Keinan Davis: Nottingham Forest-Leicester City controversy ‘borders on the obscene’ – Ex-Fifa official
The football authorities will be on red alert after a Leicester City fan punched Nottingham Forest’s Keinan Davis during their 4-1 FA Cup defeat yesterday (6 February).
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the incident that “bordered on the obscene”.
The Sun reported today (7 February) the fan who entered the field of play after Joe Worrall put Forest 3-0 up had been arrested.
A Leicester City statement said the club were “appaled” by the scenes at the City Ground.
“This borders on the obscene,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It’s a trend in recent weeks that will be of concern to the football authorities.
“I refereed in the dark ages of the 1970s and 80s where there was a high level of police presence that had to move around the pitch to take care of confrontations.
“There are no doubts that football after the event has the appropriate punishment, that person will not be able to see another football game, that is appropriate.
“One has to ask, why did he get so far on the pitch? What were the stewards doing?
“It shows the dangers and justifies why the laws try and make sure the players celebrate on the pitch.
“My advice is to players is don’t confront. You don’t know who that spectator is, he may be drunk or whatever, it’s a dangerous moment.
“For a player to get thumped in a professional game sends out all the wrong messages in football.
“We’ve got trained stewards, that has helped clubs reduce their police presence.
“Clubs and football as a whole should be asking whether they have to take extra vigilance and extra precautions to prevent objects being thrown and spectators coming on.”
In other news, Leicester City are racing Tottenham to complete an out-of-window deal.