Stoke City fans invade the pitch post-match to celebrate promotion to thePremier League in 2008.A police officer tackles a lone field invader at a 2011Baltimore Orioles game.
Apitch invasion, also known asfield storming,rushing the field,rushing the court, orstorming the court, occurs when a person or a crowd of people spectating a sporting event run onto the competition area, usually to celebrate or protest an incident, or sometimes as apublicity stunt. Consequences for participants can result in criminal charges, fines or prison time, and sanctions against the club involved, especially if they cause a disruption in play, although they may sometimes be more welcomed if a large portion of the spectators invades the pitch simultaneously outside of playing time.
A pitch invasion is common incollege andhigh school football when a team pulls off a major upset, defeats a major rival, ends a longlosing streak, or notches a history-making win. With the widespread advent of artificial turf, some schools have become more lenient about students storming the field. Goalposts are also taken down within moments of the end of the game as a cautionary measure to prevent fans from climbing atop them to cause damage to the standard holding them up, damage to television camera equipment on the posts, and spectator injury. In theNational Football League, rushing the field usually results in a lifetime revocation ofseason tickets, even if given or sold to another person, along with a lifetimetrespassing notice banning the rusher from the team and/or stadium property, or in cases of multiple rushes, other league stadiums.
Chicago College All-Star Game (23 July 1976): with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter, thePittsburgh Steelers led the College All-Stars 24–0 when a torrential rainstorm hit the field which made play impossible. After officials called for a delay, drunk and unruly fans invaded the field and tore down the goalposts. Officials, security, and police attempted to clear the field, but twelve minutes later,NFL CommissionerPete Rozelle and the sponsoringChicago Tribune announced that the game had been called, which was greeted with jeers, and numerous brawls broke out on the flooded field before order was finally restored.[1]
Muscatine High School (8 September 1978): ahigh school football example, where fans celebrated the end of a long losing streak, as the Muskies had lost 44 consecutive games from 1973 to 1977, including 40 straight league games in theMississippi Valley Conference. Optimism was high that the Muskies, now members of the newly formedMississippi Eight Conference, would end their five-year-long losing streak sometime during the 1978 season, but it was in the season opener on the road against Ottumwa that Muscatine won their first game since the 1973 season opener. A touchdown with just over a minute left and a two-point conversion put Muscatine ahead with a 15–12 lead. Ottumwa advanced the ball to the Muskie 33-yard line on the ensuing series, but was intercepted in the Muskie end zone with two seconds left. As soon as time expired, more than 1,000 Muskie fans rushed the field to celebrate its first win in 45 contests; an attempt to tear down the goalposts was not successful.[2]
Buffalo Bills vMiami Dolphins (7 September 1980, NFL): the Bills broke a 20-game losing streak against their division rival, the Dolphins, on this day, prompting the 79,000 fans in attendance atRich Stadium to storm the field and tear down the stadium's goalposts.[3]
California vStanford (20 November 1982,Pacific-10football): in the final seconds of the 1982Big Game against theUniversity of California, Berkeley (Cal),Stanford Band members and Stanford players ran out onto the field, thinking the game was over. Cal playerslateralled the kickoff back and forth, with Cal's Kevin Moen dodging through the band for a winning touchdown, which he ended by running over trombone player Gary Tyrrell in the end zone. "The Play" is celebrated by Cal fans and inspires the ire of many Stanford fans. To this day, it remains one of the most famous plays in American football history. (The game does not end until the last play ends, even if the game clock runs out of time while the last play is still in progress. A penalty was called as a result of "The Play", but it was only because the spectators and band members had crowded onto the field while the game was in progress.)
Philadelphia Stars vMichigan Panthers (17 July 1983,USFLfootball)USFL Championship Game: after dropping four out of five games to start their first season in the new league, Michigan acquired some NFL veterans to finish the year 12-6 and vaulted over the Oakland Invaders in the single-tier playoffs. In front of a crowd of 46,565 paid attendees atMile High Stadium inDenver, the Panthers' late drive for a touchdown moved victory out of reach for the Stars, beating them 24–22.[4] Despite the neutral ground afforded by a Super Bowl-style championship where the venue is selected in advance of the playoffs, several hundred Michigan fans stormed the field and congregated in the area of the south stands and south goalpost. Fans briefly mounted the goalpost, nearly breaking it down, and missiles, notably bottles, were hurled by fans atDenver Police, who responded withK-9 enforcement, mace and batons. In the melee, 12 fans were arrested by police, half from Michigan.[5]
Kentucky vLSU (9 November 2002,SECfootball): Kentucky looked as if they would pull off a home upset of the Tigers when they held a 30–27 lead with two seconds left and LSU with the ball at their own 26-yard line. AsquarterbackMarcus Randall heaved aHail Mary pass downfield, fans rushed onto the edges of the field ready to celebrate Kentucky's victory; however, the pass was deflected off two Wildcat defenders and into the hands of LSUwide receiverDevery Henderson, who was able to run into theend zone to cap a 33–30 win for LSU and leaving the fans on the field stunned at the turn of events. The play would come to be known as theBluegrass Miracle. Five years later, at the same stadium, Wildcats fans invaded the field after avenging the loss with a thrilling triple-overtime win, and the school was fined $50,000 for a third violation of the conference's policy prohibiting field storming (see below).
Texas Tech v Texas (2 November 2008): Texas Tech fans invaded theJones AT&T Stadium turf three times during the final moments of the game. The first happened afterMichael Crabtree caught a touchdown pass fromGraham Harrell with one second to go: overjoyed fans, thinking the game was over and theRed Raiders had upsetNo. 1-ranked Texas, spilt out onto the field, doing so again after the replay official announced that Crabtree had indeed stayed inbounds the moment before crossing the goal line. Tech was assessed two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for this, forcing them to kick off from the 7-and-a-half yard line. After the ball was recovered by Tech, the game ended and the fans stormed the field one final time without penalty.
Auburn v Alabama (30 November 2013):Auburn University faced off against their arch-rivals, theUniversity of Alabama in their annual rivalry game, popularly known as theIron Bowl. Alabama entered the season ranked No. 1 after winning two consecutive BCS National Championships. Auburn had begun the season unranked but had moved up to No. 4 in the rankings, marking the second time both teams were ranked in the Top 5 of the BCS rankings. The winner of the game would earn the right to play in theSEC Championship Game. With one second left on the clock and the score tied, Alabama elected to attempt a 57-yard field goal. The kick was short and Auburn defenderChris Davis fielded it from nine yards deep in his own end zone. He returned the kick all the way to the Alabama end zone, scoring the game-winning touchdown, in a play known as theKick Six. In spite of the SEC's penalties for rushing the field, thousands of Auburn fans (mainly students) flooded the field in delight at earning a spot in the SEC Championship game, as well as ending arch-rival Alabama'snational title hopes. Following the game, the Auburn grounds crew discovered that among the debris left on the field was a pile of cremains on the Auburn sideline, assumed to be placed there by a fan honoring a deceased relation's request to have his ashes scattered on the field. (Traditionally, sports teams rarely permit "burials" on their fields in order to protect the health of the turf: if so, it is almost always an important club figure whose remains are scattered, or are properly buried and interred below the turf during a maintenance period.)
