Newcastle United supporters set up fund for fans arrested for spilling on to pitch celebrating Matt Ritchie equaliser

Newcastle United supporters - Newcastle United supporters set up fund for fans arrested for spilling on to pitch celebrating Matt Ritchie equaliser
Newcastle United fans celebrate a late equaliser at Bournemouth on Saturday Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Newcastle United supporters are trying to raise money to help those arrested for spilling on to the pitch as they celebrated Matt Ritchie’s spectacular injury-time equaliser against Bournemouth last weekend.

Newcastle United Supporters Trust have set up a GoFundme page to help any supporters arrested – which included a 14-year-old boy – with their legal fees and travel costs if they face prosecution.

Dorset Police are still investigating the incident, in which a female steward suffered a nose injury, to determine whether an assault took place. One fan was released without charge on Monday.

Newcastle supporters have also complained on social media that the only reason the fans spilled on to the pitch was because of the poor design of the smallest Premier League ground in the country and have claimed fans of other clubs had done the same previously.

A statement from the Newcastle United Supporters Trust said: “We feel these fans are guilty of nothing but celebrating a goal in the 94th minute of a game. It is important to distance genuine crowd trouble and people seeking to enter the field of play to disrupt a game or attack players, and jubilant celebrations before a 350-mile home trip.

“Having spoken to most of the families of the arrested fans – there was no intention to commit a criminal act. No players were harmed. No home supporters taunted.

“Fans surged forwards at one of the smallest grounds ever to host Premier League football and for a matter of seconds were on the pitch.

“We would like to support these fans who are facing banning orders and potential criminal records by raising contributions for their basic legal fees and basic travel costs as the hearings will take place in Dorset.

“If any of the families or individuals feel unable to accept the fees or their charges are dropped before they have to travel or pay for legal expenses, then this money will be donated to charity and the charity of choice paid with a proof of public payment.”

Editor of Newcastle fanzine True Faith, Alex Hurst, added on Twitter: “I understand the view that ‘just don’t run on the pitch – it’s their fault’ but I was there on Saturday and many other people came so close to tumbling over onto the pitch – my friends included. Lives can be ruined with prosecutions – so help if you can.”

The arrests came just a week after Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish was punched in the back of the head by a Birmingham City fan who had run on to the pitch. On the same day, Manchester United defender Chris Smalling was shoved by an Arsenal supporter who had also run on to the playing surface at the Emirates Stadium.

License this content