A West Brom fan has thanked Wolves stars Craig Dawson and Matheus Cunha for asking if his son was okay during the crowd violence at the Black Country Derby.
Shameful scenes at The Hawthorns saw players scared for the safety of their loved ones in the stands as the match was suspended for nearly 40 minutes.
Baggies defender Kyle Bartley was pictured rushing into the stands to remove his daughter before being substituted to look after his family.
There was tension between supporters throughout the derby but it exploded soon after Cunha put Wolves 2-0 up in the 78th minute as West Brom supporters thought they had seen their rival fans celebrating in the home section.
This led to fans charging the area they believed Wolves fans occupied before police and stewards intervened.
West Brom fan Liam Dunn thanked Wolves stars Craig Dawson and Matheus Cunha for comforting his son
The West Brom fan and his son were pictured on the pitch as violence emerged in the stands
Cunha and Dawson asked if Dunn’s son was okay and unhurt during the incident
With three confirmed arrests, one fan was taken to hospital to be treated for head injuries as graphic scenes emerged.
A 16-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of carrying a weapon before the match, with police now reviewing body-camera footage in order to identify more supporters who were involved.
During the violence, the players appeared to put their rivalry aside as a West Brom fan has now thanked two rival Wolves stars for checking on the wellbeing of his son.
Dawson was booed during the match, having made the move to Wolves from West Ham after previosuly playing for the Baggies – but there were two home fans who held no grudges towards the defender after his classy gesture during the conflict.
Taking to X, Liam Dunn posted a picture with his son as he wrote: ‘Rivalry aside, despite getting trampled over and pushed out the way in our seats earlier amongst the madness, just wanna say thank you to Craig Dawson and Cunha for asking if he was okay and unhurt!’
‘I know fans shouldn’t go onto the pitch but it was the safest place to keep him at that moment.’
The father then proceeded to post a photo of his son after the game as they took photos with West Brom players.
‘As you can see, after the game he was ok, normal after game photos resumed,’ he wrote.
Dunn said that he felt the pitch was the safest place for he and his son during the violence
Dunn’s son took pictures with the West Brom players after the match
Dunn continued to discuss the incident on X, replying to a fellow fan: ‘It goes both ways, in today’s world you shouldn’t sit in opposition ends, but people do, it’s fine.
‘It’s just what individuals choose to do. Albion fans in their hundreds shouldn’t have stormed the pitch and area to get to where we/he was imo.’
Albion captain Jed Wallace condemned the violence after the match, as he admitted he was concerned for young supporters.
He said: ‘That is the family area so a few of the kids were over there, which is why you had the distress of a few players going over.
‘You have to trust the authorities to do what they did. They had control of the situation but naturally when you’re a dad you’re going to have that distress and worry for your kids.’
This statement was echoed by Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, as he said: ‘Anyone at a football match wants to feel safe. Children and elderly people could be in that area and we shouldn’t have to discuss incidents like that because they shouldn’t happen.
‘I know there were players’ families and children in that area and I hope everyone is okay.’
The FA have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing ‘alongside the clubs and relevant authorities’ as appropriate action will be taken.
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