A Championship footballer could face repercussions after kicking a bottle into the stands and accidentally hitting a fan on the head.
Preston North End midfielder Jordan Thompson booted a bottle in frustration after being subbed off in his side’s 2-0 defeat at Norwich City on Saturday.
Thompson’s act provoked a fierce reaction from the home fans sat nearby but referee Gavin Ward appeared not to notice and the 29-year-old footballer gave a brief apology.
While Thompson’s kick was not addressed during the game, the Football Association do have the power to retrospectively punish him.
Unai Emery was fined £8,000 for kicking a bottle which struck a Brighton fan while managing Arsenal in 2018.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher told Ref Watch: ‘Why would you do this? Whether he will be reprimanded today, I don’t know. The referee hasn’t seen it because the substitution has been made and the assistant has got his back to it.
Preston North End midfielder Jordan Thompson kicked a water bottle into the stands and accidentally hit a fan in the head
‘So, he’s lucky he hasn’t been seen because it would’ve been a red card on the day, without doubt. But, doing that is just so dangerous. Somebody was having a drink as well and wasn’t aware… just a moment of madness.’
Former striker Jay Bothroyd said: ‘I think he has to be reprimanded there, to be honest.
‘That is really dangerous. If that hits anyone in the face it is going to really hurt, but imagine if that hit a kid. I think that is really poor from the player and he should be reprimanded.’
Preston declined to comment. Daily Mail Sport has also contacted the FA.
Preston made Thompson their first signing of the summer in a free deal from fellow Championship side Stoke City.
He spent the first few months of the season injured but has since gone on to rack up 16 appearances for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.
The Lancashire club spent a large portion of the season in the play-offs but they have slipped to 17th in the table after a dramatic downturn in form.
Everton’s decision to recall midfielder Harrison Armstrong in January and an injury to goalkeeper Daniel Iversen for 10 league games have been strong factors in their decline.
Preston have only picked up 19 points in their last 20 matches, the third-worst form in the Championship in that period.
Thompson signed for Preston North End over the summer and is a regular in the squad
After suffering a fourth defeat in a row, and a five loss in six, at the weekend, manager Heckingbottom said: ‘You’ve always got to fight and scrap and no, you’re never, ever safe, never.’
Their superb form for the first few months of the season means they still have a 10-point gap above the drop zone with eight games to go.
The play-off are a distant prospect, though, as the Lilywhites now find themselves 11 points behind sixth-placed Wrexham and have played a game more than the Welsh club.