FORMER CITY PLAYER SAVES REF FROM PITCH INVADER
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:48 am
Former Cardiff City star Anthony Gerrard steps in to save referee as fan invades pitch and attempts to attack referee
By Anthony Woolford
The shocking incident unfolded in a League match on Tuesday night
A former Cardiff City defender has stopped a potential unsavoury incident from escalating in Tuesday night's League One local derby between Oldham and Rochdale.
Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of ex-Liverpool and England star Steven, restrained a fan who had run on to the pitch and lunged at referee Peter Bankes in the goalless draw at Spotland.
Gerrard, who spent three years at the Bluebirds between 2009-12 and played 74 times, had just given away a penalty when he fouled the home side’s Joe Thompson.
Joe Rafferty saw his spot-kick saved after a delay caused in part by the pitch invader, who sprinted towards the penalty area before falling.
Stewards eventually led the restrained fan away and Oldham boss Richie Wellens admitted the supporter picked on the wrong guy when being in the vicinity of no-nonsense defender Gerrard.
“I saw the end of it. I didn’t see what happened, I saw someone slip into Gerrard,” Wellens said.
“If he’s a fan running on the pitch he’s picking on the wrong lad in Gerrard because I’ve seen him box.
“For any fan to come onto the pitch is not right.”
By Anthony Woolford
The shocking incident unfolded in a League match on Tuesday night
A former Cardiff City defender has stopped a potential unsavoury incident from escalating in Tuesday night's League One local derby between Oldham and Rochdale.
Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of ex-Liverpool and England star Steven, restrained a fan who had run on to the pitch and lunged at referee Peter Bankes in the goalless draw at Spotland.
Gerrard, who spent three years at the Bluebirds between 2009-12 and played 74 times, had just given away a penalty when he fouled the home side’s Joe Thompson.
Joe Rafferty saw his spot-kick saved after a delay caused in part by the pitch invader, who sprinted towards the penalty area before falling.
Stewards eventually led the restrained fan away and Oldham boss Richie Wellens admitted the supporter picked on the wrong guy when being in the vicinity of no-nonsense defender Gerrard.
“I saw the end of it. I didn’t see what happened, I saw someone slip into Gerrard,” Wellens said.
“If he’s a fan running on the pitch he’s picking on the wrong lad in Gerrard because I’ve seen him box.
“For any fan to come onto the pitch is not right.”
