Rival Fan Badly Hurt in Raider Game Attack

A 35-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers fan was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday after he taunted Los Angeles Raiders fans during the game between the two teams at the Coliseum and was attacked by one of them, authorities said.

The Steelers fan, whose identity was not released, suffered a head injury that left him “unconscious and unresponsive,” said County-USC Medical Center spokeswoman Adelaida de la Cerda. He was being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Los Angeles Police arrested the alleged assailant, whose name also was withheld, and booked him for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, said Sgt. Kris Davis. No weapon was used during the attack, but the victim was kicked after he had been knocked down, Davis said.

“Once you’re down, a kick is considered assault with a deadly weapon,” the sergeant explained.

The incident happened at 3:30 p.m. in the stands directly behind the Steelers bench during the game won by the Raiders 20-3, Davis said.

“The Steelers fan was walking through a section of Raiders fans, taunting them,” Davis said. “The Raiders fans were throwing things at him. This one fan went over and punched him, knocking him to the ground.”

The Steelers fan was flashing a program, laughing and yelling toward the Steelers bench, said a witness who asked that she not be identified. She said the exchange between the Steelers fan and others in the stands was generally good natured.

“People were throwing ice at him, laughing,” the witness said. “He started yelling something to the Steelers bench and then turned to face the stands again.

“He was minding his own business when this other man walks up slowly and punches him in the face. It was really a cheap shot. The man who got hit never even had a chance to raise his hands.”

Once the Steelers fan was knocked down, he never got up, the witness said. He was given medical attention by trainers from the Steelers bench before paramedics arrived, she said.