Cleveland to ban fan who hit Browns owner with bottle
During the Browns’ loss to the Jets, a FirstEnergy Stadium attendee threw a bottle that hit team owner Jimmy Haslam, prompting a ban on the perpetrator.
Week 2 will be remembered for multiple assaults committed by NFL fans. In Las Vegas, one hit Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, and in Cleveland the attack was launched against the owner of the Browns. In the case of the AFC North club, there is already an action plan to penalize the perpetrator.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Browns plan to ban the fan who threw a bottle onto the field at FirstEnergy Stadium and hit the organization’s owner Jimmy Haslam.
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“The safety of fans and workers is the priority in our building and attitudes that endanger others will not be tolerated,” the organization said in a statement.
“Fortunately no one was injured following this incident and as standard practice we have cooperated with the authorities and the video of an object being thrown is in the proper hands. We will not comment further on this.”
The incident occurred towards the end of the Browns loss to the Jets with a score of 31-30. Following Garreth Wilson’s score that sealed the game for New York, Haslam left the field towards the players’ tunnel and was hit by a bottle on the leg.
While Pelissero reported that the Browns have already identified the attacker, TMZ indicated that the attacker’s name is Jeffery Miller and he was arrested inside the stadium. The fan faces charges of disorderly conduct, failure to comply with a lawful order, and assault
Unruly fans in Cleveland
This is not the first time that Browns fans have thrown bottles onto the field. In the 2001 season, after a controversial decision by the referees in a game between Cleveland and the Jacksonville Jaguars, fans of the Ohio team filled the pitch with glass containers. Referees originally ended the game early, even though the NFL ordered the full 60 minutes to be played out.