Footage has emerged on social media, appearing to show Aston Villa fans clash with the police and stewards at Crystal Palace, and it’s fair to say it got really ugly.
It came at a controversial moment of the game when Henri Lansbury’s equaliser was ruled out by Kevin Friend, with Jack Grealish getting booked for allegedly diving causing Dean Smith’s men ended up losing.
Build up to the disallowed goal.
Somehow Friend seems to think that Grealish dived in the build up despite clearly trying to stay on his feet.
Lansbury finished it but referee pulled it back to book Grealish.
VAR not interested. Shambles. #AVFC pic.twitter.com/Dzq4Ey05Xd
— Matt Lynch (@mattlyynch) August 31, 2019
Birmingham Mail’s Villa reporter Ashley Preece described the scenes: “Outright controversy swirled around Selhurst Park this afternoon referee Kevin Friend ruled out a last-gasp Aston Villa equaliser at Crystal Palace.
“With just seconds remaining, captain Jack Grealish was baring down on goal, lost his footing but desperately attempted to stay on his feet before colliding with Palace midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate. The ball, though, eventually made its way to substitute Henri Lansbury who finished brilliantly into the far left-hand corner.
“However, Friend become foe and blew his whistle after deeming Grealish dived in order to win a free-kick or penalty and cancelled what should have been a legitimate goal.
“The scenes are were of confusion and fury and that spilled out onto the terraces with Villa supporters clearly angry at the last-minute goal being ruled out. Police officers were called in as stewards allegedly clashed with fans as officers wielded batons in an attempt to calm things down.
“But, in the end, that was that, Grealish was booked and was left bamboozled as Villa were beaten 1-0 by Roy Hodgson’s side.”
As mentioned, a huge fight broke out and many fans uploaded videos of what happened, take a look at them below…
@ImagineDzn said: “Absolute scum from the Villa fans punching stewards and police.”
Absolute scum from the Villa fans punching stewards and police. #avfc #CPFC pic.twitter.com/4pJofx5FPl
— . (@ImagineDzn) August 31, 2019
@aaronsmurphy wrote: @metpoliceuk wow! What a disgrace unlawful force on innocent fans! This should be investigated.”
@metpoliceuk wow! What a disgrace unlawful force on innocent fans! This should be investigated #AVFC #police #villa pic.twitter.com/4G7e2ACYcS
— Aaron Murphy (@aaronsmurphy) August 31, 2019
After watching the videos, fans replied their reaction with many taking to reveal who they thought started the trouble – see all that on the next page.
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