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Fan Who Got Knocked Over By Sam Kerr Can't Be Arrested Due To Bizarre Law

Fan Who Got Knocked Over By Sam Kerr Can't Be Arrested Due To Bizarre Law

Kerr dealt with the pitch invader during Chelsea Women's game against Juventus in the Champions League group stage but he won't be arrested.

The fan who got taken out by Sam Kerr, after invading the pitch in Chelsea Women's Champions League game against Juventus, can't be arrested.

Chelsea's game was in injury time when a pitch invader got onto the pitch and was able to run around without much challenge from stewards.

That's when Kerr stepped across and brilliantly body checked the man who was being jeered and called names by the rest of the ground.

Whilst it's usual for pitch invaders at football matches to be arrested but, according to the Athletic, that's not the case on this occasion, with the outlet explaining that a bizarre law is stopping it.

Section 4 of the 1991 Football (Offences) Act states, "It is an offence for a person at a designated football match to go onto the playing area, or any area adjacent to the playing area to which spectators are not generally admitted, without lawful authority or lawful excuse (which shall be for him to prove)."

The phrase 'designated football match' is causing the issue, because no women's matches are included in the phrasing.

According to the Football (Offences) Act, the description of a 'designated match' is "a game in which one or both of the teams represents a club which is a member of the English Football League, the Premier League, the Football Conference or the League of Wales, or represents a country or territory."

There was lots of criticism after the incident over the lack of policing at the ground, that allowed the fan to run around for so long, and that's because police don't attend matches.

Kerr was booked for the incident. Image: PA Images
Kerr was booked for the incident. Image: PA Images

On the night Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Juve, and messed up their chances of qualifying for the Champions League knockout stages with a game to spare.

Instead, Emma Hayes side will now have to go away to Wolfsburg and could potentially be knocked out if they lost to the Germans.

The Old Lady face Swiss side Servette at home on Matchday Six, with their visitors having not managed a single goal in five losses in the group so far.

The Italians would go through with a win and then Chelsea would need to draw to remain top, whilst a loss would see them fail to reach the knockout stages.

Hayes side recently secured the domestic treble from last season, when they beat Arsenal in the rearranged FA Cup final.


Featured Image Credit: Twitter

Topics: Champions League, Chelsea, Juventus