Troy Deeney Demands Pitch Invasions Stop Before Someone Is Stabbed To Death
"What happens if a player got stabbed? Then what? Is it still the player’s fault?"
Troy Deeney has pleaded with the Premier League and FA to take action against the recent influx of pitch invasions - before "someone is killed".
Last Tuesday, Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp was assaulted following their playoff semi-final with Nottingham Forest and it kickstarted a spate of unsavoury altercations.
Swindon Town defender Mandela Egbo was injured in a similar fashion on Thursday against Port Vale, while Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira was confronted by an Everton supporter that same evening .
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Birmingham City striker Deeney penned a passionate response to the incidents in his column for The Sun, warning things could get much worse.
He said: "You don’t want the stewards to put themselves in danger but it feels like right now that if you want to walk on to a pitch, you can.
"What will it take for that to change? A player to react and a supporter gets seriously hurt?
"That player would end up getting punished, and maybe a prison sentence, and then people will wake up and start talking about looking after players.
"On the flip side, it could also lead to a player being killed, quite easily.
"What happens if a player got stabbed? Then what?
"Is it still the player’s fault? And when that happens, please don’t tell them they should have known better."
That was written prior to this weekend's fixtures, which saw Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen attacked by Manchester City fans following their game on Sunday.
Villa manager Steven Gerrard was asked about Olsen's injuries in his post-match press conference and furiously stormed out.
When asked if his players had managed to make it off the pitch safely at full-time he replied: "No, no the is the answer to that.
"My goalkeeper was attacked so I think those questions should go to Pep [Guardiola] and Manchester City."
He then went to check on Olsen as reporters asked how significant the injuries were.
The Sweden international has since confirmed he was attacked but will not let 'idiots destroy his emotion' after making his debut for the club.
Topics: Premier League, EFL Championship, Troy Deeney
Daniel Marland