The EFL have launched a campaign against fan violence following a number of incidents at the end of last season, including one at Nottingham Forest.
Reds fan Robert Biggs was given a 24-week jail sentence and a 10-year ban from attending football matches after pleading guilty to assault on Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp following the play-off semi-final victory back in May.
The EFL have been proactive in their stance that that sort of behaviour will not be tolerated, with the launch of a campaign called Love Football, Protect the Game. The campaign promises bans for pitch invaders as well as more criminal convictions and stadium banning orders.
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EFL chairman Trevor Birch has sent a plea to fans ahead of the end of season run-in, where the incidents tend to occur more often. “You have to protect the players,” he said, via the Mirror .
“Because that (the Billy Sharp incident) was just horrendous and unfortunately you can’t legislate that might not happen again. The fans who have committed those violent acts have spoilt it for everyone.
"The plea is now simply: ‘just please, please behave yourselves and stay off the pitch.’ It’s unfair on the majority by doing that.
“It feels this season it has calmed down, we had the series of unfortunate incidents at the end of last season and we want to get the message across to keep that behaviour under control for the rest of the season.
“It used to be a celebration when fans would come on the pitch but now you just can’t do it. Those idiots have spoilt it for the majority because they present a danger to the officials, managers and the players.
“The pitch is for the players and the stands are for the fans. It’s as simple as that. Sadly an innocent person going onto the pitch, that unfortunately gives licence to a thug to come on and thump a player.
“Generally everyone is doing a great job because we get 20 million through the turnstiles every year and we don’t want a minority to spoil it for everyone.”
The EFL, Premier League, the FA, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Supporters’ Association have all joined together to put together the Love Football, Protect the Game campaign. It will see any pitch invader get a ban with offences carrying a recommended 12 month punishment, with a lifetime ban also possible.
How can fan behaviour at matches be improved? Tell us in the comments section
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