Angry Port Vale Fan Chases Referee Off the Pitch After Late Penalty Decision in League One Game

Referee Craig Hicks was chased off the field by an angry pitch-invading fan towards the end of Saturday's League One game between Port Vale and Portsmouth.
Angry Port Vale Fan Chases Referee Off the Pitch After Late Penalty Decision in League One Game
Angry Port Vale Fan Chases Referee Off the Pitch After Late Penalty Decision in League One Game /

Referee Craig Hicks was chased off the field by an angry fan towards the end of Saturday's League One game between Port Vale and Portsmouth.

Portsmouth won 1-0 courtesy of an 88th-minute penalty kick scored by Colby Bishop.

Shortly after the game had restarted following that goal, a pitch invader ran onto the playing area and started charging towards ref Hicks.

The official ran away from the fan and took cover near the dugouts.

The fan was able to run the full 77-yard width of the Vale Park pitch without being bothered by a member of security staff.

Ultimately, it was Vale head coach Andy Crosby who stopped the pitch invader's progress by restraining him near the touchline.

A Port Vale fan dressed in a black coat pictured chasing referee Craig Hicks (orange jersey) off the field during an EFL League One game in January 2024
A Port Vale fan dressed in a black coat pictured chasing referee Craig Hicks (orange jersey) off the field during an EFL League One game on Saturday :: efl.com/iFollow
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After the fan was eventually removed, the match was able to continue to its conclusion.

A club statement issued by the home team after the game read: "Port Vale Football Club condemn the actions of the individual who entered the field of play during today's match against Portsmouth.

"We will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the matter and the individual is dealt with a zero tolerance approach.

"We remind all supporters that entering the field of play is a criminal offence."

A joint-statement published by the EFL and Professional Game Match Officials Limited later added: "We are appalled by the incident in today's League One fixture between Port Vale and Portsmouth which saw referee Craig Hicks chased off the field of play and condemn the mindless actions of the individual involved.

"Match officials should never feel threatened for their safety when playing a pivotal role in the staging of games in our competitions.

"We will provide our full support to Craig and his team alongside Port Vale and the relevant authorities as they seek to bring this individual to justice."


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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.