DAILY STAR
The Birmingham City supporter who charged the pitch and punched Jack Grealish has died aged 32.
Back in 2019, Paul Mitchell infamously leapt over the hoardings, ran onto the field at St Andrew’s, and threw a punch at the now Manchester City midfielder, striking the side of the face. At the time, Grealish was the captain of his boyhood club and Blues’ fiercest rivals Aston Villa.
Mitchell admitted charges of assault and encroachment onto the pitch, but was released after only serving four weeks of his 14-week term behind bars. Nearly four years on from the shocking incident, Mitchell has died after being discovered at an address in Birmingham earlier this week.
After he left prison, Mitchell described the month he spent in jail as the “best month of my life.” At the time, he said: “I’m out of prison. I was released on Monday. Of course, I’m glad to be out. It was the best month of my life. It was hard being away from my family but everything was good.”
When asked if he was going to apologise for his punch, he replied: “I’m not prepared to discuss that. I’m not apologising for nothing.”
Last September, Mitchell was jailed again after ignoring the 10-year football ban he was given after punching the England international. He breached an order to keep away from football stadiums when he attended Birmingham’s victory over West Bromwich Albion in April 2022.
He was seen encroaching onto the running track after Lyle Taylor scored a penalty against the Baggies. After being identified, he tried to justify his presence at the ground by saying he was “helping” a disabled friend by accompanying him to the match.
