Brentford have called in the police after a rugby ball was kicked from a nearby rooftop towards the Gtech Community Stadium during Saturday's Premier League defeat by Liverpool — an incident the club have branded "dangerous and potentially very harmful".
The bizarre episode, captured in a viral social media video, showed a man launching the ball from a height towards the stadium while the match was being played below. Brentford confirmed on Monday that the matter has been referred to the police and that they are supporting the investigation to identify those responsible.
What the footage showed
According to Reuters, the video showed the ball being kicked from a nearby rooftop towards the ground, where it appeared to bounce off the stadium roof. A separate clip showed a member of staff carrying the ball away from inside the stadium, underlining that it had found its way down towards the field of play while thousands of supporters were watching the game.
The Gtech Community Stadium sits in the middle of a dense development of residential and commercial buildings, with flats overlooking the ground. That setting has given Brentford one of the most distinctive homes in the Premier League — but on Saturday it also gave someone outside the stadium a platform for a stunt the club are refusing to treat as a joke.
Brentford's statement
"Brentford Football Club is aware of an incident involving an item being kicked from a height towards the field of play during Saturday's match against Liverpool," the club said in a statement carried by Sky Sports and other outlets.
"Such behaviour is dangerous and potentially very harmful. 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 matchday safety of fans, staff, players and officials is of utmost importance, and the club will support all efforts to ensure action is taken."
A match that had enough drama already
The incident overshadowed the closing discussion of a game that hardly needed extra storylines. Keane Lewis-Potter put Brentford ahead shortly before half-time, but Liverpool turned it around after the break, Victor Muñoz equalising before Alexander Isak struck the winner as the hosts finished with nine men.
The 2-1 defeat dropped Brentford to sixth on 10 points from seven matches, with Liverpool climbing above them into fifth. Liverpool's injury list also grew this week, with Frimpong facing a six-game absence, while Brentford travel to Hull City on Sunday looking to get back on track.
So what happens next?
This is where a viral clip stops being funny. An object dropped or kicked from a height into a packed stadium can seriously hurt someone, and Brentford's wording — criminal prosecution is explicitly on the table — tells you how seriously the club and the authorities are taking it. Expect the police work, helped by clear video and a small number of overlooking properties, to move quickly, and expect other clubs with stadiums hemmed in by housing to look again at what overlooks their own grounds.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Brentford are absolutely right to throw the book at this. A rugby ball falling from a rooftop into a crowd is not banter, it is a serious injury waiting to happen, and the fact it has become a talking point from a Premier League match at all shows why the club had to act on Monday rather than laugh it off. The Gtech's neighbourhood setting is part of its charm — but charm cannot come at the cost of safety.
Should stadiums surrounded by flats face tougher rules on rooftop access on matchdays? Let us know what you think in the comments.
