Bristol Rovers fan throws lit firework into the home end ‘hitting’ Reading supporters below them

Video footage shows the moment a Bristol Rovers fan throws a lit firework into the home end ‘hitting’ Reading supporters below them.

A very short clip has surfaced onto social media, showing the incident, with the culprit reportedly ejected and arrested outside ground.

The game saw Reading stay bottom of the League One standings and go winless in eight matches, being held to a scrappy draw by Bristol Rovers.

Reading going ahead on 40 minutes, thanks to Sam Smith going forward and netting his first goal of the season.

The came the incident, coming after Chris Martin got Bristol Rovers’ equaliser on the 57th minute, with celebrations marred by the firework chucked on those in the Lower West.

Getting out a pyro after equalising against bottom of the league is embarrassing, let alone proceeding to throw it at a reading fan after this video… pic.twitter.com/K2N511GaGr

— Will🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@BRFCWill) November 8, 2023

Bristol Rovers throw a firework on Reading fans in Lower West. Always a risk having them in Upper West #readingfc

— James Earnshaw (@james_e1871) November 7, 2023

Reading boss Rubén Sellés said post-match, as per the club website: “I think we need to be more competitive. The game was just okay – in the first half we showed some of the potential, but we started the second half poor.

“We have more to offer than that. Only when they equalised, we started to react and be in the game.

“It was a competitive League One game… and we need to be more competitive if we want to win football matches, and we need to continue growing.

“It is an improvement from previous games, but we still have a long way to go.

“We had a chance to make it 2-0 with a situation for Harvey Knibbs, and we have a clear situation in the second half with a free-kick for Jeriel Dorsett in front of goal. And they had opportunities also. So a draw… I think it is fair.

“Sam has been working really hard, especially when he had his injury.

“He came back, straight back into the line-up, and showed what kind of striker he can be for us. Today he got his goal – hopefully the first of many!

“And Jeriel had a successful loan with Kilmarnock last season and he has been working hard with us for the past five months – playing preparation matches, playing in the cup… and he has been training really well in recent weeks and showing real character.

“We needed a player in that position today that can stop the crosses, be aggressive in one-on-one, help us in build-up and help in set plays. That is what we requested and he did it in a really good way. We are very satisfied with him and hopefully it is the first of many for him too.”

“We need to be more competitive if we want to win football matches. We need to continue growing.”

Reading manager Rubén Sellés gives his thoughts after a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol Rovers. #REABRR pic.twitter.com/8AMAI7nFCr

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) November 7, 2023

Bristol Rovers caretaker Andy Mangan said, as per Bristol Post: “I thought we were really good first 20 minutes. Really good moving the ball about. Exactly what we’d planned for in training and then there was a period after 20 minutes where we went a little bit flat. That’s part of our development.

“Then we concede the goal which is frustrating because we need to do much better, got to do the basics much better than that.

“The lads already know, we’ve got a really good squad, really good players. Obviously I spoke to them at half-time and challenged them to be better. Can we get after them a bit more? I thought we got a big response. I thought we came out and looked like we were going to score from minute one and then we get the goal.

“I’m really proud of the players to be honest, I thought they were really good. But always, as a coach, you just think you can be better and I think we can be miles better.

“We’ve got to come here and win. All the passing drills we do, all the possessions that we do. We’ve got winners in there and I do believe that we’re going to get more consistent and I do think that results will happen. It’s another point on the road.”

🗣 Andy Mangan assesses the score draw at Reading. pic.twitter.com/lzhJF5pZo0

— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) November 8, 2023

Here’s what was said on Twitter after a Bristol Rovers fan throws a lit firework into the home end ‘hitting’ Reading supporters below them…

@iJC106: This is vile. And to top it off this being thrown directly into the Lower West endangering women and children around us. Surely if the stewards are trying to be strict on bottle tops they need to be more strict on fucking PYRO?! Ban need imo @RFCSupport @ReadingFC @Official_BRFC

@RFCjoe1: How the fuck are they getting a firework in the ground.

@kellyoxley: I am really looking forward to hearing about his arrest and subsequent ban from the club for life

@ainscough_jacob: Look how long he’s able to hold that up for without being confronted by a steward. Thought the club were against *dangerous* objects being thrown? #readingfc

@bcity1999: ‘Fucking hate city’ yet celebrating a goal by ex City striker Chris Martin 🤦🏼‍♂️ Also why they setting off a pyro against bottom of the league? 😂

@bw_jester_rfc: There was a steward literally stood beneath these two 🤡 who did fuck all. Took about 15mins for other stewards to arrive and I think it was another Rovers fan who identified them… I guess the #readingfc jobsworths were too prepped for the next tennis ball.

@Wallsy1871: This guys and your fans can fuck off disgusting should be banned for life

@Jones1871: This cunt managed to get a firework in and throw it at families but I get groped because I might have a tennis ball on me, how do you work that one out @ReadingFC @RFCSupport #readingfc

@TellMeImWrong98: And the stewards are sat there doing f all about it.

@nat_shirts: But please don’t have a bottle lid on your oasis cause that’s really dangerous 😂😂

@lbcfc0: embarrassing these lot

@OliLawrence12: Lighting a sparkler when equalising against bottom of the league, then singing ‘fucking hate city’, when a former city striker bags for u. Belters

@Craigb_RFC88: No doubt we’ll get sanctioned for tennis balls but not to worry about the Bristol fans throwing fireworks at people in West lower. Utter scumbags. #readingfc #BristolRovers

@ainscough_jacob: But I get touched up incase I have a tennis ball

@JRSRoyal1871: So brave throwing it into women and children in the Reading family stand. I wonder if he’d be as brave outside the ground with Reading fans who are game. Inbred. #readingfc

@SidRfc: all for pyros and creating atmosphere but this isn’t the way to do it, especially if it gets thrown at home fans

@pbfqrq4pg2: Bonfire night was Sunday

@arnie_rfc: @ReadingFC fancy on finding out who he is through CCTV ? Launching pyro at home fans ain’t on

@ElmRoyal: Fair play fella for calling it out 👏👏 majority of your fans are proper and you calling it out and like you said against bottom of the league proves that!! When you lot did sing, you were by far the loudest who have come to us this season. Good luck for rest of the season lads 👍🏻

@Reece_RFC: He was arrested after being removed.