This archive report was first published on 4 July 2019.
On Saturday, July 6, 2019, a Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Headingley in Leeds turned chaotic, with unprecedented crowd trouble erupting.
According to West Yorkshire Police, reports were made of people climbing over a wall, assaulting staff on a gate, and a fan going on to the pitch. Videos shared on social media showed a fight between fans outside the ground, with a metal barrier being brandished and kicks, punches, and shouting.
Police appealed for anyone who was a victim or witness of an attack, or who has original footage of the incidents, to contact them. Superintendent Chris Bowen acknowledged the need for a 'full and comprehensive criminal investigation.'
While the incidents were isolated and involved a minority of people, the scenes witnessed were unprecedented at a cricket match. 'While we did not receive any direct reports of people being injured, the footage that is out there clearly shows people being assaulted during these incidents,' Bowen said.
Notably, crowd trouble at cricket is relatively unheard of, and the match had been assessed as low risk, with no need for a police presence.
