Barnsley player gets hit in the head by Portsmouth fan during pitch invasion

Twitter users have spotted the moment a Barnsley player gets hit in the head by a Portsmouth fan during the pitch invasion at Fratton Park.

Footage was uploaded onto social media, zooming in on the allegedly Jamie McCart, who was trying to make his way off the pitch.

But when doing so, the onrushing Pompey fans run onto the pitch and he gets a whack, to which the player then bends down holding his head.

With more fans coming onto the pitch, he lifts himself up and struggles to get past them when trying to get back down the tunnel…

@EFL @BarnsleyFC @Pompey Barnsley player attacked by multiple Pompey fans running onto the field. Literally no place for this. Portsmouth have failed to secure the safety of players. Shocking pic.twitter.com/ChD5Z40ruH

— Ryan Mannifield (@beardedtyke) April 16, 2024

Fair play Portsmouth, well deserved promotion. Although do we really think this is acceptable? @BarnsleyFC #BarnsleyFC pic.twitter.com/756f85AAZQ

— Ciaran (@_Ciaran_Clarke_) April 16, 2024

Portsmouth sealed a dramatic promotion to the Championship and the League One title after a 3-2 comeback victory against Barnsley on Tuesday night.

SEE MORE: Mansfield promoted, Portsmouth and Stockport crowned champions, Forest Green relegated

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho:

“I think once everything settles down it will sink in properly. I’ve never experienced anything like that, the last 15 minutes, it was absolutely incredible.

“Even at 2-1 down, to get the momentum and the crowd behind us, I am just so proud of the boys. I’m genuinely just so pleased for everyone connected to the football club. They’ve gone through so much.

“When we got it back to 3-2 I thought ‘we have played so poor, but found a way to win somehow in a game where we really struggled’. It really does sum up the boys.

“A tough night, tough conditions, but they got the job done. It’s hard for me to sum it up, but I get what’s happened over the last 15 years at the club and how difficult it was, on the brink of liquidation, to come back and have a night like this is incredible to be involved in.

“To be head coach, it is a privilege. Hopefully we can have a few more nights like this.

“I never could have imagined this happening this quickly. This was obviously the goal at some point, but didn’t think it would happen with two games to go this season. It is a remarkable achievement. That is a serious effort to be crowned champions ahead of some of the big boys in this league as well.”

Pompey forward Conor Shaughnessy said: “It’s a difficult one to sum up. This is what you dream of when you’re growing up – the nights like these.

“We’ve worked hard for this all season – the opportunity to win the league at Fratton Park with two games to go.

“To seal it with a winner in the final few minutes is something that will obviously stay with me forever.

“Marlon told me: ‘You’re a legend now!’ I can’t quite get my head around it and it’s going to take a few days to sink in.

“I’ve never seen anything like those scenes at the end – you can see just what it means to the people of Portsmouth.

“We’ll enjoy the night and the day tomorrow… and then the day after that! Let’s celebrate together as a city.

“We’ve been the best team all season long and have been at the top for I don’t know how long. It’s something this group deserves.

“We have the best group of players brought together by Rich Hughes and the best manager, so massive credit goes to them.”

Huge congratulations to former PFA Chair John Mousinho. 👏

Promotion as champions in his first management role with @Pompey 🏆 pic.twitter.com/BUev6ahhUG

— Professional Footballers’ Association (@PFA) April 16, 2024

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Swanson (Rafferty 31), Shaughnessy, Raggett, Ogilvie; Evans (Saydee 79), Pack (c); Kamara, Anjorin (Lang 46), Whyte (Lane 61); Yengi (Bishop 61)
Goals: Yengi 9, Bishop 83 (pen), Shaughnessy 89
Booked: Evans
Subs not used: Macey, Moxon

Barnsley (3-1-4-1-1): Roberts; Williams, de Gevigney, Earl; Kane; Cotter (O’Keeffe 75), Phillips, Grant (McCart 87), Cadden; McAtee (Jaló 87); Cole
Goals: Cole 6, McAtee 59
Booked: de Gevigney
Subs not used: Killip, Chapman, Marsh, Cosgrove

Referee: Paul Howard

Attendance: 19,960 (309 away fans)

Twitter users reacted after the Barnsley player gets hit in the head by a Portsmouth fan during the pitch invasion…

@bur100: Pitch invasions should be banned – not just due to security but it also takes away the players opportunity to celebrate together on the pitch with the fans in the stands where they should be.

