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Charge after Kidderminster Harriers player is punched | Charge after Kidderminster Harriers player is punched |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A man has been charged with assault after disorder at a football match in which one of the players was punched. | A man has been charged with assault after disorder at a football match in which one of the players was punched. |
Play was halted for 31 minutes in the game at Kidderminster Harriers against Stockport County on Saturday evening following a pitch invasion. | Play was halted for 31 minutes in the game at Kidderminster Harriers against Stockport County on Saturday evening following a pitch invasion. |
Police said the disorder, in which Harriers' defender Lee Vaughan was punched, involved a "small number of away fans" after the hosts' first goal. | Police said the disorder, in which Harriers' defender Lee Vaughan was punched, involved a "small number of away fans" after the hosts' first goal. |
Stockport lost the game 4-0 and were relegated to the Blue Square Bet North. | Stockport lost the game 4-0 and were relegated to the Blue Square Bet North. |
The charged man is due to appear before Kidderminster magistrates on 9 May. | The charged man is due to appear before Kidderminster magistrates on 9 May. |
'Mentality of minority' | 'Mentality of minority' |
West Mercia Police said players from both sides were confronted on the pitch by the Stockport supporters and Vaughan was punched. | West Mercia Police said players from both sides were confronted on the pitch by the Stockport supporters and Vaughan was punched. |
The referee then took all the players off the pitch while the game was suspended for more than half an hour. | |
BBC Sport's Ged Scott, who was at the Blue Square Bet Premier match at Aggborough, said: "County fans in the away section of the Railway Stand invaded the pitch and Vaughan was struck during a confrontation between players and fans." | BBC Sport's Ged Scott, who was at the Blue Square Bet Premier match at Aggborough, said: "County fans in the away section of the Railway Stand invaded the pitch and Vaughan was struck during a confrontation between players and fans." |
Police escorted the away fans from the ground after the match and patrols of officers remained across Kidderminster during the evening. | Police escorted the away fans from the ground after the match and patrols of officers remained across Kidderminster during the evening. |
The force said about 30 officers were involved in the policing operation, along with the police helicopter, dog handlers and British Transport Police. | The force said about 30 officers were involved in the policing operation, along with the police helicopter, dog handlers and British Transport Police. |
Harriers chairman Mark Serrell said afterwards in a statement on the club's website: "Intelligence from Stockport going into the game [was] that there was no substantial risk of trouble - these people are experts in their field and gather that information well. | Harriers chairman Mark Serrell said afterwards in a statement on the club's website: "Intelligence from Stockport going into the game [was] that there was no substantial risk of trouble - these people are experts in their field and gather that information well. |
"You put all of that to one side and, unfortunately, you cannot legislate for the mentality of a very, very small minority." | "You put all of that to one side and, unfortunately, you cannot legislate for the mentality of a very, very small minority." |