Manchester City has issued an apology statement after the Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was assaulted at the Etihad Stadium.
The incident occurred yesterday afternoon shortly after Manchester City made the impressive comeback on the final day of the season from being 2-0 down, to scoring three goals in the second half, and clinching the coveted title of 2021-22 Premier League champions.
Once the final whistle had been blown, excited fans then began to flood the pitch to celebrate the victory.
Video captured by television cameras and by members of public present at the stadium shows Robin Olsen being touched or slapped on the back of the head by one fan and pushed by another, before a third man apparently hits him in the face – although it is said to be unclear whether it was intentional.
Shortly after the incident occurred and the club was made aware of the situation, Manchester City issued a statement “sincerely apologising” to Olsen on its website, which reads in full: “Manchester City would like to sincerely apologise to Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who was assaulted after the final whistle at today’s match when fans entered the pitch.
“The Club has launched an immediate investigation and once identified, the individual responsible will be issued with an indefinite stadium ban.”
The FA has also issued a statement following the incident, and said it will also be investigating, adding that it was “very concerned about the rise in anti-social behaviour from fans as we reach the end of the season”.
The statement continued: “Clubs play a vital role in addressing this issue and they need to prevent pitch invasions from occurring, as well as taking their own action against those that break the rules and the law [and] the FA will be seeking to do all that it can to work with clubs as well as addressing the issues from a disciplinary perspective.”
Sky Sports pundits and former Manchester United players, Gary Neville and Roy Keane, called the perpetrators “idiots” and “scumbags”.
In the latest update on the continuing situation, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has this morning confirmed via a statement that “enquiries are ongoing” following the report assault of the opposition team’s player.
“Officers working in partnership with both football clubs,” the police force said.
GMP did however confirm in its statement this morning two other football fans have been charged following Manchester City’s Premier League game with Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium yesterday.
Phillip Maxwell, of Anzio Row in Knowsley, has been charged with throwing a missile (pyrotechnic) onto the pitch and will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on 23 May 2022, while Paul Colbridge, of Whitegate Drive, Salford, has been charged with going onto the pitch, and will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on 7 June 2022.
Both have been bailed ahead of the court appearances.
The Government agreed to delay the deadline for the scheme until 2026, but local leaders wanted to scrap all charges and help to fund vehicle upgrades instead.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) then set out evidence supporting an investment-led, and, crucially for residents and motorists, a non-charging Clean Air Plan back in June 2022 – which it said was ‘the best solution’ to address the roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) problem.
More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs to finally be taken down across Greater Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr
And then, back in January of this year, it was confirmed that Greater Manchester’s plan for the introduction of a non-charging clean air zone had been backed by the Government.
More than 1,300 Clean Air Zone signs were installed across Greater Manchester at the start of the controversial scheme being initially proposed, as well as a total of 407 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
But while it was initially thought that this technology may go to waste, it was revealed in March 2023 that they were actually being used for an entirely different reason all together – detecting crime.
While the cameras are intended to stay in place and in use, the more than 1,000 signs are to be taken down.
“We’ve always been focused on doing what’s right for Greater Manchester, and by accelerating investment in our public transport network, we’re showing that it’s possible to improve air quality faster than if a charging Clean Air Zone had been introduced,” commented Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, who is the Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester.
“As we deliver our Clean Air Plan alongside the Bee Network, with support from the Government, we’ll roll out the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system by the end of the decade and improve the air we all breathe for generations to come.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
News
A charity match is being held in memory of late footballer Joe Thompson
Danny Jones
A fundraising match is being held in memory of late footballer and charity champion, Joe Thompson, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
The former Manchester United academy product and Rochdale AFC legend famously faced a long battle with cancer, being sadly diagnosed with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin lymphoma for the first time back in 2013, being forced into a prolonged period off the pitch and, eventually, early retirement by 2019.
Bath-born Thompson, who also played for Bury at the end of his career, was tragically struck by the illness on three different occasions; after stage four lymphoma spread to his lungs, he sadly died this past April at the age of just 36.
Just the most heartbreaking story, but in honour of Joe’s life, the two clubs closest to his heart and which she shared the strongest connection to are now set to remember him in a special charity game next month.
Announcing the game via social media on 26 July, Rochdale AFC confirmed it will be hosting the fundraising friendly between the Greater Manchester National League outfit and Man United’s under-21s.
Writing on the club website, Rochdale said: “Both clubs will come together to remember Joe, who meant so much to both Dale and United, on Saturday, 2 August (3pm kick-off).
“A minute’s applause will take place before kick-off, whilst members of Joe’s family, who will be in attendance, are selecting some of his favourite music to be played in the build-up to the game.
“Shirts from the match will also be auctioned off post-match, with proceeds going to Joey T’s Foundation when integrated.”
Detailing how his boyhood club have recently introduced the official ‘Joe Thompson Award’, presented to players who have the traits of not just a United person but, more importantly, Joe: “resilience, honesty, integrity, humility, innovation and a relentless work ethic, with a focus on the community.”
He was a truly inspiring individual.
Even after hanging up his boots, he kept moving for a good cause.
With all this in mind, Rochdale will be a charity exhibition match against United’s U21s squad – a team of players who are around Joe’s age when he left The Cliff to join Rochdale.
The club went on to add that all future fixtures between the clubs from now on will include a special trophy, with the first being the National League Cup match, which is due to be staged at their Crown Oil Arena home ground on 21 October.
As for this touching and heartfelt fundraising fixture, once again, the game will take place on Saturday, 2 August, kicking off at 3pm.
You can find out more details about the ‘A Game For Joe’ charity match in aid of the Thompson family’s foundation and grab your tickets HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2022 
