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Patrick Vieira faces FA and police probe over kicking fan | Prem managers give verdict

Patrick Vieira faces an FA and police probe over kicking a taunting fan, meanwhile Prem managers gives their verdict on it.

The Crystal Palace boss was involved in an altercation with a Toffees fan during a pitch invasion while almost all of the last two weeks’ EFL matches have also seen trouble play out.

With this in mind,top flight managers have been reacting to this week’s altercations with an investigation launched over the ordeal Patrick Vieira went through on Thursday.

Vieira was making his way across the pitch towards his team’s dressing room at the other side of the stadium when an Everton fan approached him, prompting a reaction from the Palace boss.

A statement from Merseyside Police said: “We are working with Everton FC to gather all available CCTV footage and are speaking to witnesses.

“No formal complaint has been received and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

When Vieira was asked about it in his post-match press conference, he said: “I’ve got nothing to say about that.”

Vieira said he was satisfied with how the pitch invasion was managed, adding: “The referee managed it really well.”

Asked about the incident at full time, Lampard said he felt sorry for Vieira having to go across the pitch to the Eagles’ dressing room and wanted to invite Vieira back to Everton’s dressing room to avoid the crowds.

“I feel for Patrick because I didn’t get him at the end because of how it all erupted for us,” said Lampard. “I would have said: ‘Come in with us’ (into the Everton dressing-room area rather than the Crystal Palace area on the other side of the pitch).

“They might not have wanted that but I’d have said: ‘Come in with us’. I know how managers feel and I get that. And of course, he’s running across the pitch of 80 yards of our fans coming on. It’s not easy. There’s nothing from me. Not any issues. It was pure elation of fans who want to stay in the Premier League that come on the pitch.”

Lampard had no problem with fans celebrating on the pitch, given the dramatic nature of the win, but only if it is conducted in the right way. “I can’t complain when I’m on the directors’ box in front of them,” Lampard added.

“It was a special moment for the football club. If done in the right way, let them stay on the pitch for a bit. As long as everyone is behaving and we don’t see scenes like the other night, everyone is behaving, happy and go home. That’s what football is all about.

“What are we going to do, handcuff them to the seats when we go 2-0 down and win 3-2 and stay in the league? As long as they behave, no problem.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he hopes football can learn from these moments – saying he wants fans to be able to celebrate without impacting the players and managers at pitch level.

Speaking about the Everton incident in his press conference, Klopp said on Friday: “In the 83rd minute, some fathers and sons were on, they lose their minds for their sons too, I didn’t get that. It could have been dangerous.

“I’m not sure how you avoid that, I don’t want to judge, I understand emotions but for the other team, it’s dangerous.

“I really hope we learn from that. It’s just like it is. We should make sure absolutely nothing happens. We can celebrate things without threatening ourselves and the opponent.”

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe called on football’s authorities to “act very quickly” following the recent events, though he has no problem with fans celebrating on the pitch providing they act responsibly.

“I don’t mind the celebrational aspect – embracing the success that a team has had is part of football, I’ve got no issue with that,” he said. “It’s the aggression towards the opposition, it’s swarms of people around one or two people.

“That doesn’t sit well with me at all, that’s something [on which] we have to act very quickly because we want to avert potential tragedy.

“I am concerned, I’m concerned for the safety of everyone connected with both teams because it’s not something we want to see on a regular basis.

“The safety of players, referees, managers, coaches is paramount, but we have to find a way to guarantee that safety. We’re there to do a job to the very best of our abilities, but we shouldn’t have to be dealing with scenes that we’re seeing at the end of games.

“The scenes at Nottingham Forest, I thought, were shocking to see and at Everton as well. I think we’re going into dangerous territory where something could happen in a game that has terrible consequences, and I don’t think anyone would want to see that. I think the authorities have to act quickly to make sure we make the grounds as safe as we can.”

Norwich manager Dean Smith believes security at football matches needs to improve to protect players on the pitch.

“It’s a major concern,” he said. “We saw it last night and with Billy Sharp – somebody’s got 24 weeks in jail. I’ve seen it first hand with Jack Grealish when I was with Aston Villa at Birmingham City away. I watched the Swindon players having to defend themselves. It’s just wrong.

“You don’t need to be the cleverest of people to know we’ve got to protect these players and get them off the pitch. I don’t think security-wise we’re doing enough about it.

“I wouldn’t like to see riot police. Conversations with fan groups need to be had to try and police it themselves. We have stewards at games. But I don’t blame them for not getting hurt for around £30 a game. That’s not what football is about. I’m a supporter as well as a football manager. Yes, enjoy the occasion but don’t take it a step too far.”

The UK’s football policing chief is on alert amid the recent rise in pitch invasions and has described attacks on players and managers as “totally unacceptable”.

Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Football Policing Lead, said: “It has been alarming to see a rise in the number of fans entering the pitch during matches over the past couple of weeks.

