While Millwall fans shocked and disgusted the world with their Wembley Stadium rampage, one FC Dallas fan joined them in the hall of shame on Saturday night.
A beer bottle struck FC Dallas defender George John in the head moments after he scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal against the L.A. Galaxy. MLSSoccer reports the bottle was thrown by a fan sitting in the north end at FC Dallas Stadium, which is where some of the club’s most vocal and boisterous supporters enjoy FC Dallas’ home games.
John, 26, headed home the game’s only goal in the 87th minute, but he barely had time to celebrate. The bottle hit him as he took his first steps out of the Galaxy goal, and he fell straight to the ground.
“I knew something hit me,” John said. “I wasn’t quite sure what happened, if I ran into the post or what, but then I looked down and saw a beer bottle and I was like that had to of hit me. I felt [my head] and there was a ridge and then I was like ‘Yes, something hit me for sure.’ Luckily I didn’t need stitches and I was able to stay in and finish out the game.”
FC Dallas has identified the person who threw the bottle, and that fan was reportedly arrested.
“It is always unacceptable to throw anything onto the field of play because it endangers the safety of all players and personnel,” a club statement said. “In this specific incident, we have identified the individual and we are proceeding according to protocol with FC Dallas Stadium, security, Frisco Police and Major League Soccer.”
The cut John suffered required staples to close, according to the Dallas Morning News. He had problems with concussions in the past, but he was reportedly in good health and spirits after the game.
This incident joins a number of examples of fans behaving badly, which have popped up around the soccer world this weekend. The ugly scenes at Wembley Stadium may have been the most high-profile of the bunch, but the actions of the FC Dallas fan rivals them in terms of foolishness and disregard for the safety of others.
See John score and get hit by a beer bottle in the video below.
Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.
