SATURDAY’s Non-League match between Barnet and Wealdstone descended into chaos as a fan attacked a steward and smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch.
The hosts were on course to bag all three points courtesy of a 1-0 win before a 100th-minute equaliser from Corie Andrews.
The joyous scenes in the away end, however, quickly turned sour as a minority of Wealdstone fans ran onto the pitch.
And footage of the incident showed a steward being wrestled to the ground and PUNCHED by a fan after entering the field to stop pitch invaders.
Wealdstone players, amid plumes of blue smoke, and another fan ran to the steward to break up the scuffle and remove the lout from the scene.
The incident went viral on X and was widely condemned by footie fans, with one saying: “Disgusting.”
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Another said: “Behaviour like this warrants a lifetime ban from football grounds and a prison sentence.”
And another said: “Should not be allowed back in ANY football stadium ever again! Absolutely no time for this..”
One remarked: “Absolutely disgraceful.”
Another chimed in: “I hope that steward is paid a month’s money by the club.
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“He doesn’t get paid much money to be putting up with that.”
The Barnet fan who originally shared the clip wrote: “Classy that from a Wealdstone fan.
“Pinning down and punching the steward.”
Another of the Barnet faithful said: “This is very bad. We don’t need this kind of attitude in our game.”
Wealdstone issued a statement condemning the actions of the fans who stormed the pitch, whom they’ve vowed to punish.
It read: “The Board of Directors at Wealdstone Football Club unequivocally condemn the actions of the individual who invaded the pitch during our National League fixture at Barnet FC yesterday, following our equalising goal and assaulted a match day steward.
“Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and goes against the values that our club stands for.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all participants, spectators and attendees at our games, which is why we will be working closely with Barnet Football Club and the Metropolitan Police to identify and take appropriate action against any supporters who entered the pitch and those directly involved in this incident.
“All culprits identified will face the full consequences of their actions.
“It is with deep regret that the reprehensible behaviour of a few has overshadowed what was a moment of celebration for our team and the vast majority of our supporters, who behaved impeccably and adhered to the ground regulations throughout the match.
“We are very disappointed that the actions of these few individuals have cast a shadow over our club and our dedicated fans.
“The club wishes to express its sincere apologies to the match day steward affected by this incident, and we will ensure they receive our full support.
“We also want to thank the majority of our fans who continue to show their passionate support in a respectful and responsible manner.
Wealdstone Football Club will not tolerate any form of misconduct that jeopardises the safety and enjoyment of football.
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“We are dedicated to maintaining a family-friendly and safe environment for all fans and participants, reinforcing the positive and respectful image of our club and its supporters.
The draw at the Hive was also marred by a flare – which appeared to be thrown from the home end – hitting ref Dale Staines and causing him to stumble.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
