Fan banned for goalkeeper attack

A TEENAGE football fan who ran onto a pitch and floored a Premier league goalkeeper has been banned from future games.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Sep 2011, 07:00 BST

Ross Miller confronted Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper during a Tyne Wear derby at the Stadium of Light in January.

The 17-year-old, who has been a Sunderland AFC season ticket holder for 10 years, invaded the pitch seconds after Black Cats striker Asamoah Gyan scored a 94th minute equaliser.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He pushed Harper from behind, knocking him to the ground, before being escorted from the pitch by a steward.

Despite making a remorseful trip to Newcastle United’s training ground to apologise to Harper, Miller has since received thousands of threats to kill him from Newcastle fans via Facebook.

The sixth former, of Tangmere, Spennymoor, County Durham, was handed a three year banning order and a sixth month referral order at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court yesterday, after admitting common assault, a section four public order offence.

Under the terms of the referral order, he is prevented from going to any Sunderland or England fixture.