List of Violent Spectator Incidents in Sports - 1995

1995

• January 25 – After French Manchester United player Eric Cantona had been ejected for kicking an opponent during a game against Crystal Palace, Palace fan Matthew Simmons left his seat and came down to the touchline shouting racist abuse at Cantona as he walked off the pitch; in response, Cantona ran over and launched a chest high kick at Simmons and landed several punches before police and security separated them, with Cantona being given a second red card. Cantona was banned for the remainder of the FA Premier League season and fined ₤50,000; he was also convicted of assault and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service. Simmons was sentenced to one day in jail and fined ₤200 for offensive behaviour.
• February 6 – During a timeout in an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets at Portland Memorial Coliseum, Houston Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell ran a dozen rows into the stands and punched a fan, Steve George, in the face after George had allegedly heckled him over his wife's recent miscarriage. George suffered a broken jaw, while Maxwell was ejected, suspended for 10 games and fined $20,000 by the NBA.
• August 10 – The Los Angeles Dodgers gave out baseballs to paying customers as they entered the Dodger Stadium gates for a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals were leading the game 2–1 as the Dodgers came to bat in the bottom of the 9th inning. The first batter, Raúl Mondesí, was called out on strikes and promptly ejected by home plate umpire Jim Quick for arguing, as was Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda immediately after. Dodger fans, fuelled by a series of close calls and a few rounds of alcohol, immediately began throwing the baseballs onto the field. The Cardinals left the field due to safety concerns and the umpires forfeited the game to St. Louis 15 minutes later. Following this incident, Major League Baseball mandated that should baseballs or any throwable object be given away as a promotional item, the giveaway would follow the game.
• September 28 – Chicago Cubs pitcher Randy Myers was attacked on the mound by a fan, John Murray, at Wrigley Field after giving up a home run; Myers, well known for his martial arts skills, easily subdued his attacker and held him on the ground until authorities arrested him. Murray was charged with assault and disorderly conduct; Cubs shortstop Shawon Dunston, the first person on the scene, told the AP that, given his teammate's ability in martial arts, he feared for Murray's life.
• December 17 – Knowing that they would lose their team to Baltimore for the next year, fans of the Cleveland Browns, especially those in the Dawg Pound area of Cleveland Municipal Stadium, were so hostile during the team's final home game against the Cincinnati Bengals that game play coming toward the Dawg Pound had to be directed towards the opposite end of the stadium. There was extensive damage to the stadium, as empty seats were torn and thrown onto the field, fires were set in the bleachers, sinks and stalls were torn from the bathrooms, and stadium security were also attacked.
• December 23 – With the San Diego Chargers leading 27–17 during the fourth quarter of a game between the New York Giants and the Chargers at Giants Stadium, intoxicated Giants fans threw hundreds of snowballs and chunks of ice at Chargers players and team officials, injuring fifteen people; Chargers equipment manager Sid Brooks was knocked unconscious — as the NBC broadcast showed him laying injured on the sideline, long snapper David Binn was seen in the background making an obscene gesture toward the snowball-throwing fans — and had to be removed from the stadium on a stretcher. 15 people were arrested and a further 175 were ejected, with 75 fans having their season tickets revoked. Following this incident, the NFL mandated that seating areas be cleared of all snow and ice prior to the opening of the stadium gates.