INVESTIGATIONS were tonight continuing into the pitch invasions that marred Oxford United’s final game of the season as videos of the incidents began appearing on the Internet.
CCTV footage and photographs of fans who ran on to the field of play are also being studied by police and club officials. No arrests had been made last night.
A number of videos of the pitch invasion have been posted on the YouTube website and it is thought these could also be used as evidence. One can be viewed at our website, but site users are warned that it contains strong language.
Fan Barry Gibbs, from Wootton, near Abingdon, criticised United’s stewards and the people who ran on the pitch, after claiming his daughter was attacked by one of the yobs. The 48-year-old, who was at the match with his wife, five-year-old grandson and daughter Rachel, 16, said: “My daughter is very passionate about her football and she said something, I couldn’t hear what, to those that had gone on the pitch.
“When they came back in the stands the abuse was disgusting. My daughter was attacked by a girl who was with her father. It was Oxford fans who kept them apart, there were no stewards doing anything.
“As they came back off the pitch they were shouting threats like ‘we’ll see you outside’.
“The other girl’s father told her to give my daughter a good slap. Fortunately, Oxford fans got in between them. On the day the stewards were absolutely terrible, I thought. They did nothing.
“I’m not blaming Kelvin Thomas or the club, and it was the last game of the season, but I think the stewarding needs looking at.”
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police last night said: “We are in the process of liaising with the management of the club.”
No-one at the club was available for comment. The Football Conference said it had still not received the referee’s report.
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