Florida State vVirginia (26 September 2025): Virginia fans raided the Scott Stadium field after the Cavaliers upset the eighth-ranked Seminoles in double overtime, 46–38.[6]
Section 10.5 of theSoutheastern Conference By-Laws has a progressive fine policy adopted in 2004 for major sports: $5,000 for the first offense, $25,000 for the second offense, and $50,000 for third and subsequent offenses within a three-year period of the last field storming. In May 2015, the fines increased to $50,000; $100,000; and $250,000 for the first, second, and third plus subsequent offenses, respectively, with a period for past violations being increased from three years to five. In 2023, the fines were respectively further increased to $100,000; $250,000; and $500,000 and changed so the fine would be paid to the opposing institution for conference games (nonconference games continued to have the fine paid to the SEC's scholarship fund), with each team also being given a clean slate. Since 2025, SEC schools are fined $500,000 for every field- or court-storming offense.
For anupset situation, the fine (which in college sports is usually a donation to a conference's scholarship fund rather than a punitive payment, as is the course for the SEC) is generally taken as a "badge of honor" by the school and its fanbase that knows the cost of storming well in advance, and fans and the school'sbooster club proudly donate the funds to a school's athletic department needed to pay the fine, along with the secondary cost for the replacement of damaged or removed goalposts. TheKentucky Wildcats were hit with "the triple" for three football field stormings within eleven months, involvingupset wins against league powers and an in-state rival:
On 4 November 2006, the team was fined $5,000 for a field invasion after a football win againstGeorgia.
On 15 September 2007, the team was fined $25,000 for a storming after a football non-conference win againstarchrivalLouisville.
On 13 October 2007, the team was fined $50,000 for a field rush after a triple-overtime football win against top-rankedLSU.[7]
Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Missouri had been fined $25,000 for second offense violations, but most SEC schools were fined $5,000. Missouri's fine is notable in that their second violation occurred after only three years as a member of the SEC: both came when supporters floodedFaurot Field after the team clinched a trip to theSEC Championship Game, in2013 and2014.LSU was fined $100,000 for a second offense following its victory October 13, 2018, againstGeorgia. Its first offense was October 25, 2014, following a victory overOle Miss, drawing just a $5,000 fine. LSU fans twice tore down the goalposts in2000, following victories overTennessee andAlabama, but did not invade theTiger Stadium field again until 2014. The goalposts remained intact during the 2014 and 2018 incidents.Auburn became the first SEC institution to be fined the maximum of $250,000, following its football victory overAlabama on 25 November 2017. This came on top of violations following Auburn victories over Alabama in football in2013 and Kentucky in men's basketball in 2016.[8] Auburn was fined another $250,000 after fans stormed the field following itsIron Bowl victory on November 30, 2019.
Arkansas was fined $250,000 when its fans stormed the field after a victory overTexas on 11 September 2021. Two weeks later,Kentucky was hit with a $250,000 fine following a victory overFlorida, the Wildcats' first home win over the Gators since 1986. In 2022,LSU was hit with two $250,000 fines following successive home wins overOle Miss andAlabama. The goalposts remained standing following both incidents.Missouri became the first institution to be fined $100,000 for a first offense following a last-second upset win over No. 15Kansas State after the game ended on an SEC record 61-yard successful field goal.Ole Miss became the second two weeks later when it defeatedLSU. The Rebels were fined an additional $75,000 for fans throwing debris onto the field at various times during the game. On October 5, 2024, both Arkansas and Vanderbilt scored upset victories over then-No. 4 Tennessee and then-No. 1 Alabama, respectively, resulting in field invasions. This marked the first instance that two top 5 SEC teams lost to unranked conference opponents in the same day. The schools were fined $250,000 and $100,000, respectively.[9]
LSU was assessed a $250,000 fine when fans rushed the field after another victory against Ole Miss on October 12, 2024. Texas and LSU were each fined $250,000 by the SEC in 2024 for fans throwing debris onto the field during losses by their respective football teams, the Longhorns vs. Georgia (October 19) and the Tigers vs. Alabama (November 9). The SEC also mandated both universities identify offenders and ban them from all athletic events for the remainder of the 2024–25 school year. Ole Miss was fined $350,000 after its November 9, 2024 win vs. Georgia for another field invasion—$250,000 for a second offense and an extra $100,000 for fans entering the playing field before the end of the game.
Oklahoma was assessed its first fine of $100,000 as an SEC member when fans stormed theGaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium gridiron after the Sooners' win over Alabama on November 23, 2024. Like Ole Miss two weeks prior, Oklahoma was fined an additional $100,000 because its fans came on the field before the game ended. Missouri was fined $250,000 when fans rushed the court atMizzou Arena after themen's basketball team defeatedarchrivalKansas on December 8, 2024. (Creighton fans rushed the court atCHI Health Center Omaha four days earlier when the Bluejays defeated the Jayhawks, but theBig East Conference does not fine schools for court invasions.) Vanderbilt became the first SEC institution to be fined $500,000 for a third pitch invasion following itsmen's basketball win over Kentucky on January 25, 2025. This came one week following the Commodores' men's basketball upset victory over in-state rival Tennessee that drew a $250,000 second pitch invasion fine.Mississippi State was also fined $500,000 for a field storming after its upset win overArizona State on September 6, 2025.[10]
Beginning with the 2025–26 academic year, theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) issued a new event security policy that discourages fans from storming the field or court until the visiting team and game officials have safely exited the playing area. Member schools are fined $50,000 for the first offense, $100,000 for the second offense, and $200,000 for the third and subsequent offenses over a two-year period from the field storming, with the fines being directed to the conference's postgraduate scholarship fund. On August 30, 2025,Florida State upset Alabama atDoak Campbell Stadium, 31–17. The school was fined $50,000 for the subsequent field invasion by Seminoles fans. This is the first ACC fine for a field storming.[11]
Other conferences have similar bylaws; in some conferences, the rule is reset to zero after five years without a field storming, and the fine is doubled in the event that a player or official is injured as a result of the invasion; however, some conferences have begun cracking down on stormings in all sports.
