Suffolk Constabulary says it is aware of the incident in which a Maidstone fan fell from the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand during the National League South side's 2-1 FA Cup victory over the Blues at Portman Road, but that it is not a police matter, although it will be discussed at the next Safety Advisory Meeting.

The Maidstone supporter, named as 59-year-old John Ryan, was shown on social media rolling down the roof of the executive boxes and onto the fans below as he celebrated Lamar Reynolds’s opening goal for the Stones.

A Suffolk Constabulary statement reads: “Suffolk Police is aware of the incident, which is being investigated internally by Ipswich Town FC and the man was ejected from the stadium by the club.

“The constabulary works closely with the club and whilst this incident is not a police matter, it will be discussed at the next Safety Advisory Group meeting.”

Ryan, who was two rows from the front of the upper tier, outlined his version of events.

“We’d just scored and we were celebrating and, next thing I know, I fell over the front because there’s nothing to hold on to. I rolled down and landed on the people below,” he told the Kent Messenger.

“People run forward, like they do when you score, and I think I might have got a shove from behind and I fell over.

“The barrier at the front isn’t that high and when I got pushed, I was over it and there was nothing to hold on to.

“I couldn’t stop myself. It was an unpleasant landing, a mixture of people and seats. Nobody was hurt but obviously they were all complaining – they weren’t happy.

“They all got up and started shouting at me and then the stewards came and took me away. I got checked by the medical people and that was it.”

Ryan was ejected but had praise for Town stewards: “It wasn’t the stewards’ decision to throw me out. They were fantastic. One of them even got my hat back for me.

“They were on the phone to people – there was quite a big deal made of it. I was gutted not to be able to watch the rest of the game but what can you do?

“I stood outside. I could hear the crowd and everything and I listened to the rest of the game on the radio. At least we got through to the next round.”

Meanwhile, less impressed with her day was Town fan Jo Peters, on whom Ryan landed.

“I feel like I've been hit by a bus - all down my right hand side and upper body and my neck are so sore,” the 51-year-old told the BBC.

“There was a little boy two seats from my left and if that man had landed on him... it keeps going over in my mind and I feel quite angry. It's the shock of it. It shouldn't have happened.”

Peters said she was disappointed that she had been told “it was an accident, accidents happen” by someone from Town following the incident. “I feel really let down by the club,” she added.

Town released a statement following the match: “The club is aware of an incident involving a Maidstone United supporter in the Cobbold Stand at Portman Road during today's Emirates FA Cup fourth-round fixture. The club is investigating the issue thoroughly.”

Photo: Matchday Images

TresBonne added 20:44 - Jan 29 Sorry, the bloke who did it is 59 years old? Fifty nine. A) should know a lot better, christ. and B), I'm late 20's and I think if I did that, my back would be gone for about a month
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RegencyBlue added 21:04 - Jan 29 The stand has been like that for 50+ years with no problem until this moron decided to throw himself over the wall. If I end up with a perspex screen or some other monstrosity in front of me now because an idiot old enough to know better couldn’t control himself I will not be happy!
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AlexMathie added 21:46 - Jan 29 I’m sorry he didn’t get shoved. If you see the video from the start the man in the hat is in the second row with a clear row in front of him. How would a shove clear him of the front row and send him down the roof of the executive boxes? He chose to do that and roll down, the muppet.
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SE1blue added 22:02 - Jan 29 Hmm, sure is a tricky one to solve. Have the club spoken to either Jack Daniels or Johnnie Walker? I hear these two can often be involved in these kind of incidents.
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runaround added 22:23 - Jan 29 Certainly looked like he meant to do it at the time and on the videos. Can’t believe it’s not seen as a police incident
3

blues1 added 22:24 - Jan 29 Wow. Talk about making it up as he goes along. The wall at the front is too high for this to have happened accidentally. Tho dont think he actually expected to fall off onto the crowd below. As for the female town fan. She's spouting rubbish too. What the hell does she think the club could have done about it. Fact she went to "the sun" that day, shows what shes looking for. Hopefully she doesn't succeed with that. He however needs to have some kind of action taken against him. Tho doubt he will.

