Fan cleared of assaults after fall from Ipswich stand

What the report says

A football supporter has been cleared of assault after falling from the upper tier of Portman Road and landing on rival fans during an FA Cup tie between Ipswich Town and Maidstone United in January 2024. BBC Sport Football reported that John Ryan, a Maidstone supporter from Kent, was found not guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of assault by beating and actual bodily harm.

The court heard that Ryan came down from the Cobbold Stand upper tier and slid off the sloping roof above the boxes before hitting Joanne Peters and her partner, Aaron Rose, in the home end. Prosecutors said Ryan had consumed alcohol before the match, while Ryan told the jury he had lost his footing or may have been pushed while celebrating a goal. He said he could not stop himself once he started falling.

Peters told the court she feared the stand had collapsed and believed she might die, while Rose said he was kicked in the head. Ryan was seen crying as the verdicts were returned and later described the case as very stressful. He apologised outside court and said the incident had been an accident.

The case drew attention because it involved an unusual and dangerous crowd-safety incident at a major match, where Maidstone’s 2-1 win over Ipswich was one of the club’s biggest results. More broadly, it highlights the risks of steep or crowded stadium structures when celebrations go wrong.