Brentford FC has referred an incident to the police after an object was kicked from a height towards the pitch during Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Liverpool at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The west London club confirmed it was “aware” of the matter, describing the behaviour as “dangerous and potentially very harmful”. The club stressed that the matchday safety of supporters, staff, players and officials was of “utmost importance”.
In a statement, Brentford said: “The matter has been referred to the police and the club is supporting the relevant authorities in their investigation to help identify those responsible and take appropriate action, which may result in criminal prosecution.”
The incident took place during the fixture on Saturday, October 17, when an item was kicked towards the playing surface from above. The club vowed to “support all efforts to ensure action is taken”. The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
Saturday’s fixture was the latest high-profile meeting between the sides at the Gtech, where Brentford have made a habit of troubling the Premier League’s established powers since winning promotion. The incident, however, has overshadowed the football, with the club moving quickly to condemn what happened and refer it to the authorities.
The referral means the episode could now become a criminal matter. Under the Football (Offences) Act 1991, it is an offence to throw a missile onto the pitch or into the crowd at a designated football match. Those found guilty can face prosecution, while clubs can impose lengthy or lifetime bans and the courts can issue football banning orders preventing offenders from attending regulated matches in the UK for up to ten years.
Brentford’s statement underlines how seriously the club is taking the episode. The Bees have built a reputation as a community-focused club since swapping Griffin Park for the Gtech Community Stadium in 2020, and incidents of this kind are rare at the 17,250-capacity ground.
Crowd behaviour has been under the microscope across English football in recent seasons, with the Premier League, the FA and clubs repeatedly warning that dangerous conduct will be met with bans and prosecution. Police forces across the capital regularly put special measures in place around grounds on matchdays, including dispersal orders used at other London stadiums.
Matchday safety operations at top-flight grounds involve close coordination between clubs, stewards and police. Stadiums are covered by extensive CCTV networks, and clubs routinely review footage after incidents to identify those involved. Brentford said it was supporting the authorities’ investigation, suggesting footage from the Liverpool fixture is being examined as officers work to identify the person responsible.
The FA has previously backed lifetime bans for supporters found guilty of throwing objects, and the Premier League’s ground regulations state that anyone entering the field of play or throwing missiles faces ejection, arrest and a ban. Brentford’s swift referral signals the club intends to pursue the strongest possible sanctions.
Supporters who witnessed the incident, or who have footage or information that could help identify the person responsible, are expected to be urged to contact the club or the police. Many Premier League clubs operate text and reporting lines on matchdays so fans can discreetly report dangerous behaviour from inside the ground.
The Gtech Community Stadium has staged Premier League football since Brentford’s promotion to the top flight, hosting high-profile fixtures against the division’s biggest clubs. The capital’s grounds have staged a string of showpiece occasions in recent weeks, including the first-ever college football game at Wembley.
Anyone with information about the incident is likely to be urged to come forward as the investigation continues. The club’s message was unambiguous: dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated, and those responsible face the full weight of club sanctions and the law.
