Port Vale condemn pitch invader who confronted referee
Port Vale have condemned the actions of a fan who entered the playing field to confront the referee during Port Vale’s 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth.
The individual chased the referee, Craig Hicks, who ran to the tunnel, before being man-handled off the pitch by Vale manager Andy Crosby.
The referee had awarded a controversial penalty but his action should in no way prompted anyone to confront them. It was an inexcusable intervention and one which was rightly condemned by both Port Vale fans and the club itself.
Port Vale said in a tweet:
Port Vale Football Club condemn the actions of the individual who entered the field of play during today’s match against Portsmouth.
We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the matter and the individual is dealt with a zero tolerance approach.
We remind all… pic.twitter.com/iaaqnuxqOc
— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) January 27, 2024
The Football League added:
Joint EFL and @FA_PGMOL statement:
“We are appalled by the incident in today’s League One fixture between Port Vale and Portsmouth which saw referee Craig Hicks chased off the field of play and condemn the mindless actions of the individual involved.
"Match officials should…
— EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) January 27, 2024
Henry
28th January 2024 @ 4:58 am
Port Vale will be fined for this behavior , but some have said that he showed more passion in 30 seconds of madness than the 11 on the pitch did for 90 mins. However, had he reached the referee , who knows what he would have done, as he was extremely angry. It’s unacceptable , and a long ban should be imposed . As for the game itself, Vale were atrocious, and deserved to lose , if not in that manner . As it stands tonight , we are 5th from bottom. Are you fully aware of that , Mr. Flitcroft, Mr. Crosby , and Carol Shanahan? I don’t think you are. Do you want us to be a development club , where we bring in youngsters in August and send them back in January? The club has become sanitized and squeaky clean , with nice orderly straight lines , lots of cones , and no less than 5 staff on match day , with no suit to be seen on the manager , and all trying to see if we can put the ball in the back of the net. There is no passion , no fight , no one player to take the game by the scruff of the neck . Not even Ben Garrity . We are struggling , despite the lack of concern at the forum , and that is very troubling indeed.
Football itself has deteriorated in the last 20 years , on and off the pitch. At the rate Vale are going , particularly with a man as irresponsible as David Flicroft in charge, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the club in the National League in 2 to 3 years time, with a freshly painted stadium , working toilets , and the best pies the Vanarama has ever seen . On the pitch though ……………..