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Premier League clubs working on measures to curb pitch invasion in England

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Everton supporters invade the pitch as the team preserved their Premier League status with a 3-2 home win against Crystal Palace last month. Photo: James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images
Everton supporters invade the pitch as the team preserved their Premier League status with a 3-2 home win against Crystal Palace last month. Photo: James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images

SPORT


Premier League clubs have agreed on new measures to tackle pitch invasions, as well as missiles and pyrotechnics.

There was a glut of pitch invasions at the end of last season across England, including when an Everton fan clashed with Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira after the Toffees avoided relegation.

As a first step, visiting clubs will provide stewards for away matches.

Partial ground closures as punishment were not one of the topics discussed by the 20 top-flight clubs.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “It is vital that everyone feels safe at a football match.

“Supporters must be reminded that it is illegal to enter the pitch at any time. To be clear, this area is unequivocally for football and under no circumstance should players, managers, match officials or staff fear for their safety – just as fans should remain protected in the stands.

“These types of incidents must stop and new measures for next season will make that clear. The league fully supports club and football-wide bans for offenders.

“It is the minority who are behaving unacceptably and they risk ruining the match day experience for the vast majority of law-abiding fans.

Crowd behaviour is an issue we and our clubs are addressing as a matter of urgency, in collaboration with partners and relevant authorities.

There were several pitch invasions and incidents in the English Football League play-offs, most notably when a Nottingham Forest fan head-butted Sheffield United captain Billy Sharp and was jailed. - BBC SPORT


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