There has long been a tradition in American football – primarily in college football – under which fans celebrating a major victory will tear down the goalposts on the field after the game.[12] No one knows for certain when or how the tradition started.[13] TheBoston Public Library has in its collection a photograph of fans tearing down a goal post in 1940.[14] Tearing down the goalposts can be dangerous, as people can be injured or killed by a falling goal post. Persons who sit or hang on the goalposts while they are being pulled down can be injured if they fall off or if they land hard on the ground when the goalposts collapse. Camera equipment from a game broadcaster attached to the goalposts results in another injury possibility. These dangers can create legal implications for the schools, the localities, and the venues where the games occur.[15]
InMassachusetts, there is a state statute that specifically prohibits the unauthorized tearing down of goalposts on a football field. Chapter 266, Section 104A of theMassachusetts General Laws provides: "Whoever willfully and without right destroys, injures or removes a goal post on a football field shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars."[16] TheMassachusetts state legislature enacted the statute in 1960 in response to a tragedy that occurred the previous year.[17] On 26 November 1959 (Thanksgiving Day that year), a 14-year-old girl inFoxborough, Jane Puffer, was hit on the head by a falling goal post. She had been part of a crowd that was on the field after the conclusion of a high school football game while a group of fans was tearing down a goal post. The steel goal post suddenly toppled to the ground, and Puffer was hit as she was apparently trying to push another girl out of its way. She died of her injuries the next day.[18][19][20] The state legislature enacted the statute the following year, and the law has remained unchanged ever since.[21]
In spite of the law, on 22 December 1985, fans of theNew England Patriots tore down a goal post inSullivan Stadium (also in Foxborough) to celebrate the team's victory there in the regular season finale against theCincinnati Bengals, which clinched a playoff berth (and eventualSuper Bowl appearance) for the Patriots. Some fans carried the goal post outside of the stadium, where they caused it to come into contact with an overhead high-voltage power line. A man nearby, Jon Pallazola, was seriously injured. There was evidence that he was injured when he tried to protect himself from being hit by the falling goal post immediately after it became electrified. Pallazola subsequently sued a private security company that had been under contract to provide security at the stadium. He received a large jury verdict against the company, and then settled his claim against the company for $4.5 million. He also sued the Town of Foxborough but, in 1994, theMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that his claim against the town was barred by a state statute that gave municipalities immunity from claims that they failed to provide police protection or prevent crimes.[22]
On 19 November 1983, an 18-year-oldHarvard University student was critically injured when she was hit on the back of her head by a goal post that Harvard fans tore down to celebrate their team's victory over archrivalYale University at theYale Bowl inNew Haven, Connecticut.[23][24] The student, Margaret Cimino, subsequently filed a lawsuit in federal court against Yale, the City of New Haven, the City of West Haven, and a security company. She settled her claims against the City of West Haven and the security company. In 1986, a federal judge ruled that Cimino had sufficient evidence to take her claims against Yale and the City of New Haven to trial.[25] The parties then reached a settlement before the trial occurred.[26]
On 21 November 1998, a first-year student atOregon State University was seriously injured when she was hit on the head by a falling goal post that fans tore down after the football team's 44-41 double overtime victory over theUniversity of Oregon.[27] She suffered a fractured skull and bleeding in her brain, but she eventually recovered from her injuries.[28] In November 2000, fans of theUniversity of Texas at El Paso tore down a goal post after a victory. One fan claimed that he was injured when fans pulled the goalposts down while he was hanging on them. He sued the university and the University System of Texas. A Texas intermediate appellate court ruled in 2005 that the lawsuit was barred by governmental immunity.[29]
On 20 October 2001, a 21-year-oldBall State University student was renderedparaplegic when a goal post that fellow fans tore down to celebrate a victory landed on his back.[30] The university had encouraged the fans to tear down the goal post, flashing a message on the scoreboard which said, "The goal post looks lonely." The student, Andrew Bourne, settled his subsequent claim against the university for $300,000, the maximum amount that he could recover from the school underIndiana state law. He also filed aproduct liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the goal post, contending that the goal post was "defective and unreasonably dangerous". In 2006, a federal appeals court ruled that the manufacturer was not liable because the danger posed by the goal post was "obvious".[31]
In order to prevent injuries, there are collapsible goalposts that stadium staff can take down within seconds after the conclusion of a game to prevent fans from tearing them down.[32][33] There are also goalposts that are constructed in such a manner that they cannot be taken down by fans.[34] On October 4, 2014, Ole Miss fans stormed the field and tore down the goalposts after knocking off No. 1 Alabama 23–17. On 2 November 2015, students at theUniversity of Kansas illegally broke intoMemorial Stadium and tore down the goalpost at the south end of the field following theKansas City Royals'World Series clinching victory vs. theNew York Mets atCiti Field.[35] The goalposts at the stadium were also torn down after victories by theJayhawks, vs.Nebraska in 2005 and 2007,West Virginia in 2013,Iowa State in 2014,Texas in 2016,Oklahoma State in 2022,Oklahoma in 2023, and in 1994 by fans of archrivalKansas State.
On October 15, 2022, Tennessee fans stormed the field and tore down the goalposts after knocking off No. 3 Alabama 52–49 on a game-winning field goal and ending a 15-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide. One was later tossed into theTennessee River.[36][37] OnOctober 5, 2024, Vanderbilt fans rushed the field and tore down one of the goalposts after defeating No. 1 Alabama 40–35. It was the Commodores' first win over a top five opponent in program history as well as their first ever win over a No. 1 ranked opponent in program history, having previously gone 0–60. The fans later tossed the goalpost into theCumberland River.
Pitch invasions are not uncommon but not as frequent nowadays in top-level football, but historically it was common for the supporters of the winning team in a major match, such as a Cup Final, to flood onto the pitch after the final whistle. For example, inKenneth Wolstenholme's famous "Some people are on the pitch,they think it's all over—it is now!" comment on the BBC's television coverage of the1966 World Cup Final. "They" were fans who had encroached onto the pitch before the end ofextra time. Counterintuitively, despite the fact that the 1970s and 1980s were a time where fans were barricaded in the stands by the use of fences, pitch invasions were not uncommon; when the barricading form of crowd control was abandoned after the 1989Hillsborough disaster, pitch invasions became rarer.
Several reasons may account for the decline in pitch invasions. After the Hillsborough disaster,terraces were required to be converted intoall-seater stands, from which it is somewhat more difficult for spectators to physically rush down in order to reach thepitch—especially in large numbers, and from higher rows of seats. Moreover, pitch invasions were criminalised in 1991 in the UK under the Football Offences Act.[38] There is also the concurrent and substantial increase in the cost of tickets, especially for seating in the lower rows, leading to these seats increasingly being occupied by wealthier fans who are much less inclined to risk legal, professional or other consequences which could arise from invading the pitch. Pitch invasions still do occur, especially in the lower divisions, where terraces are still permitted, tickets are much less expensive, and there is less policing and security.
Celtic vRangers (17 April 1909)Scottish Cup final replay. At the end of the drawn replay, the crowd invaded the pitch to protest at the lack of a result and at the prospect of having to pay to watch a third game. The SFA withheld the Cup.
Everton vSheffield Wednesday (14 May 1966)FA Cup final. Sheffield Wednesday had scored two goals while Everton had a goal disqualified as offside before Everton scored two goals in the second half to equalise. Shortly after the equalising goal Everton fan Eddie Canavagh invaded the pitch, eluding one police officer before being tackled and escorted off the pitch by a second officer. Everton went on to win the game 3–2.
Celtic vInter Milan (25 May 1967)European Cup final. As the final whistle blew, fans of Celtic flooded the pitch in jubilation as Celtic became the first British team to lift the European Cup.
Manchester United vManchester City (27 April 1974)Football League First Division. There were pitch invasions a few minutes afterDenis Law scored the only goal for the visiting team, in a match that would have given United hope of staying in the old First Division had they won as it was the second to last game of the season. Although United's fate was not sealed with that goal, the pitch invasion confirmed it as the match was abandoned 8 minutes before playing time had expired, along with negative results elsewhere.
