quickly it can happen.
“My first thought when I blow the full-time whistle is to make sure all of the refereeing team get off the pitch and down the tunnel to a place of safety as soon as possible, which includes considering my assistant referees, who may have a much longer route off the pitch due to their positioning.
“My main aim is to ensure they’re not intercepted by supporters on their way off and are safe but it is a fear in the back of your head when you blow the whistle.”