Referee Runs for His Safety After Angry Fan Invades Pitch to Protest Penalty Call

• Portsmouth beat Port Vale 1-0 on Saturday, January 27
• The win came courtesy of a controversial 88th-minute penalty
• An angry home fan invaded the pitch and chased the ref in protest

There were bizarre scenes on Saturday, January 27 in League One as the referee was given an unexpected cardiovascular workout by an irate home fan.

Port Vale hosted Portsmouth in the League, with the visitors looking to go two points clear at the top of League One in their push for promotion.

The game was meandering to a 0-0 stalemate when Portsmouth got a penalty in the 88th minute after the referee deemed Conor Grant to have taken down Abu Kamara in the box.

Colby Bishop converted the resulting penalty to give Pompey a 1-0 lead with a goal which proved decisive, but Port Vale fans were incensed by the decision to give the penalty.

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One fan was so angered by the decision that he somehow stormed the pitch and tried to give referee Craig Hicks a piece of his mind.

In a video shared by @FBAwayDays that has gone viral on social media, the supporter, dressed in black, could be seen charging at Hicks, who knew very little about what was happening and resorted to a flight response.

What ensued was a brief cat-and-mouse ordeal, with the referee running towards the touchline, a move which saved him as the fan was apprehended by stewards moments later.

Back to the game, Portsmouth held on for a crucial victory as they bounced back from defeats to Cheltenham and Leyton Orient in their last two games.