England vScotland (4 June 1977)Home International. Scotland won 2–1 with goals fromGordon McQueen andKenny Dalglish in the match played at theold Wembley. At the final whistle, Scotland supporters invaded the pitch and destroyed one of the goals. The scenes were broadcast live on UK TV, and this is identified as one of the key moments whenfootball hooliganism caught the interest of politicians.
Celtic vRangers (10 May 1980)Scottish Cup final. Celtic beat Rangers 1–0 during extra time and rioting ensued on the pitch at full-time. Mounted police had to break up the battling fans; this also led to the banning of alcohol from Scottish football grounds.
Derby County vFulham (14 May 1983)Football League Second Division. This match was controversially never concluded after Derby fans invaded the pitch. Fulham required a win to be promoted back into the top flight of English football but despite their protests the match was never replayed and the result, a 1–0 defeat, stood.
Everton vWimbledon (7 May 1994). In an attempt to secure 40 consecutive years of top-flight football, Everton, who had been at the foot of the table for much of a dreadful season, needed to beat the in-form Wimbledon, who had not lost for 10 games in a row. The club's chairman had offered a trip to Las Vegas if they should make it 11. Despite one stand being closed due to construction the atmosphere was known as one of the greatest ever within Goodison Park. Although they went 2–0 down in the first 20 minutes, Everton managed a remarkable comeback to win the game 3–2 and secure survival. A mass pitch invasion ensued and many images of the emotional day were screened on the BBC'sGrandstand.
Carlisle United vPlymouth Argyle (8 May 1999). Having been bottom of the table for much of the season, Carlisle United needed a win to stand any chance of possible survival and retain their Football League status. With the score at 1–1 against Plymouth in injury time, on-loan goalkeeperJimmy Glass came forward from his own half into the opposition box for the subsequent Carlisle corner kick. The ball met Glass on a rebound shot and he kicked into the net to score, winning the match and condemningScarborough to relegation in the process. A mass pitch invasion took place before the match ended.
Schalke vUnterhaching (19 May 2001). Before the last round of matches of theBundesliga 2000–01 season, Bayern Munich led Schalke 04 by three points, but with an inferior goal difference. Schalke managed to defeat Unterhaching 5–3 in their final match at theParkstadion. Shortly before this match ended, Bayern gave up a 90th-minute goal against Hamburg. Most Schalke supporters believed their team had won their first championship since 1958. The pitch had thus been stormed in celebration although the match in Hamburg was not concluded yet. In Hamburg, an indirect free kick was awarded for Bayern and Patrik Andersson eventually scored the decisive equaliser. In Schalke, the atmosphere immediately turned from joy and celebration to shock, disbelief and mourning.
Aston Villa vManchester United (6 January 2002)FA Cup. Manchester United were 2–0 down with 15 minutes left of play; however, Manchester United scored three times in 5 minutes and their third goal caused many Manchester United fans to invade the pitch in celebration.
Watford vLuton Town (10 September 2002). 10 minutes before theFootball League Cup game kicked off, Luton fans invaded the pitch, provoking the Watford fans to do the same. A mass brawl on the pitch ensued between the two sets and the game was delayed for 25 minutes beforeriot police regained order.[39]
Queens Park Rangers vCrewe Alexandra (26 April 2003)Football League Division 2. QPR needed to win this game to pip Crewe of automatic promotion from Division 2. During the game there was an infamous coin throwing incident, and a QPR fan went onto the pitch to remonstrate with thereferee. The game finished 0–0, meaning Crewe were promoted, and hundreds of QPR fans invaded the pitch.[40]
West Bromwich Albion vPortsmouth (15 May 2005)FA Premier League. West Brom defeated Portsmouth 2–0; combined with other results, this completed one of the most amazingescapes from relegation in English football history. West Brom became the first team since the advent of the modernPremiership in 1992–93 to escape relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas. Once all results came in and West Brom were secure, thousands of Baggies fans atThe Hawthorns ecstatically ran onto the pitch. Many Portsmouth fans joined the celebrations, as one of the teams relegated instead of West Brom were their arch-rivalsSouthampton.
Wigan Athletic vPortsmouth (29 April 2006)FA Premier League. Portsmouth defeatedWigan 2–1 to ensure Portsmouth's survival in theFA Premier League. Nicknamed "the Great Escape" by Portsmouth fans, this win marked the conclusion to an astonishing series of matches under their managerHarry Redknapp who had rejoined the club earlier in the year, after being sacked by fierce rivalsSouthampton, when Portsmouth were in a deep relegation crisis. It heralded the arrival of Portsmouth's new owner,Sacha Gaydamak, who bankrolled the signings made byHarry Redknapp during the January transfer window. Portsmouth fans invaded the pitch at theDW Stadium in jubilation and relief at staying up. This marked the beginning of the saga leading to Portsmouth's relegation and bankruptcy.
West Ham United vMillwall (25 August 2009)Football League Cup. After West Ham equalised, fans invaded the pitch but did not cause a major disturbance. After West Ham scored twice more, hundreds of their fans invaded the pitch and riot police were hastily deployed. It took over six minutes for the police to clear the pitch. Sports MinisterGerry Sutcliffe was quoted as saying that the violence between West Ham and Millwall was "a disgrace to football" and the invasions were widely condemned by the FA and the players.[41]
Sarajevo vŠiroki Brijeg (21 April 2010)Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fans of Sarajevo invaded the pitch after the game ended with 1–1 to show their dissatisfaction over the result but also to protest because no one was still arrested for the killing of Vedran Puljić, a Sarajevo fan, on their away match inŠiroki Brijeg earlier in the session (4 October 2011).[42]
Željezničar vLaktaši (23 May 2010)Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fans of Željezničar invaded the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate the return of the title to valley of cups after 8 years. During the whole match tifo were organized, like flares, big flags, transparents and card stunts. To celebrate the return of the title, but also to thank the Maniacs (ultras group of Željezničars fans) for their support, Željezničar organized a firework at the end.[43]
Manchester City vQueens Park Rangers (13 May 2012)Premier League. Manchester City fans invaded the pitch at theCity of Manchester Stadium after winning the Premier League title in dramatic circumstances, coming back from 2–1 down againstQPR in stoppage time. Many QPR fans joined the celebrations, as one of the teams relegated at QPR's expense was their relegation rivalBolton Wanderers. This was the first time the club had won a top-flight championship since 1968 and their first ever Premier League title.
Fortuna Düsseldorf vHertha (15 May 2012)Bundesliga relegation play-off. During extra time, Fortuna fans invaded the pitch at theEsprit Arena, causing a twenty-minute interruption. Police and security staff had to clear the pitch before the remaining 90 seconds could be played.[44]
Everton vAEK Athens (9 August 2012) Pre-Season Friendly. Everton iconTony Hibbert, who had not scored a goal for Everton in 11 years at the club, had his testimonial atGoodison Park. Everton fans had come up with the slogan "If Hibbert scores, we riot", stating that if Hibbert ever scored a goal at Goodison Park, then they would riot on the pitch. In the second half of a pre-season friendly in 2012, Hibbert scored a free kick and many supporters ran on the pitch singing "Oh Tony Hibbert, he scores when he wants." After the match, Hibbert described his goal and the celebrations as "a fairytale".
