‘It was mayhem’ – Manchester City fan missed Premier League trophy lift as former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says pitch invasions are spoiling big moments for the players

Danny Murphy believes the current rise in pitch invasions is depriving players of making memories on the football pitch.

The last week has seen a number of incidents started due to supporters making their way onto the field of play following the end of a match.

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Billy Sharp was assaulted following Nottingham Forest's victory over Sheffield United, while there was a similar incident in the clash between Port Vale and Swindon Town.

Patrick Vieira was also at the heart of the unwanted drama after being shoved and verbally provoked by Everton fans as they took to the field at Goodison Park following their victory over Crystal Palace.

It then happened again on Sunday as Manchester City fans stormed the pitch at the Etihad Stadium after winning the Premier League title, leading to Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen being assaulted by a supporter.

For one supporter named Alan, it all got too much as he revealed to White and Jordan on talkSPORT that he missed the Premier League trophy celebration as a result of the invasion.

He explained: "As soon as the final whistle went, it was mayhem.

“The huge invasion that you saw on television, the stewards may as well have been traffic cones, they were pointless and I thought that this is nonsense.

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“I thought it’s going to be an hour before they clear this pitch. All of these people should be arrested and it just ruined the day for me.

“I went home and didn’t see the presentation.

“I was just hoping that they would behave, not go on the pitch and let the presentation take place shortly, but I thought I can’t bear to watch.

“All of these morons just running about stupidly. Words fail me, they do, they fail me.”

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With cases on the rise, former Liverpool midfielder Murphy was keen to highlight the impact that such actions will have on the players, suggesting that it ruins moments of celebration.

He told White and Jordan: “I was talking about this the other day to someone. Nearly all of my greatest memories of playing football have come when I’ve won a trophy and I’ve been on the pitch, celebrating winning that trophy with supporters from afar."

Murphy was recalling the magnificent season in 2001 when Liverpool won the FA and League Cup as well as the UEFA Cup.

“Singing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ with the supporters at the Millennium Stadium, in Dortmund when we beat Alaves - they’re my greatest memories.

“The fans are depriving the players of having these wonderful moments with them and celebrating with them.”