MIDDLESBROUGH are set to adopt a zero tolerance policy to pitch invaders having noticed an increase in spectators coming onto the pitch during games this season.

The game against Stoke City at the weekend was no exception as the club staff were left furious at delays to the game. Despite numerous announcements on the PA system during the game to not invade the pitch at the end of the game, a handful of supporters ignored the calls as they made they ran on to take selfies with Boro players during the game.

The message was repeated after the game with the Boro players set to do a lap of honour of the pitch to show their appreciation to the supporters. When the players re-emerged, more fans made their way onto the Riverside turf to meet the players.  

After the game, the manager Chris Wilder vented his frustrations at one particular incident where one young supporter made his way past stewards onto the pitch in the closing stages at the game.

It’s understood that the club hierarchy were equally angry at supporters making their way onto the pitch and they are set to clamp down pitch invaders next season with harsher punishments like hefty fines and matchday bans.

Wilder said: “The goal goes in at the end. I’m a little bit disappointed with the boy that ran on the pitch. There are possibly 5,000 youngsters that watched us today who would love that opportunity of getting onto the pitch. They haven’t. They’ve been respectful of it.

“That didn’t get a clap from me as you’ve seen my reaction towards that. Be respectful of the football pitch and be respectful of the football match so that was a slight disappointment.”

At the time, Wilder made his way out of his technical area and attempted to confront the young supporter on the pitch but his presence wasn’t acknowledged.

The manager was left frustrated that the pitch invasions may well have had a direct outcome on the game with the Potters scoring with the final kick of the game, a potentially damaging outcome for Boro’s goal difference as they look to chase down a place in the Championship play-offs.

Wilder continued: “It could. I can’t change the attitude of the team. We went for a fourth goal. We just hit the post and Josh Coburn has gone clean through.

“We can’t change the attitude of the team. We can be a little bit critical. But what we can be critical of is an extra minute going up on the board because somebody has interrupted the state of the game. It’s just not acceptable.”