The PFA has said that ‘violence towards players is completely unacceptable’ after Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was attacked by a supporter after the north London derby against Tottenham.
Footage showed a Spurs fan trying to kick Ramsdale in the back after the Gunners' 2-0 Premier League win on Sunday.
At the end of the game, Ramsdale proceeded to retrieve his water bottle when a spectator from behind the goal advanced and aimed a kick at the England international before climbing back over several rows of seats.
A PFA statement said: “Violence towards players is completely unacceptable.
“These types of incidents are happening far too often. Players have a right to be safe in their place of work.
“When a player is attacked, we expect the laws and regulations that are in place to protect players to be properly enforced.
“As the players’ union, we treat this as a priority issue. We will continue working with the authorities to demand that players and staff are better protected in their place of work.”
In a club statement, Tottenham said: “We are appalled by the behaviour of a supporter that attempted to attack Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale at the end of today’s match. Violence in any form has no place in football.
“The club has reviewed its CCTV footage to identify the supporter and will be working with the Met Police, Arsenal and Aaron Ramsdale to take the strongest possible action, including an immediate ban from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.”
This latest incident follows new data released last week by the UK Football Policing Unit reveals that the number of arrests at English football matches in the first half of the season has risen to 999, a 10% increase on last term.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK's Football Policing Unit lead, emphasised the need for action to protect players, he said: "We do need to take a hard line and where people are going on the pitch to threaten, provoke, abuse, then that's a criminal matter and needs to be dealt with that way."
