Greater Manchester Police have launched an investigation after a 15-year-old girl and a Manchester City supporter suffered head injuries after being hit by a full plastic pint jar “weighted with coins” thrown from the Liverpool section during the fiery Thursday’s Carabao Cup match at the Etihad Stadium.
Daniel Cornwell claimed his teenage daughter had to have her head glued and that she had “a scar for life” after the “terrible” incident.
The girl was on the lower South Stand when the object hurled from the third row of Liverpool supporters hit her on the head. Ambulance personnel were called to the scene.
A GMP spokesperson said: “A 15-year-old girl has been treated for a head injury and we will investigate.” Liverpool and City have been approached for comment and it is clear GMP is likely to make a witness call.
The ugly incident follows calls from both clubs for an end to the toxic atmosphere that has marred recent matches between the sides.
Ferran Soriano, the CEO of City, and his Liverpool counterpart, Billy Hogan had written a joint letter to supporters from both clubs urging them to buy fans found guilty of “unacceptable behaviour”. Liverpool and City had both vowed to suspend supporters where necessary.
Cornwell said his daughter was left “really shaken”. “The 15-year-old was my daughter,” he wrote on Twitter. “More than 500 football matches in more than 100 stadiums and I have never experienced anything like tonight. Horrible. Thanks to the paramedics, police and stewards who helped after the event.
“She’s fine now, but she’s still very upset. Terrible experience. She seems fine when she is very shaken and has a scar for life. I’m not sure she feels like going back any time soon.’
‘We have to do better socially’
Cornwell claimed the object that struck his daughter was a “heavy plastic pint jar filled with beer and weighted with coins.”
He expressed hope that GMP would identify the perpetrator on CCTV and questioned why City had chosen to place Liverpool fans in the third row of the South Stand, directly above their City counterparts, which he said was a “bad decision”.
“We will try to hold the club accountable for that decision,” Cornwell tweeted.
He confirmed that he was in contact with GMP and City and thanked people for their support. “Thank you to everyone who tweeted kind words,” he tweeted. “We are speaking to the club this morning and are also in contact with @gmpolice. We haven’t heard from @LFC or their supporters groups.
“My daughter seems to be doing well, but is sleeping late at the moment. I didn’t feel safe at Anfield when I went last year and now this. It’s not right, is it? We have to do better socially.”
The October meeting between the clubs at Anfield was marred by scandalous scenes. Liverpool condemned vile chants from City fans mocking the Hillsborough disaster and graffiti affixed to the evacuation halls about the tragedy that claimed 97 lives. City claimed that manager Pep Guardiola threw coins at him and that their team bus was attacked as it left Anfield.
City won 3-2 on Thursday evening thanks to goals from Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Nathan Ake to set up a quarter-final encounter with Southampton.