By Chris Wright
Grim scenes in the Championship last night, where Sheffield Wednesday ‘keeper Chris Kirkland was attacked in his goalmouth when a grunting Leeds fan escaped from his enclosure following Michael Tonge’s 77th-minute equaliser and shoved the former Liverpool stopper to the floor…
South Yorkshire Police also issued a statement after the game saying they are now investigating incidents “where it is believed seats and bottles were thrown” inside Hillsborough.
Owls manager Dave Jones, who had ‘those’ chants sung at him all night, had strong words for the Leeds fans after the game, telling BBC Sport:
“They are vile animals. You talk about racism [but] the chanting, that’s a form of racism. They should be banned from every away ground if they’re going to behave like that.
“[Leeds fans] are all going to get tarred with the same brush and that’s not right, but they will do and they should do because it wasn’t one person chanting the vile things.
“I thought those days had gone 15 or 20 years ago. They should be punished. I’ve had it for 12 years and it is just upsetting that they are able to do it.
“The authorities have to look at it and sort it. I’m talking about an incident when we should be talking about the football.”
Leeds manager Neil Warnock said:
“I thought it was an absolute disgrace. They should get the guy, prosecute him, put him in prison. I’m not proud to be Leeds manager when I see that.
“I don’t mind the atmosphere, there’s been elbows flying, but to see things like that on the field of play, I’m embarrassed.”
Leeds have since issued a statement vowing to identify Kirkland’s attacker and deal with him accordingly.