Violent pitch invasions could have serious financial ramifications for clubs in terms of lost sponsor and matchday revenue

Inadequate crowd management paved the way for repeated pitch invasions in May in England which resulted in a number of assaults on players and club staff.
“If it becomes obvious that a club or governing body is unable to put matches on in a safe manner, then that would certainly be a red light for sponsors,” says expert.
Why it matters: Tarnished reputations, reduced stadium capacity and a breakdown in stadium operations could pose a major challenge in terms of attracting new sponsorships for clubs in the future. But income won’t be affected.
Perspective: Despite one case in France, it is in England that pitch invasions leading to physical assaults have taken place - prompting football experts to speculate whether the hooliganism could now be returning to damage future business opportunities.

By tradition May is often marred by pitch invasions as title-winning parties - as well as celebrations around promotion and escape from relegation - often lead fans to force their way through security barriers in outbursts of emotion, joy and unity at the end of a long, successful campaign.

This year, pitch invasions took place all over Europe, but it was notable

Do you want to read this article?

Get instant access by signing up for a 7-day free trial

No credit card, no commitments, and it will expire automatically.

You will receive a link that activates your trial in an email.