Ball boy injured in pyrotechnic incident during Portsmouth vs Southampton match
A teenage ball boy has been left with temporary hearing loss after a flashbang detonated close to him during Sunday’s heated south coast derby between Portsmouth and Southampton, reports BritPanorama.
Hayden Rogers, 16, was positioned pitchside at Fratton Park when the pyrotechnic device exploded just a few feet from where he stood. Although the object did not strike him directly, the blast caused significant damage to his hearing in one ear, alongside a severe headache.
His mother, Jade Rogers, revealed the incident had continued to affect her son in the days following the 1-1 draw. She mentioned that Hayden “struggled to sleep last night because he kept thinking about it,” emphasizing the ongoing psychological impact of the event.
Medical staff at the ground provided immediate treatment before Hayden was taken to first aid facilities. Further medical examinations on Monday revealed complications with the injured ear. Mrs. Rogers explained that the eardrum remained too clouded for doctors to determine whether it had been perforated, though the absence of severe pain suggested it likely had not.
She added, “It is looking good in the sense that there’ll hopefully be no real long-term damage although it is just still quite muffled and quite painful from the loud noise.” Medical professionals have cautioned that such noise-related trauma can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite the ordeal, the teenager remains determined to return to his duties, with his mother noting that upon learning the club had called to check on him, Hayden’s immediate concern was whether he could still serve as a ball retriever for Saturday’s fixture.
Portsmouth now faces the prospect of sanctions from the Football Association that could extend beyond financial penalties. The club had previously been fined £50,000 and issued a formal warning regarding future conduct following a pitch invasion during their League One title celebrations against Barnsley in April 2024. Under FA Rule E21, clubs must ensure supporters refrain from violent, threatening, or abusive behaviour, including pitch encroachment and throwing missiles. The club confirmed that in addition to Hayden’s injuries, a staff member suffered burns from the exploding device.
Portsmouth has pledged to impose significant sanctions on any individuals identified through ongoing CCTV reviews. The club is urging witnesses to come forward with information, while Hampshire Police continue their separate investigation into the pyrotechnic incident. Hampshire Constabulary confirmed five individuals were detained in connection with incidents during and immediately after the match. Richard Sean Conaghan, 34, from Courtmount Grove in Portsmouth, has been charged with entering the playing area during a football match.
Two other Portsmouth residents, aged 28 and 32, were arrested on suspicion of pitch encroachment and remain on bail pending further investigation. A 36-year-old Southampton man was also detained on suspicion of common assault and subsequently bailed. Police released a 19-year-old who had been arrested on suspicion of throwing an object, with no further action to be taken. Officers continue reviewing CCTV and body-worn camera footage as investigations progress into multiple incidents, including the throwing of missiles and a reported crutch being hurled that injured a 15-year-old boy.
In the world of football, incidents like this remind us of the thin line between passion and peril, as the vibrant energy of rivalries sometimes overshadows the fundamental safety of participants and spectators alike.
