Manchester City fan suffers broken leg after ‘brutal attack’ inside Etihad Stadium | OneFootball

One Manchester City fan was left with a broken leg requiring surgery this week following a ‘brutal attack’ from within the Etihad Stadium.

The incident has caused widespread concern among supporters, particularly given the club publicly priding themselves on providing a safe and family-friendly matchday environment for those at the Etihad Stadium.

Reports of violence inside a home stand have sparked calls for a full review of protocols and security arrangements, while the fact the altercation occurred during a high-profile fixture has further amplified scrutiny regarding stadium safety and the club’s hospitality policies.

City officials have spent recent years expanding premium experiences such as the Tunnel Club, which welcome both home and away supporters under behavioural guidelines. While this initiative has been largely successful, the presence of mixed supporters has raised questions over whether incidents like this may become more likely during heated fixtures.

There is also growing frustration among fans after initial communication from the club’s official Fan Support account appeared to downplay early claims of serious injury during the victory over Leeds United. While clubs often rely on early reports from authorities before issuing statements, the discrepancy between initial messaging and severity of confirmed injuries has led to criticism from supporters.

Now, as confirmed by the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, a Manchester City fan suffered a broken leg after fights broke out in one of the home sections of the Etihad Stadium during the Premier League clash with Leeds United.

Greater Manchester Police are said to have arrested five people at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening on suspicion of affray and an investigation is ongoing with the co-operation of the club.

In addition to the 3,000 Leeds fans in the away end at the stadium, the report confirms there were also away supporters in hospitality areas such as the Tunnel Club and 93:20, taking advantage of the club’s policy that fans of either team are accepted as long as they behave.

It is a staggering turn of events after Manchester City’s official Fan Support channel on X attempted to shut down claims of an attack and injuries being sustained, replying on multiple occasions with the following statement:

“We are aware of an incident that took place at the Etihad Stadium yesterday between a group of fans.

“From the information provided to the Club by the relevant authorities and through internal investigations, we can confirm that this incident did not involve Leeds fans and that the injuries were nowhere near as serious as the inaccurate rumours which have circulated online.

“This matter is subject to an ongoing police investigation.”

The next steps will largely depend on the findings of Greater Manchester Police’s ongoing enquiries, with further arrests or charges possible as officers review CCTV, steward reports, and mobile footage.

Manchester City may also conduct an internal review and could adjust hospitality-area policies if it is determined that mixed-supporter sections contributed to the escalation.

Supporters will now look to the club for clearer communication, while many will hope for strengthened safeguards to prevent similar incidents in future, and this particular incident is likely to remain a topic of discussion over the coming weeks.