@McEwen1171: @fa have a look at this

@johnrafferty7: Totally unacceptable! Barnsley players being punched on the pitch. Something needs doing about this! @BarnsleyFC

@armorjs: A historic night for @Pompey But the feral rat that strikes the Barnsley player running off the pitch needs a life ban. We don’t need ‘supporters’ like him.. #pompey

@_nam11: I just don’t understand why? Just go and enjoy the moment, have a beer, it works out fine. Instead of people discussing how consistent Pompey have been & thoroughly deserve promotion, it’s tarred by this.🙄

@Christ11Ian: Imagine not being able to celebrate your club’s promotion without assaulting an opposition player for no reason.

@lewyitfc: All ways idiots who spoil it for others… they have to go for an opposing player rather than just enjoy their moment. Hope they’re found, prosecuted and never allowed back in.

@Scotty_mc10: Shocking 😡…if there is safe standing for fans soon there will be safety barriers for players!

@Caitlin_no63: You’ve just been promoted and your first thought is to hit an opposition player. What an absolute freak

@Butsag1: Classy that @Pompey fans throwing punches at Barnsley players just go enjoy the promotion absolute low life sum bags

@Scotty_mc10: Disgusting seeing Barnsley players punched by Portsmouth ‘fans’ during the pitch invasion last night…be down to these sort if they put fences and barriers back up! 😩

@John170277: It’s a disgrace that your fans felt the need to attack several Barnsley players when they stormed the pitch

@cd_27_: Just why though? Absolutely no need

@tyke1963: So what will the EFL do about a Barnsley player being attacked on the playing field by so called Portsmouth Supporters. Let’s see what bottle they have now.

@patrickscottlad: Just seen that whilst doing a pitch invasion, a Portsmouth fan decided to punch a Barnsley player in the face. Never change. Rat bastards. Roll on.

@NorthernPCDACop: Just me that thinks pitch invasions need to stop! Endangers away players etc but more so, those players have grafted all season and it stops them celebrating with everyone and have to retreat to the dressing room! Call me boring but I hate the concept!

@Captcrick7: How does anyone think this is acceptable behaviour? Hopefully the @EFL will use worthwhile sanctions at its disposal. #pompey #barnsleyfc

@maxbarwick_: disgusting that

@BFCbennett: Fucking scummy southern tossers, enjoy your promotion and fuck off

@KerrieRoebuck: This is like Deja vu for us Blades. Hate pitch invasions. They are a risk to players and staff. Absolutely no need to do them.

@danifarrar: Name and shame @Pompey no need for this

@cudethred: what a weird fan base 😭 we’ve just won promotion from tinpot league but we’re huge, let’s celebrate by punching the barnsley player

@rhysmcc44: Portsmouth fans being scumbags? The shock

@LukePR43: What a stupid thing to do

@Jamesr02_: That’s disgusting, go celebrate with the fans and players, don’t do that. Whoever this is isn’t a real #Pompey fan whatsoever 👍

@scousejay814950: Proper weirdos just won the league but attack a Barnsley player..

@Kianb__: Lovely bunch aren’t they, scruffy cunts

@kaden_n_s: Your teams just been promoted and your first thought is to twat the opposition player, fucking weirdo

@lufc75kb: Disgusting but as I well know they will cause some shit home and away they should get fucked first this tho

@Torn_Tay: @PFA will you be mute over this?? Player clearly being attacked by fans??