Sunderland fans report children lifted to safety amid crowd congestion as supporters’ group raises concerns
Supporters have described congestion near the Stadium of Light’s North West corner, with fan group Red and White Army appealing for first-hand accounts.
Sunderland supporters have raised concerns about crowd congestion while entering the Stadium of Light for Thursday evening’s Europa League match against Dinamo Zagreb.
Witnesses told The Echo that fans became caught in a bottleneck near the ground’s North West corner, with children lifted out of the crowd and moved to safety. Supporters said the congestion continued after kick-off before eventually easing. The congestion is understood to have developed as Sunderland fans were diverted on safety grounds during the police escort of Dinamo’s travelling supporters. Eyewitnesses said some home turnstiles were closed to accommodate the visiting fans, leaving supporters entering through fewer access points.
One source described the situation as “carnage” and questioned whether sufficient stewards were initially available to manage the congestion. They said a single steward was present when the problem developed, with others arriving later. Witnesses also described skirmishes between fans as tensions rose.
The same supporter also said the bottleneck began at around 7.45pm and police were called during the pre-match minute’s silence. They said the congestion cleared approximately seven minutes into the game, before officers arrived. Another source told The Echo that videos circulating on social media did not show some of the smaller children caught in the congestion because they were obscured by the surrounding crowd.
A separate fan involved told The Echo: “If it went on any longer, people would have got hurt. It was a dangerous situation.”
Sunderland supporters’ group Red and White Army has acknowledged the reports and is asking those involved to share their experiences. The group said it wants to gather first-hand accounts so concerns can be raised directly with the club. Its appeal relates to access issues and potential safety concerns around the North West corner.
In a statement, RAWA said: “RAWA is aware of reports from supporters regarding access issues and potential safety concerns at the North West corner ahead of last night’s match vs Dinamo Zagreb. We’re keen to gather first-hand accounts from anyone affected or who witnessed any issues entering the SoL. Please get in touch with details of your experience so that we can raise concerns directly with the club. Contact us via dm or email ([email protected]).”
The Echo has contacted Sunderland AFC and Northumbria Police for comment on the incident. Supporters who wish to share their experiences or raise concerns through official channels are encouraged to contact Red and White Army, which is gathering first-hand accounts to put to the club.
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