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via Imago

via Imago

It was a moment that should have been a happy surprise for a devoted son. But what happened next has left a family shattered. Craig Pankhurst, a survivor of a stroke and the founder of the ‘A stroke of luck’ charity, took his 70-year-old father to watch his beloved Tottenham Hotspur play in a critical FA Cup match against Sheffield United.

However, what was meant to be a happy father-son bonding moment turned into a nightmare when they were both brutally attacked by Sheffield United fans. The incident took place on Wednesday night during the match. Sheffield, being the underdogs, pulled off a shock 1-0 win thanks to a goal in the 79th minute.

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Tottenham Hotspur fan and his dad in hospital after the attack

Pankhurst took to Twitter to recount the incident, saying that both he and his father were left with injuries after the attack. He shared a series of Twitter posts to convey his story which is just heartbreaking to hear.

Pankhurst said that he and his father had to be taken to the hospital. He gave this update saying, “Now I’m hospital. Waiting for scans. What a terrible end to his 70th birthday surprise 😪 we thought the @SpursOfficial result was the worst thing this evening. Clearly not”.

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Craig Pankhurst also gave an update on his father, saying his left side had been swelling up. They have also been in touch with the Police to find and take action against the culprits.

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It is a shameful act as both Craig and his father had to be hospitalized and spent six hours in the hospital. This is not the first time that violence has broken out between fans. In 2017, a Tottenham fan was left with a broken skull after he was mistaken as a Chelsea fan by supporters.

This latest incident has once again raised the issue of safety at soccer matches. It is high time that measures are put in place to ensure the safety of all fans, regardless of which team they support. No one should have to fear for their safety when they are simply trying to enjoy a match.

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What are your thoughts on this horrific incident? let us know in the comments.