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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Leeds players 'attacked by fans' | Leeds players 'attacked by fans' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Leeds United players were punched by Carlisle United fans who invaded the pitch at the end of a cup tie, Leeds boss Simon Grayson has said. | |
| Supporters raced on to the pitch when Carlisle won on penalties to reach the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final. | |
| Grayson said three of his players were "caught by punches" and he accused police and stewards of "doing nothing". | Grayson said three of his players were "caught by punches" and he accused police and stewards of "doing nothing". |
| Cumbria Police called the comments disappointing and said match security was "restrained and professional". | |
| The Northern Area final at Brunton Park saw Leeds overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg to draw level on aggregate. | |
| But Carlisle won the penalty shoot-out 6-5 when Shane Lowry's spot kick was saved, leading to the pitch invasion. | But Carlisle won the penalty shoot-out 6-5 when Shane Lowry's spot kick was saved, leading to the pitch invasion. |
| Grayson told BBC Leeds: "When we were coming off three of my players have been caught by punches within the crowd. | Grayson told BBC Leeds: "When we were coming off three of my players have been caught by punches within the crowd. |
| "The police have done nothing about getting our players off quicker or protecting them. | "The police have done nothing about getting our players off quicker or protecting them. |
| "The stewards have done nothing about it and that's a serious issue for me. | "The stewards have done nothing about it and that's a serious issue for me. |
| "I can understand the exuberance of the fans coming on but there has to be something done to get my players off. | "I can understand the exuberance of the fans coming on but there has to be something done to get my players off. |
| "Three of them have been hit from behind and anything could've happened." | "Three of them have been hit from behind and anything could've happened." |
| He added: "I'll be taking this further with people involved at a higher level. I'm going to make my feelings well and truly known to the people that matter." | He added: "I'll be taking this further with people involved at a higher level. I'm going to make my feelings well and truly known to the people that matter." |
| Ch Insp Mark Pannone, who led the policing operation at the match, claimed the situation was dealt with "swiftly and robustly". | |
| He said: "The job of the police is to support the stewards, to prevent disorder and respond to incidents as they occur, which is exactly what we did. | |
| 'Text-book fashion' | |
| "As soon as the pitch invasion commenced we began working with the stewards to clear the pitch and protect the away fans." | |
| Ten people were arrested for minor disorder and drunkenness offences, and Mr Pannone said the force will seek banning orders where appropriate. | |
| Carlisle United's managing director John Nixon said the situation was dealt with "in text-book fashion" and that stewards and police officers worked together to bring the pitch invasion under control "as quickly as possible". | |
| In a statement on Leeds United's website, chief executive Shaun Harvey said he intends to make a formal complaint to the football authorities. | |
| Carlisle will face Southampton in the final at Wembley on 28 March. | Carlisle will face Southampton in the final at Wembley on 28 March. |