Monday 23 May 2022 08:31 AM Manchester City Premier League title win: Two football fans charged over Etihad ... trends now
Two football supporters have today been charged after crowd trouble at Manchester City's title-winning match yesterday as police hunt for the hooligan who smacked Aston Villa's goalkeeper Robin Olsen around the head.
Ecstatic scenes at the Etihad Stadium were marred by another pitch invasion where a player was assaulted - the fifth outbreak of crowd violence in English football in the past week.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) today said Phillip Maxwell, 28, of Knowsley, Merseyside, has been charged with throwing a missile (pyrotechnic) on to the pitch and will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court later today.
And Paul Colbridge, 37, of Salford, has been charged with going on to the pitch and will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court on June 7. Both have been bailed ahead of the court appearances, police said.
GMP said the investigation into the assault of Aston Villa's Robin Olsen by a fan during Sunday's pitch invasion was ongoing, with no arrests yet.
A police spokesman said: 'Inquiries into the reported assault of a player on the pitch after the final whistle are ongoing with officers working in partnership with both football clubs.'
Manchester City have promised to issue a lifetime ban to the fan who assaulted Olsen. Thousands of home supporters invaded the Etihad Stadium pitch after City sealed the Premier League title yesterday.
Aston Villa's Robin Olsen (circled) was hit when thousands of Man City fans invaded the pitch
City fans could not hide their delight as they ran onto the pitch after the title was secured
Police and stewards did all they could to keep the crowd contained but they ultimately failed
Thousands of City fans managed to get onto the pitch immediately after the full-time whistle
Olsen, who had deputised for Emiliano Martinez, was struck by a fan during a pitch invasion.
The shameful attack follows fans at Nottingham Forest, Port Vale and Everton being investigated after flashpoints with players and coaching staff during pitch invasions over the past week.
Villa said in a statement later that Olsen took a 'bang on the back of the head' and is 'completely fine'.
Asked if his squad made it back inside without any issues, Villa boss Steven Gerrard said: 'No, my goalkeeper was attacked.
'I think those questions should go to Manchester City. We'll go and check if he's OK now.'
City responded with a statement. 'The club would like to sincerely apologise to Robin Olsen, who was assaulted after the final whistle when fans entered the pitch,' it read.
'The club has launched an immediate investigation and once identified, the individual will be issued an indefinite stadium ban.'
City boss Pep Guardiola added: 'I'm so sorry on behalf of the club. It is difficult to think why people react in that way.