Melbourne Heart vMelbourne Victory (22 December 2012)A-League. Melbourne Victory fans invaded the pitch atAAMI Park after winning the Melbourne derby fixture 2–1 in dramatic circumstances against their bitter city arch-rivals Melbourne Heart thanks toArchie Thompson's match winning goal three minutes into stoppage time.
Wigan Cosmos v AFC Leigh Centurions (17 March 2013) South Lancashire Counties League. About 300Newcastle United fans invaded the pitch and caused the amateur game in Wigan to be abandoned before their own Premier League fixture againstWigan Athletic at theDW Stadium. During the 40 minute rampage, another South Lancashire Counties League game was disrupted and hundreds of pounds worth of damage was caused by Newcastle fans.[45]
Elfsborg vMalmö (28 October 2013)Allsvenskan. In the 29th round, Malmö secured the league title with a five-point lead after getting a 2–0 win inBorås. With 20 seconds left of the game, refereeJonas Eriksson awarded a free kick to Malmö – fans of the future champions who were celebrating behind the sidelines thought that Eriksson had blown the whistle for full-time, and stormed the pitch followed by police rushing in to protect the players. TV cameras showed Malmö playerGuillermo Molins telling the fans to get off the pitch, and the players and fans then waited for the police to leave the pitch. Two minutes after the first pitch invasion, Jonas Eriksson restarted the game and blew for full-time only seconds later, again with fans invading the pitch in celebration and police keeping the fans on Malmö's half.
Brazil national football team vSouth Africa national football team (5 March 2014) . A young South African boy entered the field after Brazil's 5–0 victory over Bafana Bafana and as security staff began to escort the boy from the field Brazilian starNeymar intervened and introduced the boy to his teammates before they lifted him into the air during their celebrations.This earned Neymar praise for his conduct.
Reading vBurnley (3 May 2014)Football League Championship. A section of Reading fans invaded the pitch at the Madejski Stadium after drawing 2–2 with Burnley as they had believed they had clinched the last play-off position. Due to errors in communication, many had erroneously believed Brighton had failed to beat Nottingham Forest when in fact they had scored a late winner to secure 6th place ahead of Reading.
Bristol Rovers vMansfield Town (3 May 2014)Football League Two. Bristol Rovers needed a draw with Mansfield to avoid relegation to theConference on the final day of the season, but after losing to a solitary strike byColin Daniel, which, coupled with wins forWycombe Wanderers andNorthampton Town, ended the home side's 94-year-long tenure in the Football League, several Rovers fans flooded onto the pitch at the final whistle, chanting "Sack the board" and throwing abuse at the players and the away fans. Mounted police cleared the scene shortly afterwards, and 28 Rovers fans were charged for their involvement in the violence surrounding Bristol Rovers' relegation to the Non-League.[47]
Manchester City vWest Ham United (11 May 2014) Premier League. Manchester City fans invaded the pitch at the City of Manchester Stadium after winning the Premier League title in dramatic circumstances, having been in a close race throughout the campaign only needing one point to win as they were significantly ahead of contenders Liverpool (who won their match that day 2–1 against Newcastle) in goal difference if the two teams had tied in points. This was the second time the club had won a Premier League title in three campaigns.
Aston Villa vWest Bromwich Albion (7 March 2015)FA Cup. Near the end of this FA Cup quarter-final between two fierce Midlands rivals, many Villa fans decided to invade the pitch before the final whistle had been blown. The referee halted the game before resuming. Upon the final whistle, both sets of fans ran on to the pitch. Aston Villa playerFabian Delph claimed he was bitten by a fan and other players were in danger of being attacked. Aston Villa fans were heavily criticised by the media for their actions with links being drawn to the frequent hooliganism of English football in the 1970s; 17 men were arrested on public offences. Aston Villa were later charged by the FA for their failure to sufficiently control the chaos.[48]The first pitch invasion at the newWembley Stadium byMillwall supporters, May 2017.[49]
Sarajevo vSloboda Tuzla (30 May 2015)Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fans of Sarajevo invaded the pitch after their team won the league after 8 years. The match ended with 3–1 in favour of FK Sarajevo. The game did not even end while the athletic field around the pitch was already crowded with fans. The final whistle marked the entrance of the fans onto the pitch.
Rangers vHibernian (21 May 2016)Scottish Cup final. Fans of Hibernian invaded the pitch after their team won their first Scottish Cup since 1902.
Doncaster Rovers vBlackburn Rovers (24 April 2018). Hundreds of Blackburn fans invaded the pitch following the conclusion of their 1–0 win at theKeepmoat Stadium, a result which secured their immediate return to theEFL Championship following a one-year stint in the third tier of English football,EFL League One.
2018 FIFA World Cup Final (15 July 2018). Four people invaded the pitch during the second half of the FIFA World Cup final in Russia, forcing a brief stoppage in play. Russian feminist rock band and protest groupPussy Riot claimed responsibility for the interruption.[50]
Leyton Orient vBraintree Town (27 April 2019)National League . Leyton Orient fans invaded the pitch after their 0–0 draw with Braintree Town saw them get promoted to League Two After 2 Seasons in the National League.
2019 UEFA Champions League Final (1 June 2019) A female streaker invaded the pitch at the 18th minute of the UCL final inMadrid. She was the girlfriend ofVitaly Zdorovetskiy, who had invaded the pitch in the World Cup final five years earlier.
Finland vLiechtenstein (15 November 2019)UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. Finland supporters invaded the pitch after a 3–0 win over Liechtenstein secured their qualification toEuro 2020, which was the first time that they have qualified for the finals of a major tournament.
Shrewsbury Town vLiverpool (26 January 2020)FA Cup. Shrewsbury fans invaded the pitch after seeing their team come back from a 2–0 deficit to draw with Liverpool, who were 16 points clear at the top of thePremier League and 59 places above them (Liverpool went on to win the Premier League title that season) and force a replay atAnfield.
Manchester United vLiverpool (2 May 2021), fans stormed the pitch 2 hours before kick off to protest theGlazer Family, (club owners) this ultimately led to the match being postponed, some fans even protested outside the team's hotel.
Everton vCrystal Palace (19 May 2022), fans invaded the pitch followingDominic Calvert-Lewin's 85th-minute header to complete a miraculous turnaround following being 2-nil down inside 36 minutes. The ensuing pitch invasion took several minutes to complete, with a larger pitch invasion occurring following the full-time result to secureEverton'sPremier League safety. Controversially,Crystal Palace managerPatrick Vieira kicked a fan after taunting him.Merseyside Police took no further action.
