Pall falls over football

11 May 2015 - 02:10 By Marc Strydom

The PSL is to educate fans about the dangers of pitch invasions following the fatal shooting of a fan shortly after the conclusion of the Absa Premiership match between champions Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Chiefs won the encounter 2-0, taking their total points tally to a record 69.League CEO Brand de Villiers said yesterday that, though there was no evidence linking the pitch invasion to the fan's death, invading soccer fields was becoming a growing concern.A soccer supporter is alleged to have tried to grab a gun from a police officer. A scuffle allegedly ensued between the two and a shot went off, killing a bystander."I believe it was towards the end of the pitch invasion when security and police were moving people off the pitch," said De Villiers.He said there was "more than enough security" at the stadium."Pitch invasions occur in places like England and Spain, too. You cannot have enough security to stop 500 fans running onto the pitch," he said."One thing to say [about pitch invasions] is that they are not meant maliciously or to cause damage but come from jubilation and over-excitement. The only thing we can do is educate fans that pitch invasions can be dangerous."The invasion was the second by Chiefs' fans in less than a month. The first was on April 22 when Chiefs clinched the league title after beating Polokwane City 4-1 at FNB Stadium.The fan's death dampened Chiefs' celebrations for winning the league title and smashing Mamelodi Sundowns' 65-point record.The 12-point gap between Chiefs and second-placed Sundowns was also a record in the 16-team era.The biggest previous margin was 11 points in the 18-team era in the 1999-2000 season, when Sundowns won the league title and Orlando Pirates finished second...

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