With respect, there's far too much revisionist history here and elsewhere in this thread (for instance, the criticising of Lampard for his comments about fans celebrating on the pitch. He was quite right). The problem is not that Everton fans invaded the pitch; it's society. It's the way the fan who confronted Vieira behaved, not that he was on the pitch that's the issue and that has nothing to do with football at all.

I, like at least a few others here, had one of the greatest nights of my life on a First Division footbal pitch after an invasion. Yep, I was on it after Swindly scored against Burnley, and I was back on it, celebrating wildly when the final whistle blew. I spent the last 15 minutes of the game more or less standing beside Budgie's goal post as the police couldn't get us all back onto the Holmesdale.

Lampard is absolutely right; why shouldn't fans be able to express their joy? No one attacked the Burnley manager (or players) that night. No one felt the need to.

The problem isn't football. It's forty years of Conservative rule (an inter-regnum by faux-Tory Tony Blair notwithstanding) that has created a malignant, resentful, haves and have-nots society that, predictably, manifests itself in anger and aggression. Dispossess enough people for long enough that you create a disadvantaged underclass and then act surprised when society turns violent? Well I never. The supporter who provoked Vieira is of his time, not of football itself. If you want to solve the problem, look at the inequalities in society, not at the game.

Every Palace supporter who was there that magical night in 1979 knows full well what Everton supporters experienced last Thursday and has no problem with their behaviour at all (in general). Pretending Everton is the issue is kidding yourself. If you want to blame someone for what happened at Goodison, a good starting point would be Margaret Thatcher.

With respect, there's far too much revisionist history here and elsewhere in this thread (for instance, the criticising of Lampard for his comments about fans celebrating on the pitch. He was quite right). The problem is not that Everton fans invaded the pitch; it's society. It's the way the fan who confronted Vieira behaved, not that he was on the pitch that's the issue and that has nothing to do with football at all.

I, like at least a few others here, had one of the greatest nights of my life on a First Division footbal pitch after an invasion. Yep, I was on it after Swindly scored against Burnley, and I was back on it, celebrating wildly when the final whistle blew. I spent the last 15 minutes of the game more or less standing beside Budgie's goal post as the police couldn't get us all back onto the Holmesdale.

Lampard is absolutely right; why shouldn't fans be able to express their joy? No one attacked the Burnley manager (or players) that night. No one felt the need to.

The problem isn't football. It's forty years of Conservative rule (an inter-regnum by faux-Tory Tony Blair notwithstanding) that has created a malignant, resentful, haves and have-nots society that, predictably, manifests itself in anger and aggression. Dispossess enough people for long enough that you create a disadvantaged underclass and then act surprised when society turns violent? Well I never. The supporter who provoked Vieira is of his time, not of football itself. If you want to solve the problem, look at the inequalities in society, not at the game.

Every Palace supporter who was there that magical night in 1979 knows full well what Everton supporters experienced last Thursday and has no problem with their behaviour at all (in general). Pretending Everton is the issue is kidding yourself. If you want to blame someone for what happened at Goodison, a good starting point would be Margaret Thatcher.

Stop being ridiculous.

I have to say, I don't mind a bit of socio-economic banter about present day society but to attach 4O years of Tory rule to the actions of those demented Murkeysiders who accosted our players and manager is comic heaven.

With respect, there's far too much revisionist history here and elsewhere in this thread (for instance, the criticising of Lampard for his comments about fans celebrating on the pitch. He was quite right). The problem is not that Everton fans invaded the pitch; it's society. It's the way the fan who confronted Vieira behaved, not that he was on the pitch that's the issue and that has nothing to do with football at all.

I, like at least a few others here, had one of the greatest nights of my life on a First Division footbal pitch after an invasion. Yep, I was on it after Swindly scored against Burnley, and I was back on it, celebrating wildly when the final whistle blew. I spent the last 15 minutes of the game more or less standing beside Budgie's goal post as the police couldn't get us all back onto the Holmesdale.

Lampard is absolutely right; why shouldn't fans be able to express their joy? No one attacked the Burnley manager (or players) that night. No one felt the need to.

The problem isn't football. It's forty years of Conservative rule (an inter-regnum by faux-Tory Tony Blair notwithstanding) that has created a malignant, resentful, haves and have-nots society that, predictably, manifests itself in anger and aggression. Dispossess enough people for long enough that you create a disadvantaged underclass and then act surprised when society turns violent? Well I never. The supporter who provoked Vieira is of his time, not of football itself. If you want to solve the problem, look at the inequalities in society, not at the game.

Every Palace supporter who was there that magical night in 1979 knows full well what Everton supporters experienced last Thursday and has no problem with their behaviour at all (in general). Pretending Everton is the issue is kidding yourself. If you want to blame someone for what happened at Goodison, a good starting point would be Margaret Thatcher.