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Alex Livesey – Danehouse / Getty Images
A Birmingham City fan stormed the field on Sunday in the team's shock against Aston Villa and targeted Jack Grealish.
The remarkable incident took place early in the match between the two fierce rivals, the fan gaining momentum behind the Villa Villa star.
Here is the moment in question:
Soccer AM @SoccerAM
What a disgrace! We have never seen anything like it! ?
A "fan" of Birmingham ran on the pitch and hit Jack Grealish on the back of the head! ? https://t.co/2x50XGrRqD
Despite the fact that the fan hit him, Grealish was able to continue and managed in the second half to pass Villa in front of the Second City derby (video not available in the US):
Soccer AM @SoccerAM
You could not write it! ?
After being hit by a fan in the first half, Jack Grealish opens the scoring for Aston Villa against Birmingham! ? https://t.co/EiBedIL2U1
The West Midlands police confirmed that they had placed him in custody:
West Midlands Police @WMPolice
ARREST: following the incident on the ground involving an attack on Aston Villa player; a man was arrested and goes to a detention center. More details to follow. https://t.co/fed9KrHBgl
Oliver Holt from the Mail on Sunday commented on the disturbing trend of fan behavior in the British game:
Oliver Holt @OllieHolt22
I spent part of last week thinking that fan behavior was getting out of control in Scotland. Now it's coming to Grealish. Maybe we have become complacent, but we can not let that kind of thing go on.
As Joe noted Joe Stanger, Birmingham supporters were still targeting Grealish with taunts after the incident:
Former Manchester United Defender Gary Neville thinks that serious action is needed against Birmingham:
Gary Neville @GNev2
The club will have to take a great deal of trouble to make it a deterrent in the future. A points deduction or an empty stadium for 10 games! https://t.co/wQtcAUuvnx
Manchester CityRaheem Sterling also criticized the fan:
Raheem Sterling @sterling7
Idiot of the year … congratulations for your lifetime ban https://t.co/ocr8RBVzWZ
Grealish is Villa's star and, as a resident of the area, this game will be particularly important to him. Earlier in the campaign, he played for his childhood club during the opposite match at Villa Park, earning 4-2 for Dean Smith's team.
In addition to local pride, both sides are looking to put in a late push for the playoffs. In front of the match, Birmingham was five points behind sixth, while Villa was two points behind.
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