Manchester City vAston Villa (22 May 2022). Manchester City fans invaded the pitch after winning the Premier League coming back from 2–0 against Aston Villa. Tensions erupt as Aston Villa goalkeeperRobin Olsen was assaulted by City fans during the pitch invasion. Manchester City would later issue an apology to the Swedish international and that, once identified, the individual would receive an indefinite stadium ban."[51]
Sassuolo vA.C. Milan (22 May 2022). A.C. Milan fans invaded the pitch after winning the Scudetto for the first time since 2010/2011 season by beating Sassuolo 3–0.
Saint-Étienne vAuxerre (29 May 2022) Saint-Étienne fans invaded the pitch after losing a penalty shootout that sent them down to Ligue 2.[52]
Arema vPersebaya Surabaya (1 October 2022). Approximately 3000 Arema supporters invaded the pitch following their loss. The police began using tear gas in an attempt to disperse the rioters on the pitch, but the police also shot tear gas towards the stands. This led to acrowd crush that killed 131 people.
Wrexham vBoreham Wood (22 April 2023). Wrexham fans invaded the pitch after their club's 3–1 win over Boreham Wood, which saw the Welsh club secure automatic promotion back into theEFL League Two, thus playing in the EFL for the first time since2008. Highlighted in the S2 finale ofWelcome to Wrexham.
Espanyol vBarcelona (14 May 2023). Espanyol fans invaded the pitch after their club's 2–4 loss over city rivals Barcelona, which saw the Spanish club later being relegated back into theSegunda División, thus playing in Segunda División for the first time since2021.[53]
Fenerbahçe vTrabzonspor (17 March 2024). Trabzonspor fans invaded the pitch, attacked Fenerbahçe players after Fenerbahçe players celebrated their 3–2 win.[54]
Bayer Leverkusen vWerder Bremen (14 April 2024). Leverkusen fans invaded the pitch after their club's 5–0 win over Werder Bremen, which saw the German club secure theBundesliga championship for the first time ever.[55]
Grimsby Town vManchester United (27 August 2025). Grimsby fans invaded the pitch after their club'sshootout win over Manchester United, one of the most supported clubs in the world, in theEFL Cup, winning 12–11 on penalties following a 2–2 draw.
Spectators on the playing field (i.e., rather than "pitch invasions") have long been a tradition ofAustralian rules football. At the end of an Australian rules match, it is traditional for supporters to run onto the field to celebrate the game and play games ofkick-to-kick with their families. Supporters were once also able to do this during the half-time break. Since 2003, this was subject to stricter controls, and then finally banned altogether in games at Melbourne venues, in the eliteAustralian Football League; however, it is still common in suburban and state football leagues like theVictorian Football League as well as Australian Football League matches in New South Wales and Queensland.
It is common for football fans to engage inmid-match field invasions when a player reaches a landmark achievement, typically a 100th goal in a season, a 1000th career goal, or in the case ofTony Lockett's 1300th career goal in 1999, breaking the all-time goal-kicking record. The AFL has not yet succeeded in preventing these mid-match invasions, but players are duly protected bybodyguards, teammates and stadium security while supporters flood onto the field.[57] Pitch invasions also occur when significant final occasions occur. For example, pitch invasions occurred after theFitzroy Football Club's final VFL/AFL game in Victoria,[58] as well as after the final AFL match was played atWaverley Park.[59]
The outlawed practice of "streaking" (running naked onto the ground) occurred in some big matches, most famously the performance of Helen d'Amico in the1982 VFL Grand Final.[60][61][62]
Although violent spectator playing field invasions both during and after matches were not uncommon in the early years of the VFL, and "spectator behaviour" wasone of the main reasons that the VFA team Port Melbourne was not invited to become one of the VFL's foundation clubs in 1897, there have been a few occasions of hostile pitch invasions; the most famous of these occurred in the1967 Tasmanian State Premiership Final, when hundreds of Wynyard fans invaded the field and tore down the goalposts to prevent North Hobart full forward David Collins from kicking a goal after the final siren. The Tasmanian Football League declared the match ano result and withheld the 1967 State Premiership.
Another hostile pitch invasion occurred in an AFL night game betweenSt Kilda andEssendon in 1996, when the floodlights atWaverley Park lost power during the third quarter; fans rioted in the darkness and, coincidentally, also took down the goalposts. After an AFL meeting, the final quarter of the game was played three days later.
On 9 May 1914, in the third quarter of the match between theClayton Football Club, a Melbourne suburban team, and the Clyde Football Club, an enraged bull invaded the playing field. The players and spectators scattered, some vaulting fences into the next-door market garden, with the majority taking shelter in the dressing shed. The bull's first charge at the dressing sheds shook the building. Its second charge smashed the door, but the shed's doorway was too narrow for it to actually enter the room.[63] Those inside maintained a barrage of boots, coats, and everything possible to scare the bull away. Eventually it was removed by a local farmer, who took it to a secure paddock.[64][65][66][67] In a more humorous modern incident, a pig named "Plugger" was let loose on the ground in round 18, 1993.[68]
In modernbaseball, the field is typically rushed by one or a small number ofattention seeking fans or pranksters, rather than a large number of people although more-generalized riots have occurred. Almost universally, intruders will beejected from theballpark and potentially banned for life from it, and may also facecriminal charges depending on the nature of the offence.
In cases when a game is broadcast on television and a person or small group runs onto the field, the broadcaster will cut to another camera shot elsewhere in the stadium, to thecommentators in the press box, or to a commercial break instead of focusing on the intruders; this is to avoid giving attention to their behavior, and to discourage imitators who might try the same thing (and as, occasionally, the person is also astreaker, to avoid showing nudity). Radio play-by-play announcers will look at it in amusement and add color to the broadcast, as the rusher is not visible in that medium;Kevin Harlan, who is the main play-by-play announcer for theNFL on Westwood One, has been lauded for his colorful descriptions of various field rushers.
Outside game action, teams do allow spectators on the field (usually children) after games, allowing them to either walk around thewarning track and tour the field, or run the bases as part of promotional events, before the grounds crew restricts further intrusion to maintain the field for the next game.
New York Yankees atWashington Senators (30 September 1971;American League). With the Senators preparing to moveto the Dallas-Fort Worth area the following season, thousands of non-paying spectators enteredRFK Stadium for the Senators' final home game after security left mid-game. In the top of the ninth inning, with two out and the Senators leading 7–5, several hundred fans ran onto the field, tearing up the turf and stealing bases for souvenirs. Without security, order could not be restored, and the game wasforfeited to the Yankees.
Los Angeles Dodgers atAtlanta Braves (8 April 1974;National League). On this evening,Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking the record previously set byBabe Ruth, and two 17-year-old students ran on the field and rounded the bases with him, to Aaron's astonishment and surprise. Though both were quickly caught, there was no malicious intent in the rush as the men merely wanted to congratulate him, and their charges were dropped the next morning.[69]
Texas Rangers atCleveland Indians (4 June 1974; American League). In an effort to increase attendance, the Indians arranged a "Ten Cent Beer Night" promotion, drawing over 25,000 fans—three times their normal home crowd. The game itself was plagued by sporadic pitch invasions and objects thrown into the field by inebriated fans. In the ninth inning, a scuffle between an intruder and Texas outfielderJeff Burroughs ended with a riot involving thousands of fans and both teams, and the Indians were forfeited by umpire crew chiefNestor Chylak, who had a chair broken over his head during the melee.
