Man Found Not Guilty in FA Cup Stadium Fall Incident
A 62-year-old football fan was acquitted of assault charges after falling from a stadium's upper tier onto other supporters during a match.
A 62-year-old football fan has been found not guilty of assault after falling from the upper tier of a stadium onto rival supporters. John Ryan, a fan of Maidstone United, admitted to consuming five cans of lager before the FA Cup match against Ipswich in January 2024.
The incident occurred during celebrations of a Maidstone goal at Ipswich's Portman Road ground. Ryan fell from the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand, slid down a sloping roof above hospitality boxes, and landed on Ipswich fans below, resulting in injuries to Joanne Peters and her partner Aaron Rose.
Ryan, who described the match as the "biggest in the club's history," testified that he was unsure whether he had been pushed or if his foot had slipped when he fell. He was acquitted by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court on charges of assault by beating and actual bodily harm. He expressed relief following the verdict, stating the court case had been "very stressful."