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FA to probe 'attack' by fan on Steve Harper
THE FA will launch an investigation after a supporter ran on to the pitch at Sunderland and pushed over Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper.
There was also trouble at Birmingham’s derby with Aston Villa, with a smoke bomb thrown on to the pitch during the second half. On the day Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster said he was scared he would one day be targeted by a knife-wielding fan, Harper was knocked over seconds after Asamoah Gyan equalised for Sunderland in the 1-1 draw. The supporter was arrested.
There was also trouble at the end, when police made 24 arrests after rival fans threw clusters of seats at each other, in an ugly repetition of the last time the clubs met on Wearside in October 2008. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew said: “When you get a last-minute goal in a derby there will be an over-reaction, but that’s no excuse for what happened to Harper.”
Sunderland ’s Steve Bruce added: “Well done to our fans who gave the kid up. It’s a sad indictment of society and I hope he is banned for a long time.”
A FA spokesman said: “We will assess any incident in the referee’s report.”