Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Sky Sports
Topics: Australia, Football, Premier League, Patrick Vieira, Crystal Palace, Everton
Max Sherry
Topics: Australia, Football, Premier League, Patrick Vieira, Crystal Palace, Everton
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira was involved in a heated altercation with a pitch invader at Goodison Park with footage showing him kicking the Everton fan.
Vieira's side had just lost 3-2 to relegation battlers Everton, completely capitulating by throwing away a two-goal lead.
For the Toffees, the result means they avoid the dreaded drop and fans celebrated by storming onto the pitch at full-time.
But as chaos ensued inside Goodison Park, one of the supporters appeared to taunt Vieira by flipping him off as he walked across the pitch – bad move.
The Arsenal legend didn't take too kindly to the pitch invader's goading and reacted by booting the bloke.
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In grainy footage posted on social media, you can see the Everton fan approach Vieira before the Palace manager kicks him in the legs.
Vieira is then shoved by another fan before others intervened and seperated the two parties.
Asked about the incident after the game, the Frenchman simply said: "I have nothing to say about that."
Everton boss Frank Lampard also spoke about the pitch invasion in his post-match press conference after his side secured survival.
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"I feel for Patrick," Lampard said.
"I didn't get him at the end. I would have said, 'come in with us' - although he might not have wanted that. Of course, he ran 80 yards across the pitch and it's not easy.
"It was pure elation of fans who have come on the pitch after avoiding relegation. If it is done in the right way let them stay on the pitch, let them have their moment. As long as they behave, no problem."
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Vieira could now face an investigation from the Football Association.
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Unfortunately this isn't the first time this week that football matches have been marred by ugly fan incidents.
A Nottingham Forest fan was jailed after he ran onto the field and assaulted Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp during their Championship play-off semi-final celebrations.
The League 2 playoffs also saw its fair share of controversy as Northampton supporters allegedly threw flares at the Mansfield players.