John Ryan, a 62‑year‑old fan from Chatham, Kent, was found not guilty of assault after a fall from the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road during an FA Cup match against Maidstone United in January 2024. The incident left two Ipswich supporters, Joanne Peters and her partner Aaron Rose, injured, but the court concluded that Ryan’s fall was accidental and that he had no intent to harm anyone.
The match, which saw Maidstone United upset the Championship side 2‑1, was described by Ryan as “the biggest match in the club’s history.” He testified that he was celebrating a “special” goal when he lost his footing on the sloping roof that separates the upper and lower tiers of the stand. He admitted to being unsure whether he had been pushed or simply slipped, and that he had been drinking five cans of lager before the game. Video evidence shown to the jury showed Ryan sliding down the roof and landing on the supporters below.
Peters, who was seated directly beneath the upper tier, suffered whiplash, numbness in her hands and internal bruising. Rose, who was also seated below, reported being kicked in the head. Both witnesses expressed shock at the sudden collapse of the stand’s upper tier, with Peters saying she feared she could have died. Despite the injuries, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on both counts of assault by beating and actual bodily harm.
Ryan’s lawyer defended his client’s lack of intent, noting that the fall was a tragic accident rather than a deliberate act. After the verdict, Ryan appeared visibly emotional, stating that the case had been “very stressful.” He offered apologies to Peters and Rose, saying, “I’m sorry, it was an accident. I just remember going down the stairs and hitting that barrier, fell over it and that was it.”
The court’s decision underscores the difficulty of proving intent in incidents where a spectator’s fall causes injury. With the FA Cup tie now behind the teams, both Ipswich Town and Maidstone United will look to regroup as the season progresses, while the incident will likely prompt a review of stand safety measures at Portman Road.