Steve Bruce hails fans for handing over pitch invader
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has hailed the fans who apprehended the pitch invader and handed him over to the police in Sunday’s derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United.
The fixture ended in true Premier League drama when an unintentional goal from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Asamoah-Gyan-c6791 levelled the scores with just seconds left on the clock. The invader entered the pitch from behind the goal post and stood face to face with Newcastle goalkeeper
Steve Harper. It seems that he also pushed and tackled the 35-year-old Harper to the floor before returning to the stands.
After the final whistle of the match, fans of both the teams were seen throwing chairs and other commodities on each other and the Football Association is waiting to have a word with match referee Howard Webb. The World Cup and Champions League final referee
was quick to inform the authorities of the incident so that they can apprehend the invader before he vanished.
The Black Cats manager was therefore quick to play down the reaction of the fans.
“All I saw was Steve Harper on the floor. I didn't know what had happened at the time. I would like say a 'well done' to the Sunderland fans who gave the kid up - and he is a kid, that's what I can't understand either, the age of the lad,” stated the Sunderland
boss.
The manager added that the Sunderland faithful caught him and gave him away to the police and an interrogation is underway.
“The one thing we are up here, we love the football and the passion and all the rest of it, but you don't need to see any scenes like that. I hope they ban the kid for a long, long time because he deserves it,” said Bruce.
The manager called on the fans to keep the chants and celebrations to the stands and not get involved on the pitch.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was also shocked to see the situation but was happy to see Harper in one piece. The manager stated that due to the last-second goal from Gyan, a reaction of this sort was expected. He said that the young fan only pushed the
goalkeeper in the back and that there were no injuries.
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