Chicago Cubs atLos Angeles Dodgers (25 April 1976; National League). Two protesters, William Thomas and his 11-year-old son, ran into the outfield atDodger Stadium and tried toset fire to anAmerican flag they had brought with them. Chicago outfielderRick Monday noticed they had placed the flag on the ground and were fumbling with matches and lighter fluid; he then dashed over and grabbed the flag from the ground to thunderous cheers. He handed the flag to Los Angeles pitcherDoug Rau, after which the ballpark police officers arrested the two intruders. When he came up to bat in the next half-inning, he got a standing ovation from the Los Angeles crowd and the big message board behind the left-field bleachers in the stadium flashed the message, "RICK MONDAY... YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY..." He later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me. I've been to too many veterans' hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it."[70] On 25 August 2008, Monday (who would be coincidentally traded to the Dodgers the next season and has been a longtime team broadcaster) was presented with an American flag flown over Valley Forge National Historical Park in honor of his 1976 rescue.[71]
Kansas City Royals atNew York Yankees (14 October 1976;American League Championship Series).Chris Chambliss hit awalk-off home run in game five of the series to send the Yankees to their firstWorld Series in twelve years, and fans rushed onto the field while Chambliss circled the bases. The scene was so frenetic that Chambliss himself was not even sure he touched home plate in the chaos, and after being asked about this by third basemanGraig Nettles, had to be escorted back onto the field by police after fans had left to step on home plate in view of home plateumpireArt Frantz.
Los Angeles Dodgers atNew York Yankees (18 October 1977;World Series). With the Yankees leading by a large margin in the top of the ninth inning of the decisive sixth game, despite repeated warnings from public address announcerBob Sheppard, fans boldly sat on top of the outfield wall intending to rush the field the moment the final out was made. After some fans went so far as to throw firecrackers onto the outfield, Yankees right fielderReggie Jackson, who had all but secured the SeriesMVP award by hitting three home runs in the game, was so fearful for his own safety that he had a batting helmet brought out from the dugout prior to the final out. Immediately after the Yankees won the championship, a visibly panicked Jackson was filmed running from the outfield to the dugout at full speed, knocking over at least two spectators along the way.
Detroit Tigers atChicago White Sox (12 July 1979; American League). In a promotion famously known asDisco Demolition Night fans were invited to bringdisco records with them toComiskey Park. The records would then be destroyed in between games of adoubleheader. Fans were so caught up in the anti-disco mania that fans stormed the field and a near-riot broke out. The second game had to be cancelled and was eventuallyforfeited by the White Sox.
Kansas City Royals atChicago White Sox (19 September 2002; American League) Two fans, a father and son, ran onto the field and attacked Royals first base coachTom Gamboa.[72][73] The Royals were able to separate the attackers from Gamboa. Gamboa suffered permanenthearing loss in his right ear. The father received 30 months probation for the incident, while his 15-year-old son received five years probation.[74][75]
College basketball has a similar phenomenon, known as "storming the court". This happens for the same reasons any field is rushed. In high school and some colleges, walking on the court is the only way to exit from the stands; however, there are usually officials and security personnel and laid-out securitystanchions that limit how far spectators can walk onto the court, at least while players and game officials are still leaving the court. After the 2004Malice at the Palace incident in theNBA, spectators were placed under a league-wide universalcode of conduct that assesses severe penalties for intruding on the court (inclusive of other interference such as object tossing and player obstruction), including arrest, with some college conferences and high school sanctioning bodies also developing their own similar codes of conduct as spectatorabuse of officials has become more pronounced and visible.[77]
Michael Field the caped invader at the Kohl center in Madison Wisconsin.
On February 12, 2011, Michael Field, originally of Marshfield, WI, stormed the court of theKohl Center at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison with 18 seconds remaining in the game. Michael was clad in a redWisconsin cape and upon rushing the floor, bear-hugged Point Guard Jordan Taylor. He was detained and lead-off in handcuffs, but he was quickly released after the entire student section rushed the floor 18 seconds later after theBadgers defeated No. 1Ohio State.[78] No one was injured and no charges were filed. The nickname "Caped Invader" lives on in Wisconsin Basketball lore to this day.
TheIndiana University men's basketball team defeated theNo. 1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats 73–72 on 10 December 2011, after a three-point shot byChristian Watford with no time left on the clock. Fans at Indiana'sAssembly Hall filled the court within seconds to create a series of iconic images. ESPN commentatorDick Vitale, who was covering the game for the network, said it was the "best game of the year"[79] and that "[t]he atmosphere there was unreal, as I felt the building shaking after Watford hit the shot."[80] Watford's shot won anESPY Award forBest Play. Kentucky avenged their loss on their way to a National Championship later that season by defeating Indiana 102-90 during the Sweet Sixteen round of the2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.
Hundreds of students fromIowa State University stormed the court after the No. 4-ranked Cyclones' 83-82come-from-behind victory over in-state rivalIowa 11 December 2015, atHilton Coliseum inAmes, Iowa. In the aftermath,Des Moines Register sports columnist Randy Peterson suffered a leg fracture.[81][82] The incident raised awareness of the dangers of court storming, but when asked about it in a post-game interview, Iowa State coachSteve Prohm stated, "That's part of college athletics. That's a great moment. Those college kids ... they've been camping out here (for tickets) for three days. There's only probably 10 schools that do that in the country. Give them their 15 or 20 minutes to do that. I thought it was pretty cool."[83]
Court storming in collegiate athletics came under further scrutiny following a pair of high-profile incidents that occurred during the 2023-24 basketball season. The first involvedUniversity of Iowa women's basketball starCaitlin Clark colliding with a fan who rushed the court after Ohio State's win over the Hawkeyes inColumbus, Ohio. Several weeks later,Kyle Filipowski of theDuke Blue Devils had to be carried off the court after appearing to suffer an injury from coming into contact with a fan atWake Forest University. In the wake of the Filipowski incident, several coaches including Duke'sJon Scheyer called for the practice to be abolished entirely.[84] Meanwhile,ESPN analystJay Bilas indicated that fans who engage in such conduct should face criminal penalties. “There's no accountability for this," he argued. "The fans feel like it's an entitlement. And the universities like it. And the truth is, we like it.”[85]
The2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in thePhilippines had a court storming incident. Prior to the start of theNew Zealand vsUnited States game at theMall of Asia Arena inPasay on 26 August 2023, a ticket-paying fan wearing a full New Zealand jersey stormed the court. He was stopped after the New Zealand bench informed the organizers that the fan was not part of their team.[86]
Although not as well publicized as college incidents, fans storming the court after a big win is not uncommon at the high school level. The injuries suffered by several people following the Iowa State University men's basketball team's win over the University of Iowa in December 2015 prompted theIowa Girls High School Athletic Union to issue a memorandum to athletic directors and coaches to remind fans that the organization and its sister organization, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, have policies prohibiting court storming after post-season games. "I have to wonder if the person injured was the star player, the coach, or one of the game officials if the attitude and need for 'storming the court' might change?" wrote IGHSAU executive director Mike Dick.[87]
It used to be a common occurrence at the end ofcricketTest matches for the crowd to invade the pitch to watch the presentation from the pavilion balcony. In the UK, this tradition ended in 2001 after a steward was injured in a pitch invasion at aone-day match between England and Pakistan.[88] Invading the pitch can now warrant a £1,000 fine and a lifetime ban from the ground. Post-match presentations are now held on the field or in a room within the venue restricted from public access and displayed on a videoscoreboard if available.
