Walker may escape FA action over Villa bust-up

Leicester goalkeeper Ian Walker is unlikely to face any Football Association action over his bust-up with a spectator during his team’s Barclaycard Premiership match against Aston Villa.

Soho Square are urging that sanctions be taken against the Foxes fan, who ran on to the pitch to confront Walker after the third goal in Villa’s 5-0 victory at The Walkers Stadium yesterday.

The supporter went directly up to Walker, who appeared incensed by the nature of the remarks aimed in his direction – and reacted by pushing him to the ground.

Referee Jeff Winter then dragged Walker away before the supporter was led from the pitch by a posse of stewards and taken into police custody.

There have been suggestions that the FA will look unfavourably on Walker’s behaviour – but they are set to take a sympathetic view of his response, and it will be a surprise if any formal action results.

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said: “We will want to gather all the information about the incident before making any judgement.

“But we condom any action by any individual running on the pitch or entering the pitch and we look forward to action being taken against the individual involved.”

Leicester are also likely to escape any action over the supporter managing to enter the pitch – and the worst they can probably expect to receive is a warning.

The view of the FA is that it is virtually impossible to stop an individual who is determined to enter the pitch without the re-introduction of fences - which is a move they would be opposed to.

Leicester are conducting their own internal inquiry into the incident, and one option they have is of issuing a life ban to the fan.

It remains to be seen if the individual will be charged by police. But the spectator who taunted Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman after running on to the pitch during last season’s derby with Birmingham received a four-month prison sentence.

Leicester manager Micky Adams and his players are firmly behind the actions of Walker, who could not be faulted for any of the three goals before the bust-up.

Adams was even able to make a joke about the incident and said: “It was a wet pitch; Walker had studs on, and the fan didn’t. He went down a bit too easy for my liking!”

But the Foxes chief was serious when he said: “I am backing Ian Walker fully, and when the fan ran on the pitch my first worry was for the safety of the player.

“The fan could have been carrying any sort of weapon. There wasn’t a steward in sight, and Ian did what he had to do.”

Leicester striker Marcus Bent said: “For the fan to come on and do what he did is disrespectful to Ian Walker, who has done so much in the game.

“As a professional you protect yourself. The fan came on to the pitch, and Ian just had to keep him away from him. He could have had a weapon on him.”

Walker said: “I was standing in the penalty box when I was aware of a fan coming towards me on the pitch.

“He came up to me and was abusive and aggressive. I tried to push him away and attempted to restrain him while stewards came on to the pitch.

“Our supporters have every right to make their feelings known about our performance, and I can understand their frustration. But I don’t think acting in this way is going to help the team.”