“This has at times resulted in assaults and altercations with players, managers and club staff – which is totally unacceptable. The pitch is the players’ place of work and like everyone else, they should be able to feel safe.

“I know emotions are running high when clubs are getting promoted or avoiding relegation, but having large numbers of fans rushing on to the pitch at the end of the game is a safety risk for everyone, and I would urge all fans to remain in their seats and celebrate in the correct way.

“It is the responsibility of clubs to ensure that fans can view matches in safety and we will continue to work with clubs to see what can be done to help prevent these incidents in future.”

Man City boss Pep Guardiola: “We have to be careful. What happened at Goodison Park, Port Vale and the Championship semi-final, there are a lot of emotions and happiness there – some alcohol too.

“It’s dangerous and we have to try to behave as good as possible and have the celebrations in the right moment in the right place. I understand Patrick [Vieira] it’s difficult. You never know how people will react.

“We are not going to talk about it [what happens if City win the title on Sunday], the fans will behave good either winning or losing.”

West Ham boss David Moyes said: “I didn’t see last night’s incident and I’ve seen bits of what’s gone on recently, and it’s really difficult for whoever it may be whenever people are abusing you or coming up to your face.

“It has to change. We can’t allow people to do that. The safety of players and management is really important and it looks like it’s becoming a bit of an issue.

“We’re in the game because we love football and we want to be passionate, but I think there’s a way to be a good supporter, and I don’t generally think players or managers should have people in their face or coming up alongside them. I think that if you want a good spectacle, we need to find a way of stopping this happening.”

Twitter users had their say as Patrick Vieira faces an FA and police probe over kicking an Everton fan…

@ryan_1704: Someone is going to get seriously hurt or worse one of these days.. and as usual we’ll wait for that to happen rather than prevent it before. 🙄🙄

@TMilagrosB: Patrick Vieira done the right thing. Man was walking off minding his own business and the fan is clearly asking for it not leaving him alone. Reminds me of that clown that wouldent leave Mike Tyson alone on the plane and got punched up for it. Famous people deserve respect too

@WestHamPlace: Credit to Patrick Vieira for giving it to that Everton fan last night. The new thing of running in the pitch and acting like fucking farm animals needs to be sorted quickly. Someone will be seriously hurt soon

@Ashby94CFC: Let’s be honest that Everton fan who was going on like a prick to Patrick Vieira got off lightly. Vieira could have so easily slumped him.

@RecruitmentCopy: Ridiculous…. unless they charge the “fan” with provocation and hurling abuse. Patrick Vieira under-reacted if anything. People in football should be role models, yes, but I challenge anyone to act any differently under those circumstances.

@DomeStrategic: Hopefully investigate how he was put in that position

@DeanBryce6: Time to put fences back up

@AdamS2047: Honestly don’t think Patrick Vieira done anything wrong, the guy was clearly being a dick

@Dannystevens: Patrick Vieira getting into any form of trouble for knocking over a fan would be a joke. It’s like a car knocking over a cyclist on the m25, it shouldn’t be there.

@LeePartridge16: The abuse & assault on both Patrick Vieira (yes I know he reacted) & Billy Sharp this week shows again why pitch invasions should once again be stopped, how has this all of a sudden become a thing again this year. #football

@DaiSalthaus: Good on Patrick Vieira. Good on Olie McBurnie. If you’re gonna run onto the pitch after you’ve been at the bag all afternoon and try it on with someone who’s stonecold sober and spent most of their life in a gym, and you end up with a shoeing for your efforts, then that’s on you!

@thetopbinsblog: Nothing on this earth could persuade me to pick a fight with Patrick Vieira. In the Premier League manager Royal Rumble he’s cleaning house

@LeeScott92: Out of all the people to start on involved with Palace you just don’t fuck with Patrick Vieira, that right is reserved for Roy Keane only. All jokes aside Patrick should have kicked the shit out of him. You get what you give.

@awillman279: Good on Patrick Vieira. Should’ve battered them all

@mikefatkin: I’m right behind Patrick Vieira, Olly McBurnie & co. Your ticket price doesn’t entitle you to rush up to them, abuse them, gesture at them, or shout at them, and then go all coy when they react. They’re human beings. What do we expect? Takes an iron will to ignore such cretins.

@ahickey100: Never liked Patrick Vieira but i agree with him 100% here. Scumbag fans thinking they can do and say what they want. Didn’t something similar happen with Ronaldo at Everton, a phone stuck in his face. Only natural to retaliate when unprovoked. Same old scousers.

@GaryBolton91: People old enough to watch Patrick Vieira play know this kid is very stupid

@RedpathDavid: Should be instant points deduction and / or game behind closed doors

@StephenFLarkin: Beautiful technique from Patrick Vieira here. He looks to engage in a clinch at first, but the fan wriggles out. Pat was quick to spot his opponent off balance and lands a wonderfully timed calf kick. 9.5/10.

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