Police release statement after match abandoned due to crowd trouble with fan ‘seriously injured’

Police have took to release a statement after a North Wales football match was abandoned due to crowd trouble with a fan ‘seriously injured’.

Flint Town United’s Cymru Premier fixture at home to Caernarfon Town, a crucial match in the relegation fight, saw the hosts leading 2-0 at the time of the incident.

Both teams were asked to leave the pitch, and about half an hour later both confirmed that the game had been abandoned with players taken off.

 

Flint v Caernarfon 😳 pic.twitter.com/Vy4jiSxdV3

— Dewi (@DewiHughes_) April 8, 2023

Flint Town Vs Caernarfon has been abandoned – Anybody know why? Looks like a fight has unfolded amongst the fans? pic.twitter.com/xAE1HEjyrj

— My Football Cards (@myfootballarc) April 8, 2023

Flint Town wrote: “Following distressing scenes at yesterday’s game, when fighting broke out between rival sets of what purported to be “supporters” of both clubs, the result of which left two individuals requiring paramedic treatment, the match was eventually abandoned.

“It had all started so brightly for Flint, in what was a “must win” game for the Silkmen in their relegation battle. They surged into a two goal lead inside the opening nine minutes.

“First, with just a couple of minutes on the clock, Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro neatly put away a half-volley inside the post as the ball was knocked through into his path.

“Then on nine minutes, from a corner, Anthony Stephens met the ball sweetly to power his header into the net, and put Flint firmly in control.

“Shortly afterwards, the game was abruptly halted as fighting broke out, and was later abandoned completely.

“Having been involved with Flint on and off in one capacity or another for 40 odd years, I must say I was deeply saddened by what I witnessed yesterday, as two sets of mindless yobs (I won’t call them supporters) set about to tarnish the reputations of both clubs, as they clearly turned up in the expectation of causing trouble.

“It’s such a shame for the genuine supporters to witness scenes like that, and is a bitter blow for all the volunteers who work tirelessly on behalf of the club to try and promote the right image.

“My thoughts go out to the individual who was hospitalised after the incident and I hope he makes a full recovery.

“The swift actions of a couple of real supporters in helping the man, aided by the paramedics and respective physios in the immediate aftermath of the incident deserves much praise.

“An announcement on the rescheduling of the game will be made in due course, although that of course is of secondary concern in the grand scheme of things.”

Caernarfon Town tweeted: “We wish to thank the paramedics, the St John’s ambulance workers and both club physios who rushed to assist our two injured supporters at tonight’s match at Flint. Our thoughts at this time are with both supporters and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.”

POLICE STATEMENT:

An investigation has been launched following an incident at a football game in Flintshire in which a supporter has been seriously injured.

Shortly after 5.30pm today (Saturday, April 8th), we responded to reports of disorder between fans at the JD Cymru Premier fixture between Flint Town United and Caernarfon Town at the Essity Stadium in Flint.

A man who was seriously injured within the stadium during the incident has been taken to hospital in Aintree.

As a result of the disorder, the match was abandoned, and a large police presence remains in the area.

Officers from North Wales Police and the British Transport Police are also present at Flint Train Station to prevent any further disorder.

A 24-hour dispersal order is now in place in Flint town until 6.30pm tomorrow (Sunday, April 9th).

The order gives officers and PCSOs the power to disperse any groups gathering in the area to leave and not to return under Section 34 of the ASB Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Failure to comply with this dispersal order will result in arrest.

This is what Twitter users said as police release statement after the match abandoned due to crowd trouble with one fan ‘seriously injured’…

@iestyndavies07: Looks Kids Vs Kids ffs, heard a flint man attacked a kid, strange bunch up there 😂

@Kcrewe_alex: Should never happen pour security and terrible behaviour . You should be safe going to watch your local footy club on a Saturday.

@Pooler_Bluebird: Best wishes to both supporters for a speedy recovery.

@MT270622: Looks like a bunch of kids who think they’re hard. Couple bottle of WKD between them and ready to fight the world. Kick both clubs out of the league.

@The94thMin: Best wishes to both supporters for a speedy recovery!

@charlhennessy1: This has happened in my town tonight. Look at that little ball boy 😭 I hope whoever did this is found, prosecuted and banned from games for life. shameful behaviour! If your teens were at the match tonight then I’d be asking who they were with and what they witnessed!!

@muff5: Not good. Looks like a few people getting smashed when on the deck

@lewisprime_96: Apparently one of the guys is hit in the head by a kid with a hammer. If he doesn’t die today he’ll probably be permanently disabled. Wtf is going on with welsh grass roots football

@CCFC1969: Very sad, the trouble makers should have been kicked out and then the game carried on

@WelshUnderdog: Best wishes to those who were injured, I wish them a speedy recovery! Thoughts with all the Cofi’s 💛💚

@Crossways23: Best wishes to both from a Bangor fan. Wishing then a full recovery, hopefully the police will deal with their attacker.

@migueImichu: The usual scumbags teens, all with the same hairstyle, trying to be hard.

@BooshPemberton: Never good , understand passion but no need for fighting

@markowen84: Not trying to score points here. Blame on both sides but your stewards let the 20 or 30 so Flint fans escape through the emergency exits. Those yellow gates. Assisting of an offender i think is the right term.

@CQNFans: This is disappointing but unsurprising, hopefully everything is resolved

@RichLido: Whichever club is responsible for this, they should be kicked out of the league for failing to control their supporters. There’s no place in Welsh football for this. Absolutely disgraceful

@john_mcal: Some proper nasty scenes in the stands at Flint Caernarfon. Really really not what you want seeing medics having to go over to a fan in a bad way after punch ups in the stands

@efanmt: I don’t know the details and don’t wish to know but I’m absolutely shocked. Just hope those that are injured will be ok and that those guilty of causing the trouble to start with are dealt with appropriately.