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- Cawley’s ban was lifted on appeal in 2016 but remains barred from Leeds games
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The Leeds United supporter who fell from the upper tier of Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night is a football hooligan who was jailed for punching a former England goalkeeper in 2012, Mail Sport can reveal.
Aaron Cawley, 33, was jailed for four months and given a six-year ban from football after running on the pitch and attacking then-Sheffield Wednesday keeper Chris Kirkland during a televised match in 2012.
Mail Sport understands Cawley is recovering in hospital after the fall, which happened as Leeds fans celebrated Mateo Joseph’s opening goal.
Cawley’s banning order was lifted in 2016 after he launched a successful appeal.
Leeds United have confirmed that Cawley remains banned from matches by the club following the incident, but could not confirm the name of the supporter who fell due to patient confidentiality.
Despite his club ban, Cawley was spotted by television cameras at a Leeds match in 2016, hugging defender Pontus Jansson after he scored an equalising goal against Norwich.
Cawley had previously been banned from football for three years when he was 16 for violence.
The 33-year-old was among the away supporters to attend Leeds United’s FA Cup fifth round tie against Chelsea on Wednesday night.
He fell into a group of fans in the bottom tier, also containing thousands of away supporters.
Medical personnel rushed to the scene quickly, and took the Cawley to a nearby hospital after removing him from the ground.
Chelsea eventually secured a 3-2 win over Leeds United to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, with the match the latest in a fierce rivalry formed between the two sides over 50 years ago.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
