Salford Red Devils have apologised after a fight started between fans in the Huddersfield crowd after Salford beat the Giants 26-24 on Easter Monday.
The brawl broke out after the end of the Super League match between Salford and Huddersfield Giants at the John Smiths Stadium.
Players including Kiwi Junior Sa’u had to step in to protect family members who were being crushed by fans pushing and shoving from behind.
Eyewitnesses told how Sa’u grabbed one fan by the throat and held him to the floor in response to “cries for help” from the crowd.
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Video taken inside the stadium shows players including Justin Carney stepping over the barriers to help restrain fans fighting with stewards.
Pictures show how men and woman and thrown to the ground with the force of the crowd pushing towards the pitch.
Salford Red Devils issued a formal apology and said they had launched an investigation to find those involved.
Those watching the match took to Twitter to blast to so-called ‘fans’ involved in the dispute.
“What’s going on at Hudd v Salford as fans fighting after Salford win?” said @TheTrevorHunt.
@markahearne1 wrote: “ole ole Had a great day with fam @SalfordDevils Well done to the players A few fans let them down# notrealfans.”
“There were young children crying their eyes out, frightened to death – it was just horrible,” one fan told the Daily Mail.
“The wife of Junior Sa’u was in the crowd clutching her young baby to her chest and you’ve got these idiots behind stupid and pushing and shoving.
“They were a bunch of mindless idiots in the crowd who have nothing at all to do with Salford and they were out to cause trouble from the start,” she said.
Salford fans were also sanctioned for throwing a flare onto the pitch after around 70 minutes.
Owner Marwan Koukash said: “I want to apologise to the Huddersfield Giants and to all the decent fans at the game today.
“We will work closely with the Giants and the RFL in our investigation and this minority of thugs responsible will be identified and dealt with by the club in the coming days.
“There is no place in Rugby League for them.”
Koukash also tweeted his formal apologies to Huddersfield last night.
My apologies to @Giantsrl and to the decent fans.The Thugs responsible will be identified and dealt with. There is no place in RL for them.
— Marwan Koukash (@drmarwanK) March 28, 2016
In a statement the club asked for anyone who witnesses the outbreak to call or email with details.
Sa’u later tweeted in support of his teammates who had stepped in to help.
Love playing with my brothers ✊ good to get the win today! Thanks to our @SalfordDevils FANS! ⚫️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/y0FzKtmtmt
— Junior Sa'u (@junior_sau) March 28, 2016
“The Red Devils urge any supporter with information they would like to share to do so by contacting the Club during office hours either in person, telephone or email.
“Please call 0161 786 1590 or email melissa.fenlon@reddevilsrugby.co.uk”.
Main image by @TheTrevorHunt