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Bergholtblue added 22:41 - Jan 29 SE1BLUE... I've heard that John Smith and Timothy Taylor have also come forward as witnesses
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RIPbobby added 22:41 - Jan 29 Is it not a police matter because referee Anthony Taylor missed it. In fairness to Mr Taylor he missed several things in the match. Lol
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Tampa_Florida_Blue added 23:53 - Jan 29 Watching both videos on my link here, I felt from the distant video it was self inflicted, then I saw the close up, the guy is talking utter trash. pushed himself over wall just to look big. suspect this was his first ever game live and not watching on TV.
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baxterbasics added 00:28 - Jan 30 Police are only interested when someone uses hurty words.
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Westy added 05:26 - Jan 30 Looking at the video it really does seem as if it was deliberate - he certainly did seem to roll on purpose. Had he been drinking? Other Maidstone fans nearby can be seen laughing on the video. Was the guy trying to be an internet sensation? It doesn't appear that anyone shoved him. Surely the height of the barrier/wall etc meet safety regulations.
1

Saxonblue74 added 07:12 - Jan 30 Looks for all the world that he was looking for his 15 minutes of fame. Unfortunately his actions will likely have consequences for other fans and ITFC, the club that offered such great hospitality to the visitors. As for the Town "Fan" who got "injured", I'm sure there'll be an equally opportunist lawyer out there happy to screw us for whatever they can.
2

Lukeybluey added 08:05 - Jan 30 Seen a close up video, it looked to me that he done it on purpose the way he was rolling down there...If you were pushed over then I would think you would be face down trying to stop with your hands, not barrel rolling horizontally down there. Also, It's a very shallow roof, I've seen opposition fans get up there and run around! They didnt slide off or barrel roll.
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BrentwoodBlagger2 added 08:28 - Jan 30 Total idiot - he clearly did this on purpose and has now come up with this rubbish. Lucky for him he did not land on and injure a child - maybe that would be a Police matter.......
3

chepstowblue added 08:33 - Jan 30 I'm aware that this isn't original, but the likelihood is that Everton will be docked 10pts over this incident. This bell*** deserved no medical attention for this wanton act of stupidity. I can imagine a member of our delinquent young generation doing it as a typically pathetic social media prank, but a 59yr old man?! Could have broken someone's neck....or worse. He'd have definitely got a few hefty kicks in the test*cle region had I been sat below.

0

Bazza8564 added 09:24 - Jan 30 He got his mates to film it and it was all for Tiktok. Of course it's not a Police matter, nor a club matter. The lady should sue for assault
4

ArnieM added 09:43 - Jan 30 Suspect the Club will have to put up a clear screen in front of the upper tier seating along the edge of where the Boxes roof slopes away from the wall …. It’s a H&S issue. Unfortunately the actions of some individuals is not a get out clause to prevention. The club has a duty of care in law for its customers whilst in their property. One shudders to think what the outcome could have been if the falling fan had actually broken the neck of the fan sat in the seats below where he fell from. The Club would / is responsible ( as well as the fan who fell)

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Westy added 10:06 - Jan 30 Just read about this on Kent Online and the guy has admitted he had been drinking. His seat was two rows back and he has rushed forward and appears to clamber onto the roof with no great momentum and deliberately kept rolling. If ITFC are in any way in the final analisys held responsible or have to incur expense to 'improve' things I will be annoyed.
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jayceee added 10:13 - Jan 30 He's not lightweight. Could easily have ended with someone below getting seriously hurt. Even when rolling down, he seems to not make any attempt to stop - indeed the opposite.
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algarvefan added 11:05 - Jan 30 The club has registered CCTV and it's sure to be clear on there what this dipstick did. It truly is a miracle that neither he or the poor lady underneath weren't seriously injured or worse. Even from the mobile phone clips he clearly wasn't pushed, there is nobody near him and there was another of their fans lying in the roof before he went over.
2

Radlett_blue added 11:46 - Jan 30 Ban John Ryan from Portman Road, as we did to John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood, after he spent most of Pompey's 3-0 defeat in 2003 clog-dancing on the roof of the executive boxes.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:33 - Jan 30 a case for VAR me thinks
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:19 - Jan 30 Blatant dive . book him .
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Rozeeboy74 added 14:35 - Jan 30 This guy is doing an "Uncle Albert" in Only Fools. Knows how to take a dive to make a few quid
2

SamWhiteUK added 15:23 - Jan 31 The fact that there was a camera RIGHT where it happened should tell you all you need to know
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