Man Charged for Slapping Man City’s Jack Grealish at Old Trafford

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A 20-year-old man has been charged with assault after allegedly slapping Manchester City’s Jack Grealish following Sunday’s Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Grealish, who had come on as a substitute in the 74th minute of the 1-1 draw against Manchester United, was reportedly slapped near the tunnel as he exited the pitch after the match.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the arrest of a man from Droylsden, who is scheduled to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on July 14. The police issued a statement that read: "This charge relates to an incident which took place at Old Trafford yesterday."

This marks the second time in Grealish’s career that he has been assaulted by a fan. In 2019, while playing for Aston Villa, Grealish was punched by a Birmingham City supporter, Paul Mitchell, during a Championship match. Mitchell, a former pub worker, pleaded guilty to charges of assault and encroachment. He was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison, banned from attending football matches in the UK for ten years, and ordered to pay compensation to Grealish.

The recent incident has sparked concern over player safety, with the football community voicing their outrage over the aggression. The Sunday match was also overshadowed by abuse from United fans aimed at Grealish’s teammate, Phil Foden, who was targeted with derogatory chants about his mother. City manager Pep Guardiola condemned the behavior, describing the chants as lacking "class."

This growing concern over fan behavior has once again raised questions about the security measures in place to protect players during and after high-profile matches.