Soccer

City apologise after Villa ‘keeper ‘attacked’ during pitch invasion

Footage appears to show altercation between Robin Olsen and celebrating City fans

Robin Olsen reacts after a blue flare is thrown onto the pitch. He was later allegedly attacked during a pitch invasion. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Jamie Jackson at the Etihad Stadium
Mon May 23 2022 - 07:48

Steven Gerrard claimed his goalkeeper, Robin Olsen, was “attacked” during a pitch invasion after Aston Villa lost 3-2 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with the new Premier League champions issuing an apology for the assault.

Villa had led 2-0 until the 76th-minute before two goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri swept City to the Premier League title, cancelling out strikes from Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho for the visitors.

When the final whistle went the pitch was flooded with home fans, engulfing both teams. Gerrard was asked if his players had escaped unscathed. “The answer is no. My goalkeeper was attacked. I think those questions should go to Pep and Manchester City,” said Villa’s manager.

It would appear that Olsen was struck on the back of the head, though Villa do not know if this was intentional, the club wishing to have any footage of the incident reviewed.

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Pep Guardiola apologised to Olsen and Villa. “I’m so sorry on behalf of the club. The emotions, it’s difficult to understand why the people respond in this way. Hopefully we can discover who it was and he’ll be punished. I don’t know how to stop it, you cannot put 1,000 guards [around the pitch].”

In a statement City said: “Manchester City would like to sincerely apologise to Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen, who was assaulted after the final whistle at today’s match when fans entered the pitch.

“The Club has launched an immediate investigation and once identified, the individual responsible will be issued with an indefinite stadium ban.”