Aaron Cawley, 33, was rushed to hospital after he fell over a barrier and landed on empty seats during Leeds’ match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday
The Leeds United fan who was seriously hurt after falling from the top tier at Stamford Bridge is Aaron Cawley, who has a record of football hooliganism and had previously punched England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.
During Wednesday’s FA Cup tie against Chelsea, the 33-year-old fan crashed onto an empty area of seating after falling over a barrier in the upper tier. Cawley, when he attacked Kirkland in 2012, received a jail sentence of four months along with a six-year football ban.
The joy of Mateo Joseph’s first goal in the 3-2 loss to Chelsea saw him topple over the barrier at Stamford Bridge leading to immediate hospitalisation but news on his condition is yet to be announced. Leeds released a statement saying: “Leeds United can confirm an incident involving a Leeds United supporter occurred in the Shed End of Stamford Bridge during the first-half of tonight’s FA Cup game. The incident is being investigated and is in the hands of the emergency services. We will be making no further comment at this time.”
Leeds manager Daniel Farke said: Football is unbelievably serious but health is more important than football results,” as The Mirror reports. “We send our best wishes and prayers and our fingers are crossed that it is not too serious.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police shared: “Officers, alongside paramedics and staff from Chelsea FC, responded to an injured man in the away end during the match with Leeds United on Wednesday, 28 February. The man was taken to hospital for treatment. We await an update on his condition. His family has been notified,” reports LeedsLive.
Leeds have made it clear that Cawley is banned from matches at Elland Road, but he’s been seen at lots of games away from home. At the Kirkland trial, Sheffield magistrates court heard Cawley said in an email to South Yorkshire Police: “It was a disgrace and I’m embarrassed by my actions… [and] brought shame on Leeds United Football Club.”
The court also found out that Cawley, who lived in Cheltenham at the time, had lots of Stella Artois lager and three-quarters of a litre of vodka before he got to Sheffield by train. When he arrived, he had even more drinks – seven to 10 pints of cider.
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