PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor wants protective netting at stadiums

Protective nets would prevent 'copycat' trend
We ignore it at our peril, says Gordon Taylor
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand walks off the pitch after he is hit in the face by an object during game against Manchester City. Photograph: Clint Hughes/AP

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, has called for protective netting to be introduced at stadiums behind the goals, corner flags and dugouts to prevent a "copycat" trend of objects being thrown on to pitches.

Greater Manchester police have charged nine people in connection with the trouble that flared during the Manchester derby on Sunday when Rio Ferdinand was struck by a two-pence coin above his left eye while celebrating Robin van Persie's late winning goal for United.

A number of stadiums in the Bundesliga and other European leagues already have safety nets in place to protect the players and Taylor believes the incident involving Ferdinand is a stark warning that their safety is under threat.

He said: "It could have been a career-threatening injury if it had caught Rio's eye. There are certain areas that are more vulnerable than others – at corners, behind the goals and behind the dugout where substitutions are made. It's an option to consider. You wonder if there is a copycat reaction and that's obviously not good for players or referees.

"It's the job of the PFA to safeguard the players. If we ignore this problem we ignore it at our peril. It's trying to keep a check on a pattern. People may think there are sufficient sanctions in place but if that had been a bad injury to Rio I don't think anything could have condoned that.

"You wouldn't want anything to restrict the view and of course we aren't talking about fences, after Hillsborough. You've got to look at technology and see if there can be a way of protection without restricting the view. Safety of players and safety of fans is key."

Cardiff's former Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy was targeted by Manchester United supporters who threw bottles and coins when the sides met in the Carling Cup in 2010, while a mobile phone was launched on to the pitch by a Liverpool supporter after Wayne Rooney scored during a game at Anfield in 2005.

The Football Association, which condemned Sunday's ugly scenes as "unacceptable", and the Metropolitan Police launched separate investigations into how a Chelsea steward was hospitalised after Manchester United's victory at Stamford Bridge in October. Objects thrown included a seat, apparently aimed at Javier Hernández.

However, during the 2011-12 season the number of football-related arrests across all competitions in England and Wales fell by 24% to 2,363. Arrests made for missiles thrown on to the pitch totalled 53 for 2011‑12, down from 64 the previous year, with 16 made in the Premier League during 2011-12, a decrease of four.

Kevin Parker, a spokesman for the Manchester City Supporters Club, said: "In 40 years of watching football it's the first time I've seen that sort of thing happen at City. I don't think the introduction of netting is the right way forward for football. I've watched games in Europe with netting and it makes you as a supporter feel like a second-class citizen. It's not ideal and from a safety point of view I don't think it's ideal, for instance if fans needed to make a quick exit onto the field.

"None of us condone what happened at City on Sunday, but we should wait for Manchester City, the police and the Football Association to have a look at what happened and how it can be prevented."

Malcolm Clarke, the chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, added: "Netting is not something we feel is necessary. No one condones the throwing of missiles but arrests last season were 24% down on previous seasons and not many social phenomenon alter that much."