Bristol City say they are ‘appalled’ by the scenes outside Ashton Gate following Saturday’s match (Jan 25) with Blackburn Rovers, in which a group of City fans were filmed beating up two Rovers fans.
The club has told Bristol Live it is working with Avon & Somerset police and an investigation is under way to identify those involved. Police said the attack was unprovoked and was ‘completely unacceptable’ at a football match.
Bristol City and Ashton Gate said those responsible will be found and banned from not just City matches but any event at the stadium, and stadium bosses were helping police go through CCTV footage of the incident and the minutes before and afterwards, to identify the group, as well as videos being shared on social media of the incident.
One video showed most of the incident, and has been shared widely on social media over the weekend, with more than a million people seeing the footage. It shows a group of around six or seven younger Bristol City fans attack and badly beat two Blackburn Rovers fans – aged 49 and 20 – on Marina Dolman Way, the outer stadium concourse alongside the Lansdown Stand.
The video begins with the attack already under way, and shows punches being thrown as the two Blackburn fans try to defend themselves. Both end up on the ground at various points, and a number of City fans kick and stamp on them. One attacker with a scarf leaves the area then returns to carry out more violence.
The circumstances leading up to the incident are not clear, nor is it known how long the violence had been going on before the recording shared on social media begins. In the video, it stops after about 20 seconds when a large group of older Bristol City fans intervene and prevent more violence.
The two Rovers fans, aged 20 and 49, were injured in the attack, which happened when they were making their way from the away enclosure in the Atyeo Stand towards Parson Street station.
Bristol Live understands club bosses are shocked at the violence, which took place next to the ‘fan village’ on the corner of Marina Dolman Way and the South Stand. “We are appalled by this incident and will take action against those who engage in such violent behaviour,” a spokesperson for the club said.
“We have passed on all available video footage to Avon & Somerset Police and will work with them to identify and prosecute the attackers and we will fully support any football-wide banning orders. Anyone with information relating to this incident should please contact Avon and Somerset Police,” they added.
Aside from police prosecutions and charges, which may lead to banning orders imposed by courts, Ashton Gate Stadium bosses are understood to be preparing bans for anyone identified, which would include any sporting or entertainment events, including concerts.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police said: “We’re carrying out an investigation after two men were assaulted following the football match between Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers at Ashton Gate Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The two victims, aged 20 and 49, were walking along Marina Dolman Way heading towards Parson Street train station when they were attacked by a group of other males. They suffered injuries including cuts and bruises. We’re aware of the footage circulating on social media and will be using this to help identify those responsible.”
Sgt Sam Bracey said: “This was completely unacceptable behaviour in which the two victims were punched and kicked by the offenders in an unprovoked attack, which only stopped when other members of the public intervened. We’re making enquiries at pace to identify those responsible and we’re working closely with Bristol City Football Club to review all available CCTV.
“In addition to a criminal investigation, we’ll also be pursuing football banning orders, as there’s no place for this kind of indiscriminate violence in football. If you have information which could help our investigation, please call us on 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5225021530,” they added.