Police release statement as York player punches pitch invader during wild National League clash

Greater Manchester Police will investigate a viral video that shows a York City player punching a pitch invader.

York secured promotion from the National League on Saturday, in one of the most dramatic final days of the season ever.

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Just one point separated York and home side Rochdale going into the clash at the Crown Oil Arena.

Rochdale thought they had won it in the fifth minute of stoppage time, only for their rivals to grab an equaliser eight minutes later through Josh Stones and send them straight up.

It means Rochdale must go through the agony of the play-offs, despite amassing 106 points.

Manager Jimmy McNulty did not conduct any media interviews after the game.

Both goals saw wild pitch invasions as emotions from the fans spilled out onto the field.

Amid the York celebrations, midfielder Hiram Boateng is on his knees after the final whistle.

One fan, and it is not clear if they are a Rochdale or York supporter, then appears to lay his hands on Boateng.

Boateng wriggles free and then appears to punch the supporter, with the video quickly going viral on social media.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told talkSPORT: “We are aware of a video that is circulating of a possible assault involving a player and we have linked in with both clubs and the National League.

“We will be further assessing the video and reviewing CCTV of the incident.”

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A total of five arrests were made, which included four male Rochdale fans and one male York fan.

Of the Rochdale fans, one was arrested on suspicion of assault and pitch incursion, one on suspicion of a public order offence, and two on suspicion of pitch incursion.

The York City fan was arrested on suspicion of assault and will be interviewed at a later date.

York celebrations

The Minstermen are back in the Football League after a decade away.

York’s Ollie Banks joined talkSPORT on Sunday Edition and revealed that he did not get to bed until 6am amid the celebrations.

He remarked: “To be honest it was the hardest 25 minutes of my career. I’ve never been so nervous, scared, just everything. 

“It was a roller coaster, but it has been all season and something mad had to happen to end a title race like that and it did.”

Speaking after the game, goalscorer Stones said: “The maddest ever. Crazy. When they scored, that’s what they’ve done all season.

“For the final game to have ended 0-0, it would have been a travesty for the league.

“I’m so happy. We deserve it as a group, the staff, the fans. I love the club and that meant everything.

“I thought it was over, but the boys never say never. If I’m really honest, I hope they [Rochdale] go on and win the playoffs, they’ve been unbelievable.

“I missed a chance at 0-0 and I thought if that was it and we lost 1-0, I wouldn’t sleep for days. Now I’m not going to sleep for days, in a good way.”