Video emerges of Stevenage and Reading fans throwing fists and kicking out at each other

A video emerges of Stevenage and Reading fans throwing fists and kicking out at each other outside the stadium on Tuesday night.

The clip was uploaded onto social media with the views quickly racking up to over 300,000 as well as getting hundreds of comments.

It took place outside the club offices involving a group of at least 10 fooligans with onlookers watching it play out.

Stevenage vs Reading 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👊 pic.twitter.com/N6yl7dbrh9

— Football Fights (@footbalIfights) February 6, 2024

The League One fixture itself saw Stevenage suffer a dent to their hopes of getting closer to the automatic promotion places with a 1-0 defeat against Reading at The Lamex Stadium.

Despite dominating the opening 15 minutes and creating opportunities, Stevenage failed to capitalise on their chances with Vadaine Oliver’s own-goal handing Reading only their second away win of the season.

Stevenage: Macgillivray, Butler, Piergianni ©, Sweeney, Forster-Caskey, Freeman, Roberts (MacDonald 71′), Vancooten, Reid, Thompson (Burns 71′), Oliver (Pressley 71′)
Subs: Ashby-Hammond, Thompson, Smith, Thompson
Goals:
Yellow:

Reading: Button, Mola, Knibbs, Savage (Craig 87′), Smith, Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Yiadom ©, Bindon, Mbengue, Wing
Subs: Pereira, Elliott, Mukairu, Monlouis, Dorsett, Abrefa
Goals: OG (45′)
Yellow: Savage (24′), Mola (39′), Knibbs (88′), Ehibhatiomhan (90′)

Attendance = 3,947 (Away 886)

Reading boss Ruben Selles said post-match, as per readingfc.co.uk: “It’s a difficult ground to come to and they have been excellent during the season, it’s very difficult and you need specific preparation to come here and then you need the attitude for 100 minutes. Our boys were together and they managed the game, we suffered when we needed to suffer and I think we could have even scored another goal in the transition and we need to continue working on that – but I’m very happy with the performance.

“We were happy going in ahead at half time and we’ve said before during the game you have different games. At the beginning we knew to setup and defend because they go more direct than other teams, but then the game will be open after 25/30 minutes and we made a modification with the wingers inside and we started to get the ball in the spaces we wanted. We got the goal from a long throw in and we got the chances in the second half with counter attacks and the transition of deep balls behind their back four. I think it was a great fight from my team.

“We know we can do it and we know now how to manage the game, and the boys know now how to recognise the situations and how to get out of it. Of course there are always some situations where we need our goalkeeper but they also need theirs and I’m very proud that we are growing and learning.

“[On the torrential conditions] I love it! It’s typical English football with a quick pitch and rain was really nice with the fans cheering us. I love the game and I love the way we play in these conditions. I think the game is so quick and if you have the speed the tempo and the energy you can compete with any team and get a result like we did today.

“[On the three changes] They all made an impact in the last game and we were clear today that we needed the 4-2-3-1 especially for the second balls in front of our back four and for the distribution with the two number 6. I think those three are doing a really good job throughout the entire season and lately they have been training really well and making an impact, and they deserve to be in the line-up. They did a good job and need to continue with it.

“The spirit of this team is unbelievable and has been growing throughout the season. They fight for each other, they play for each other, they show they are good footballers and can play in any condition and they do it together. I am very proud of all they have achieved as a collective.

“[On Saturday] We play at home in front of our fans and Charlton have been a good team during the season, they have good players. They will be dangerous and will have a new Manager that will get them going and it is going to be an intense game, but we will be ready for it.

“[On the fans] It’s the best feeling, especially today coming away from home and getting three points. They have come during an ugly night in the weather and supporting us they were really happy at the end and cheering the boys – the feeling is fantastic and thank you very much!”

Stevenage’s Steve Evans said, as per The Comet: “It’s a harsh result. We’ve totally dominated the game.

“We’ve made four big chances and our normally reliable strikers would normally score them but they didn’t.

“We’ve two clear penalties not given, one for handball in the first half and then the second after a reckless challenge on Ben Thompson, which we’ve just looked at it back and they’re clear.

“But we’ve done enough in terms of how we played and pressed. We played with purpose and we’ve done enough to win that comfortably.

“The elements turned against us in the second half but that’s not an excuse. We had enough dominance of the ball and had enough possession around their box.

“I would put my life on Jamie Reid but he misses two of the most simplest chances of the season.

“Vadaine Oliver would normally just pass it into the net but he skews it.

“But the boys have been absolutely outstanding for us and we know how tough it is to win games.

“It’s a hard one to take.”

Twitter users had their say as a video emerges of Stevenage and Reading fans throwing fists and kicking out at each other…

@siralexisared: What is the white slazenger trainers is going on here????

@justafan1m: All for nothing. Absolutely embarrassing.

@jphallett7: Embarrassing all around

@PeterDavidKirby: We don’t need these sort of scenes or supporters at football matches. They are a stain on the sport.

@Pickettlickett: Kicking a man whilst down.. come on

@DavidJav9954: 10 on 2, still needed sucker punches to pull it off. Go home to ya Mrs and tell her you were super hard fighting the away end 😂😂😂

@mrliamdurkin: Old men sneaking up on children from what I see. Pathetic

@1989Pault: I wonder if anyone in this video.. is sat watching it today thinking ‘fucking hell I need to learn how to fight that was embarrassing’ 🤷🏽‍♂️😩

@Owl400x: Dancing on ice auditions are still open if they want to apply ?

@jgrads74: What’s with the kicking?

@johnboy01876: God it’s a sad state of affairs might as well call it a day now on football firms ffs the glory days are over and this is what it’s reduced too 🤦‍♂️

@Tom22Watts: This has to be the most embarrassing one yet

@TommymSpencer: 2 stevenage v multiple reading.

@ShotCaller1984: The carnage with hooligans in European football!!! The Stevenage firm is ranked 799th in the European league table of hooliganism. They’ve moved up 3 places tonight!

@teddyatswfc: Someone fetch there dad back

@oftenpartizan: That one guy is nicking a football by the looks of it 😂😂😂

@tonyFTgentleman: Embarrassing. There’s an awful lot of sneaking up behind. Not many wanted it face to face

@Ricardo_Ding1: Not nice you’re grassing up fans. The Stevenage mobs were looking for it, actively came looking for trouble

@leezo180: 1 boy stands he’s ground against least 5 in the video and still wins fair play lad and the old lonely bloke trying a sly punch as well get in the arm chair father lol

@D3r8y_: Whoever the 2 were then fair play. The 10 were embarrassing and to the lad swinging his boot at the lads face, what a 🔔🔚