Some serious allegations here.
Preston beat Chesterfield 4-0 on aggregate to make it to the League 1 playoff final, but their fans’ behavious could land them in a lot of trouble.
Following a pitch invasion as the Preston players and fans celebrated a first trip to Wembley for 21 years, Chesterfield’s captain Ian Evatt claims he was physically assaulted on the pitch.
The BBC report that Evatt, who spent six years as a player with Preston’s rivals Blackpool, has labelled the abuse he suffered a “disgrace”, and has since made a statement to Lancashire Police, claiming he was punched, kicked and spat on.
“How long will this go on until there’s a serious incident? It’s too easy for fans to invade pitches,” Evatt said.
“To be attacked on a football pitch and fear for your safety is an absolute disgrace.”
Throughout the game, Evatt’s past as a Blackpool player saw him subjected to a lot of chanting and sledging from the Preston fans, but things allegedly became physical once they invaded the pitch at full-time.
Evatt added: “Something needs to be done about it. The more it goes on, the more likely there will be a serious offence and a real serious injury to a player.”
