One of these days, a 'fan' is going to injure a player

By Robbie Savage

Published 23:00 29/10/09

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It’s only a matter of time before a footballer gets injured by a ‘fan’.

It’s a sad and shocking conclusion I’ve come to based on personal experience.

I’ve been the target of stick from the terraces throughout my career and, in most cases, enjoyed it.

I don’t mind people having a go at me – although having a go at my family is crossing the line – but there’s a world of difference between someone shouting “where’s your caravan?” and some of the stuff I’ve faced outside of football grounds.

I’ve had my tyres slashed. I’ve had my property vandalised.

I’ve been in a club and seen someone throw a beer can at me – and I’m talking about a full beer can thrown with such force that it broke apart when it hit the wall behind me.

Probably the worst was when I took my son Charlie, then two, to the car show at the NEC.

I was holding my lad in my arms when an Aston Villa supporter ran up, hurled a load of abuse at me and spat in my face.

It took a lot of effort not to respond by laying him out. But that’s probably what he was after.

Maybe it is the celebrity culture surrounding football these days that means a tiny minority of supporters find it impossible to separate what happens on the pitch with what happens off it.

I talked about the problem in a Five Live special with Garth Crooks and Craig Bellamy earlier this week.

We know that footballers live incredibly lucky and privileged lives.

And we know that the passion surrounding English football is what makes the atmosphere in our grounds the best in the world.

But after another week where pitch invaders and fan violence have again made the headlines, we need to all take a breather.

Because the foul abuse about players’ wives and families isn’t just banter. Because spitting on someone with a two-year-old in their arms can never be justified.

And because if we carry on like this, someone is going to get hurt.

Watch two Barnsley fans invade the pitch against Manchester United in the Carling Cup (video)  

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