In August 1975, vandals protesting the imprisonment of alleged armed robberGeorge Davis invaded the pitch of theHeadingley Cricket Ground before the final day of theThird Ashes Test between England and Australia, digging holes in the field and covering one end of the pitch in oil. This led to the first-ever declaration of a Test ground being unfit for play, resulting in the match being abandoned and declared a draw.[89][90] This was significant as it denied England a chance to tie the series and potentially retain the Ashes; Australia eventually took back the Ashes. In 1982, a pitch invasion at theWACA led to Australian bowlerTerry Alderman suffering a shoulder injury when attempting to apprehend one of the intruders.[91]
Two One Day International matches at theBourda ground inGeorgetown, Guyana have had their results disrupted by pitch invasions. In 1993, the crowd invaded on the last ball of a match as the West Indies ran a second run to tie the score against Pakistan; then, in 1999, the crowd invaded on the last ball of a match as Australia ran a third run to tie the score against the West Indies. In both cases, the fielding team had been a chance of effecting a run-out to prevent the tying run, had the crowd not invaded; but in both cases, match refereeRaman Subba Row declared the match to betied.[92]
InNew South Wales Rugby League matches up until the 1980s, spectators often took to the field on the completion of the match within seconds after the final siren. This required the players to navigate through a crowd of people when coming off the field, and the cardboard corner posts were usually taken as "souvenirs".[citation needed] This practice was discouraged when the publicly viewable game clock stopped with five minutes to play in order to ensure that spectators, not knowing when the game was about to finish, could not jump the gun and enter the playing arena with the game unfinished. Eventually the tradition died out, and spectators rarely, if ever, take the field in the present dayNational Rugby League; fines of $7000 and lifetime bans exist for those who do so.[citation needed]
Pitch invasions have sometimes occurred inHull Derby fixtures betweenHull Kingston Rovers (Hull KR) andHull FC in northern England. Following the conclusion of a derby match at Hull KR'sCraven Park on 9 July 2007, in which Hull FC with a 30–20 scoreline, a small number Hull FC fans ran onto the pitch from the South Terrace to congratulate their players. Some Hull KR fans then ran onto the pitch in retaliation, resulting in four arrests forpublic order offences, FCcentreKirk Yeaman being headbutted and FC captainLee Radford being spat at.[95] Hull KR were later fined £7,500 (£5,000 of this suspended) and made to pay legal costs by theRFL governing body for not controlling spectators at their stadium.[96] Another pitch invasion occurred at Craven Park in 2015 after Hull FC beat Hull KR 22–12, securing FC aSuper League play-off spot.[citation needed]
Pitch invasions have occurred throughout the history ofrugby union, with some particular moments being the most infamous. In the past, additional security support has been constructed at stadiums due to foreseen trouble. An early example of this was at the1924 Summer Olympics, when a wire fence was constructed to protect United States players.[citation needed]
During the1971 South Africa rugby union tour of Australia, hundreds were arrested after they tried to disrupt test matches between the Springboks andAustralia in response to South African apartheid policies. Some people even attempted to saw down goalposts and dig trenches in the surface at theSydney Cricket Ground to try to stop a test match going ahead, and in Queensland, astate of emergency was issued following fears prompted from the behaviour of people at the previous tests. Due to the success of the protests in disrupting the event, theAustralian Cricket Board canceled the South African team's imminent tour due to security reasons.
Perhaps the most infamous of pitch invasions at rugby matches occurred at the1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand. At Rugby Park in Hamilton (now the site ofWaikato Stadium), 350 people pulled down a fence to invade the pitch, and police were forced to cancel the match after arresting a number of people after they got word that an escaped prisoner was piloting a light plane to fly around the stadium. The last test atEden Park in Auckland was disrupted after protesters threw flour bombs and other objects onto the pitch to disrupt the game.
During a 2002 rugby Tri-Nations match in Durban between South Africa and New Zealand, a drunk South African fan, Pieter van Zyl, scaled a perimeter fence, ran onto the pitch and tackled referee David McHugh, leaving McHugh with a dislocated shoulder and having to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher. Springbok lock,AJ Venter punched van Zyl and All Blacks flankerRichie McCaw wrestled him to the ground whereupon police and security arrested him. van Zyl was convicted of trespassing and assault, and was sentenced to three months in jail, fined $275, and banned for life from attending rugby matches in South Africa.
Another incident involving the South African team took place at the2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia when an intoxicated Samoan fan, with his face painted in the red and blue of the Samoan flag, ran onto the pitch and attempted to tackle SpringbokLouis Koen as he was kicking a goal in the late stages of a pool match againstSamoa. Koen kicked the goal, but also managed to inadvertently knock the fan unconscious with a kick to the head, as the fan had tried to tackle Koen around the legs.
During a2011Top 14 match betweenBasque rivalsBiarritz andBayonne, players from both teams were involved in a brief off-the-ball brawl, among them Biarritz'Basque star andFrance internationalImanol Harinordoquy. His father Lucien ran onto the pitch to attempt to defend his son, but was quickly wrestled to the ground by Bayonne players and taken from the pitch. The elder Harinordoquy issued an apology after the match, with his son choosing not to comment on the affair.[97]
Most arena sports (likeice hockey,arena football, andindoor soccer) take precautions to separate the spectators from the players and to ensure one cannot cross into the other. This is not only for the protection of the players but also the spectators as it also helps prevent pucks, balls, and other objects from flying at speed into spectators, along with the players themselves, and causing injury. Often, in addition to sidewalls,Plexiglas panels are used as a safety measure. Ice hockey uses the panels around the ice, team benches, andpenalty boxes to enforce separation under the rules, and after thedeath of a young spectator inColumbus, Ohio in 2002, tall netting above the Plexiglas to protect spectators in each shooting end from flyinghockey pucks. Furthermore, the iced surface means stepping onto a hockey rink withoutskates is dangerous. A few attempts to intrude in arena games have usually ended with physical player intervention.
Several track invasions occurred inFormula One during the 1990s and 2000s, such as when spectators entered the track after Nigel Mansell won at the1992 British Grand Prix, his home race.[98] The British Grand Prix would also see a track invasion in 2003 fromNeil Horan, who went on the track waving a religious banner, which stated "Read theBible. The Bible is always right".[99]
^Eslinger, Jason, "A Note from the Executive Director: Storming the Court: Don't Do It!"Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, 18 December 2015. Accessed 12-29-2015.[3]
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