From insults to assault: A timeline of trouble

The attack on Jack Grealish was the latest in a number of unsavoury incidents in English and Scottish football in recent weeks.

Published Mar 10, 2019

Last updated Mar 10, 2019

Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish was punched by a pitch invader during his side’s derby clash at Birmingham on Sunday.

Grealish was struck on the head early in the match, but was thankfully okay to continue and went on to score the winner in Villa’s 1-0 win, while his attacker was arrested by West Midlands police.

The assault was the latest example of crowd trouble which has blighted English and Scottish football in recent weeks and, here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the unsavoury incidents.

Sectarian abuse at Rangers

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke was the target of abuse at Rangers (Jane Barlow/PA)

Hibernian’s shame part one

Referee Willie Collum removes a bottle from the pitch during Hibernian's clash with Celtic — Referee Willie Collum removes a bottle from the pitch during Hibernian’s clash with Celtic (Graham Stuart/PA)

Steel City derby trouble

Sheffield United’s Jack O’Connell was targeted with objects thrown from the crowd against Sheffield Wednesday (Tim Goode/PA)

Hibernian’s shame part two

Rangers James Tavernier is pulled away from a fan that ran on to the pitch at Hibernian (Jeff Holmes/PA)

Disgraceful attack at Birmingham

Grealish was punched in the side of the head by a spectator who ran on to the pitch inside the opening 10 minutes at Andrew’s. The intruder was quickly restrained by stewards as several other Villa players rushed in to confront him and he was led away by police, blowing kisses to the crowd as he left. He was later arrested is set to be banned from Birmingham’s ground for life.