York City player throws punch at Rochdale fan after being ‘attacked’ during pitch invasion

York City player, allegedly Hiram Boateng, throws a punch at a Rochdale fan after being ‘attacked’ during the pitch invasion on Saturday.

Boateng was reportedly pinned down to the ground by a Rochdale supporter, who invaded the pitch, with Hiram then coming after the Rochdale supporter and hit back as stewards got hold of the fan.

The game itself saw Rochdale thinking they won the title with a goal in the fifth of six minutes added on. the subsequent pitch invasion halted the game. York then went and scored a 103rd minute equaliser to be crowned National League champions. See more in the article below…

Send him down @gmpolice pic.twitter.com/XUdHFQncgm

— Josh ♛ (@parry_josh1) April 25, 2026

York win National League title with 103rd minute equaliser after Rochdale scored in 95th minute

Here’s the social media reaction after the York City player, allegedly Hiram Boateng, throws a punch at a Rochdale fan after being ‘attacked’ during the pitch invasion on Saturday…

@veggiekrays: I’d like to see what leads up to this. It looks like the bald bloke is assaulting him on the ground. How did he get on the ground in the first place? Easily gets a self defence plea just from the available information in the video

@Charliebwright1: Boateng getting assaulted in the Rochdale pitch invasion. The Rochdale fans really did fuck it for their team #ycfc #rafc

@stagsmad: Shouldn’t of been on pitch in first place it’s for players and officials the so called fan should get a lifetime ban from attending football especially for attacking a player who is on the ground to be honest I hope Rochdale get a huge fine for not controlling the fans

@ccfc_07: Nothing wrong with that after pinning him to the floor play on

@Samwinton99: The authorities are not going to look at it that way though. It’s a strong left hook on a fan who was already restrained. He’s going to get a long ban, regardless of if most people feel it was justified

@sam_elsegood: @HBoateng8 left hook and were going up ole ole

@VortecHD: Invaded the pitch, got ko’d, didn’t win the league. What and afternoon for him.

@c8nnorr: Non league is like no other ain’t it 🤣

@Diggers71: We’ll soon be back to perimeter fencing in grounds across the UK. Fans “just celebrating” on the pitch is resulting in more players being confronted etc.

@cazbernie: That game was just bedlam.

@adam_schons2: Why tf would he do that? Like it’s just silly, especially considering his side won

@hazteckoe: Ignore the fact he’s getting attacked by the bald guy. Running on the pitch to celebrate is one thing. Attacking the opposition is disgusting behaviour

@Joeshrewsbury30: You’d be mortified if running onto the pitch and then getting dropped by a player 😂😂😂

@pvfcpatrick: Not saying it wasn’t justified but he’s in fo a hell of a ban and fine. He won’t be playing league 2 football for a few months

After the game, York’s Josh Stones said, per Sky Sports: “For the final game to have ended 0-0, it would have been a travesty for the league.

“I’m so happy. We deserve it as a group, the staff, the fans. I love the club and that meant everything.

“I thought it was over, but the boys never say never. If I’m really honest, I hope they [Rochdale] go on and win the playoffs, they’ve been unbelievable. I missed a chance at 0-0 and I thought if that was it and we lost 1-0, I wouldn’t sleep for days. Now I’m not going to sleep for days, in a good way.”

York manager Stuart Maynard told DAZN: “They said it was ‘York time’. Before Rochdale scored, it was ‘Rochdale time.’ There’s a real belief and togetherness in this camp.

“You’ve just got to look at the fans behind us. When I first joined, I said we all had to be in this together; the players are warriors.

“When they scored, they’re coming over to the dugout and said there’s one more chance for us. There’s a real belief in us and it kept us going.

“Everything went out the window. Everyone went up front, we had no one back. Kick it, then we get a throw and throw it forward. We know with this group they keep going to the end and they deserve it.

“See all these players behind me, they are incredible. They work so hard, tirelessly every day. We’re one big family and I love every single one of them.

“I hope Rochdale go up. It’s criminal in this league that teams can get over 100 points and not go up.”