The FA will take no action against Patrick Vieira over an altercation with a supporter during a pitch invasion at the end of Crystal Palace’s defeat to Everton earlier this month, i understands.
The Toffees’ 3-2 victory secured their Premier League status and prompted thousands of fans to surge onto the playing surface. One was seen taunting Vieira, who then responded by lunging at the individual and kicking him before he fell to the ground. The pitch invasion itself is still being investigated.
Merseyside Police have also confirmed that neither Vieira nor the fan in question will face charges after both declined to make a formal complaint.
The FA has since threatened to introduce new legislation to clamp down on anti-social behaviour at matches, describing a string of incidents towards the end of the 2021-22 season as “completely unacceptable” and reminding match-goers that “it is illegal to enter the pitch area in any stadium and these actions are putting players, fans and people who run the game at great risk”.
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Vieira had said he had “nothing to say” about the incident in a press conference, but Palace fans made light of it during his speech after the final game of the season against Manchester United, which Palace won 1-0, with supporters at Selhurst Park singing “Patrick Vieira, he kicks who he wants”.
Yet there is increasing concern over the rising number of pitch invasions resulting in disorder in recent weeks.
On the final day of the Premier League season, two Manchester City fans attacked Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen in the wake of the club’s title win. That came in the same week that a Nottingham Forest season-ticket holder was jailed for assaulting Sheffield United forward Billy Sharp, while there were also incidents in play-off semi-finals between Northampton and Mansfield and Swindon and Port Vale.
Gareth Southgate addressed the issue ahead of England’s June fixtures, one of which will be played behind closed doors due to the unsavoury scenes that marred the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
“We’re in a difficult moment as a country,” Southgate said. “I recognise that for many people in society there are financial difficulties and maybe that’s playing a part. We’ve been in a pandemic with huge restrictions for a long time. I’m not wanting to be the pied piper with this but I know that I’m in a position of responsibility so I should speak as I feel and that’s what I think.
“I’m not a sociologist, I don’t know why it is. Alcohol or drugs are a part of that equation without a doubt but we seem to be accepting certain behaviours that aren’t acceptable.
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“I think football is looking at what has happened over the last few weeks and feeling that there needs to be a response to it.”
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