Protesters threw orange powder on to Twickenham pitch causing brief stoppage around 20 minutes into Gallagher Premiership final between Saracens and Sale Sharks; World Snooker Championship in Sheffield was similarly affected in April with orange paint hurled on to table at The Crucible
Sunday 28 May 2023 11:44, UK
Two men have been charged in connection with protest activity during the Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police said a 40-year-old and 37-year-old were charged with aggravated trespass.
The Just Stop Oil protesters threw orange paint onto the ground around 20 minutes into the game at Twickenham before being removed from the pitch by stewards and subsequently arrested.
The Premiership final resumed after a five-minute delay, with Saracens going on to win 35-25 to claim their sixth title.
A statement from Just Stop Oil read: "Two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the Gallagher Premiership Rugby final. They are demanding a halt to any new licences for oil, gas and coal projects in the UK."
A statement from Commander Kyle Gordon, of the Met, read: "To date we have seen 102 slow marches across London by Just Stop Oil that has caused serious disruption and frustration to those going about their business in the city leading to 51 arrests to date.
"Similarly, [Saturday's] incident at the rugby final will have caused frustration to both the players and spectators alike. With many other events taking place, and visitors in our capital this weekend, we will continue to monitor and respond to such incidents quickly.
"Where protest moves into criminality or serious disruption, we will take robust action to ensure Londoners and visitors alike can continue to enjoy their Bank Holiday weekend."
It was the latest instance of people associated with Just Stop Oil pausing sporting events, following similar occurrences at the recent World Snooker Championship in Sheffield and a Premier League football match between Everton and Newcastle United at Goodison Park last year.
At the World Snooker Championship in April, a man tipped orange paint on the table during the first-round match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry.
A woman was prevented from executing a similar stunt on the other table as Mark Allen played Fan Zhengyi after being tackled by referee Olivier Marteel.
After the Crucible incident, Barry Hearn, whose company Matchroom Sport acquired World Snooker Limited in 2010, told talkSPORT: "Sport's an easy target.
"It is a concern because, whenever someone intrudes on the field of play, wherever it is, your first thought is not that this could be a protest, but it could be something quite harmful.
"Custodial sentences is my way. I'm a zero-tolerance type of guy.
"We're such a soft touch as a nation - smack their wrists, give them a small fine, maybe a bit of community hours, maybe a month in prison. It's a ludicrous situation but what do you do about it?
"The problem is there's not enough deterrent out there for these people to do anything but get away with it.
"It might cost them a few hours of their freedom but there's no serious deterrent. For that reason alone, expect more of these, not less."
