The incident occurred during Stoke City’s Championship match away to Preston North End
Stoke City will contact the police asking for an explanation as to why the club’s supporters were sprayed with pepper spray by officers at Preston North End’s Deepdale stadium on Saturday.
A video which was posted on social media shows a number of police officers using pepper spray on Potters supporters inside the stadium during the side’s 2-2 Championship draw.
The video purports to show police facing a group of Stoke City fans, who can be heard singing club chants before the police use the spray.
Police at PNE pepper spraying the Stoke City fans yesterday. pic.twitter.com/nVa9L7yrps
— TurfCast – Burnley FC Fan Channel (@TurfCastPodcast) August 19, 2018
“We are aware of the footage which appears to show some of our fans being pepper sprayed and will be asking Lancashire Police for their comments,” read a statement from Stoke City on the matter.
“We would urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage of the incident to contact Paul Elliott, Preston’s dedicated football officer.”
In their own statement, Lancashire police said: “Officers deployed were faced with many aggressive fans and used proportionate force to protect themselves and ensure the disorderly fans did not spill out into the surrounding area.”
@wizardsofdrivel @StokeLoudProud @FSF_FairCop @SCFCSC please see the below in response to the incident at halftime at the match today. #SCFC pic.twitter.com/2O6sLq6Zvo
— PNE Police (@PNEPolice) August 18, 2018
Paul Elliot, the Preston football officer later released his own statement confirming that an investigation would take place: “Firstly let me say I’m the football officer for PNE. I’m a PC & have been working football operations for 12 years… every game home & away.
“I take everything that happens at PNE games personally & I can assure all Stoke City fans that the incident that occurred at half time today will be fully investigated. There will be a post match debrief on Tuesday and all the commanders involved in today’s operation will attend.”
