List of violent spectator incidents in sports - Definition

This list of violent spectator incidents in sports includes events in which a spectator at a sporting event was engaged in a violent confrontation with an athlete, coach or game official, either through the spectator's intrusion upon the field of play, or as a result of such an event participant entering the spectator seating area. It does not include incidents of riots or other violence, often outside the event venue, which did not involve game participants.

• On April 30, 1993, tennis star Monica Seles was stabbed by Günter Parche, a Steffi Graf fan, during a changeover at a match in Germany.
• On January 25, 1995, Manchester United striker Eric Cantona assaulted a fan during a game against Crystal Palace after said fan hurled racial slurs towards him. Cantona is banned for the remainder of the English Premier League season.
• On August 29, 2004, during the men's marathon event at the 2004 Summer Olympics, defrocked Irish priest Neil Horan burst out of the crowd to accost race leader Vanderlei de Lima, an action which probably cost the runner the gold medal. De Lima ultimately placed third in the race. Link & photo: http://www.letsrun.com/2004/accost.php
• On September 13, 2004, Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco threw a chair at a fan during the Rangers' game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland's Network Associates Coliseum.
• On November 19, 2004, near the end of an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, a brawl erupted between Pacers players and Pistons supporters.