Police and club have been forced to act over the incidents that took place at Brighton v Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
Sussex Police have said that two men have been charged with offences which saw a flare set off and a steward being assaulted.
Villa setting off a blue flare weird as fuck https://t.co/ZQC1Ydc7Ae
— JoeGill (@Joe71gill) January 18, 2020
The report states: “John McAuliffe, 51, a carpenter, of The Ridgeway, New End, Redditch, Worcs, has been charged under the Football Offences Act with setting off a flare, and Thomas Carter, 28, a gas fitter, of Coleridge Close, Goring-By-Sea, was charged with assaulting a club steward by beating.
“The steward received medical attention for minor injuries.
“Both men are due to appear at Brighton Magistrates Court on 6 February.
“A man aged 23 and a boy aged 17 have also been identified in relation to separate incidents, one in which water from a bottle was thrown at other fans, and another one in which a flare was thrown on to the pitch during the game.
“Police are also investigating a reported assault on a man aged 56 from Bedford just outside the stadium as he was leaving after the match, in which he received cuts and bruises. No arrests have been made at this stage.
PC Darren Balkham, the force’s Football Liaison Officer, said: “We worked in close co-operation with the club and safety stewards to ensure these isolated incidents were safely and effectively dealt with and enquiries are continuing where necessary. They didn’t reflect the superb support from over 99% of fans from both clubs.”
The match was attended by 30,500 people.

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