Fans urge Portsmouth to find the culprit who left 10 year old needing first aid treatment after an incident during the West Brom game.
A report was made by Dawn Astle MBE’s grandson, saying he had been hit on the head by a 50p coin while walking up the steps onto the concourse at half time.
Another incident saw the Championship fixture halted in the second half by match referee Matt Donohue with fourth official Alex Chilowicz being hit by an object thrown from South Stand.
The News, Portsmouth, reports that the item had been collected and handed to a member of staff at Fratton Park before the game got back underway, with a message announced through the tannoy, warning fans while also urging those near the incident to report what happened.
Pompey face possible repercussions after game v WBA temporarily stopped https://t.co/7UxIMUeXSO@pn_mark_mcmahon .
My 10 year old grandson was hit on his head by a 50p coin as we walked up the steps onto the concourse at half time.
I have to say the stewards I reported it to…— Dawn Astle MBE (@DawnAstle9) January 31, 2026
Dawn Astle MBE tweeted: “It comes to something when a little kid gets hit on the head with a coin 🤬🤬
“Whoever you are, you really are scum 🤬🤬 I’ve got a frightened 10 yr old in tears here 🤬🤬 @Pompey @WBA @EFL.
“My 10 year old grandson was hit on his head by a 50p coin as we walked up the steps onto the concourse at half time.
“I have to say the stewards I reported it to were very efficient and very kind towards him as was the clubs Safeguarding Officer who came to us.
“It really hurt him and he was frightened.
“Fortunately his head wasn’t cut open but we later had to go to the first aiders as he had a lump appear. They gave him an ice pack to keep the swelling down.
“They too were lovely with him.
“We are home now after a 4 hour drive.
“George loves his club, he’s a season ticket holder along with myself and his dad and now he’s a little bit older we’ve been bringing him to away matches with us.
“To see your grandson in tears and scared at a bloody football match was and still is horrendous. I’m beyond angry.
“I sincerely hope @Pompey do all that can to find who did this.
“There’s no place in football for this and certainly no place at football for them. @HantsPolice @WBA @Pompey”
Isaac Price held back from confronting away end after West Brom’s 3-0 defeat to Portsmouth
Portsmouth fan invades pitch and taunts Southampton fans; players clash, ballboy hurt
This comes after Portsmouth also saw trouble erupt at last week’s south-coast derby against Southampton, following a number of incidents inside the ground were committed.
Pompey issued a statement:
Portsmouth Football Club would like to thank supporters who attended Sunday’s south coast derby at Fratton Park and created such a passionate and vibrant atmosphere to spur on their team.
The vast majority of those present enjoyed the intense and fervent local rivalry and the fans were outstanding.
However, there were unfortunately a number in attendance who committed criminal offences and now face consequences both for themselves and, potentially, for the football club as well.
Disappointingly, these offences included supporters encroaching onto the pitch, with one individual having already been charged and bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court in March. Two further arrests have also been made.
There were also several incidents of missiles and pyrotechnic devices irresponsibly being thrown from the stands onto the pitch – a criminal act and one which endangers safety.
Most distressingly, one of these devices loudly exploded, leaving one of our young ball retrievers requiring medical treatment, as well as a member of staff suffering from burns.
“Portsmouth FC remain proud and grateful for the amazing support we receive both home and away. We remain totally committed to delivering a safe environment at Fratton Park for everyone.”
The club are continuing to review CCTV footage from each of these various incidents and we appeal to anyone with any information to email us in confidence at info@pompeyfc.co.uk
Hampshire Police are also investigating the incident involving the pyrotechnic device exploding and they can be contacted with any information on 101, quoting the crime reference number 44260041733.
A Regulatory Commission of The Football Association previously fined Portsmouth FC for breach of FA Rule E21. This rule mandates clubs ‘to ensure that its supporters and anyone associated with the team behaves in an orderly matter, prohibiting violent, threatening, abusive, indecent or provocative conduct, including pitch encroachment and throwing missiles’.
The FA also warned the club as to its future conduct, meaning any further breaches leave the club at risk of further penalties – which may not be limited to just financial sanctions.
We will not tolerate any future such behaviour and any spectator(s) identified as having encroached onto the pitch or having thrown missiles, either on Sunday or at any future match, will be subject to a significant club sanction, as well as a potential criminal investigation and a football banning order.
Portsmouth FC remain proud and grateful for the amazing support we receive both home and away. We remain totally committed to delivering a safe environment at Fratton Park for everyone. Players, match officials, staff and all supporters should feel entitled to this assurance, whatever the circumstances.
View this post on Instagram
As mentioned, fans urge Portsmouth to find culprit who left a 10 year old needing first aid after incident…
@Kingwolf84: Hope he is feeling better this morning. Shouldn’t happen & hope whoever did it is caught & ashamed of themselves…..
@suuiill: Our fans are genuinely dins don’t know how people have ‘soft spots’ for us
@RachelWalden_68: I’m so embarrassed Dawn, this is my club and no one should be throwing missiles at anyone. I hope G is ok this morning and it won’t scare him from going away again.
@Marc__Nunn: As a Pompey fan this disgusts me and doesn’t reflect the overwhelming majority of Pompey fans. Never been beef between our 2 clubs, especially after we let you win to relegate our inferior neighbours in the Prem years!
@CHRISCADMAN9: So sorry this as happened to young George. We love our kids to be interested and support the team. Then this happens. It could have damaged the poor lads eye. An horrible experience for the lad. I hope it doesn’t put him off. You must have been terrible upset Dawn. 💙🤍 George.
@DaveProkic: That’s awful Dawn! I hope it doesn’t put him off – but if he’s anything like you I don’t think it will!
@leefer3:
Needs to be sorted by Pompey
Could have blinded the lad
All the best to your lad.
@WILLYHAHN71: We have some right numpties, hope it doesn’t stop the lad from still travelling away, one bad apple doesn’t make the Orchard sour. Send best wishes and a speedy recovery.
@AoSauntonsands: 😢 I hope George is ok today it’s absolutely disgusting behaviour inexcusable 😡 x
@BracknellBaggie: Absolutely disgusting, hopefully the person is found and band for life, hope George is feeling better. He’s Albion royalty
@BAGGIEBAIL: I hope they find whoever did this and they never sets foot inside a stadium again. Scumbags
@JH7_2025: I will never understand the mentality of throwing an object at another set of fans. Over the years I think I have been fortunate to not get hit by a missile, but the worst I have seen was Nottingham Forest away where they proceeded to shower us with coins from the tier above. 😲
@ozymandiasJH: So sorry to hear this 😞💙 I hope the kid is ok now, but it’s shocking and I hope the perpetrator is caught and severely punished.
@stevesaint79: Animals. Injured their own ball boy last week trying to throw a pyro at the Saints fans. And grabbed Leo Scienza’s arm and spat at him with no repercussions from their stewards.
@DeclanPFC03: Little cunts. Hopefully they’re found on CCTV and banned. Becoming frequent this sort of thing. Shame as it doesn’t represent 99.5% of the fan base.
@paul_browarg: Sorry to hear that Dawn,hope your grandson is not deterred from attending games as a result &hope that he will put it behind him. Hope that the CCTV footage can identify the culprit & that he receives an appropriate ban, there is no need to throw anything onto the pitch.
@PompeyPatter: Can only apologise for whatever vile cretin threw that coin. Some really let down the fanbase. We hope the 10 year old you were with is ok. 💙 We hope you grandson is ok this morning. We hope the club catch whoever threw it 💙
You must be logged in to post a comment Login