Football Fan Acquitted in Stadium Fall Incident

A football fan, John Ryan, 62, has been found not guilty of assault charges stemming from an incident where he fell from the upper tier of Ipswich's Portman Road stadium onto rival supporters during an FA Cup match. Ryan, a fan of Maidstone United, admitted to consuming five cans of lager before the January 2024 game.

The jury at Ipswich Crown Court delivered verdicts of not guilty on one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm. Ryan, who described the court proceedings as "very stressful," reportedly broke down in tears upon hearing the verdict.

The incident occurred in January 2024 when Maidstone United, a non-league club, played against Ipswich Town. During the celebration of a Maidstone goal, Ryan found himself on the edge of the upper tier's roof. He subsequently fell, slid down a sloping roof above hospitality boxes, and landed on Ipswich fans below, injuring Joanne Peters and her partner Aaron Rose.

Ryan testified that he was unsure if he had been pushed or if his foot had slipped. He told the court that he had been in the Cobbold Stand's upper tier when the goal was scored. Following the verdict, Ryan expressed his apologies to those injured, stating, "I'm sorry, it was an accident. I'm sorry it happened, what more can I say?"

He recalled that after the goal, he remembered going down the stairs, hitting a barrier, and falling over it.