SecurityProtocolsPlayer Welfare

Event Security Lessons for Teams: Preventing and Responding to Public Attacks

pplayers

2026-02-11 12:00:00

9 min read

Using the Peter Mullan case, this article gives clubs practical event security and assault-response measures to protect players and fans. Start your risk scan now.

When a public appearance turns dangerous: immediate gaps teams can fix now

Clubs, leagues and player reps juggle sponsorships, fan engagement and revenue-driven meet-and-greets — but protecting players and fans is non-negotiable. The 2025 court ruling in the Peter Mullan assault case is a stark reminder that violence can erupt in a heartbeat, often outside controlled zones. If your organization still treats security as a checkbox, this article lays out a modern, evidence-based playbook to prevent and respond to public attacks at fan events, player appearances and meet-and-greets.

Executive summary: What teams should do first (inverted pyramid)

Immediate actions: enforce perimeter security at entry/egress, assign a dedicated rapid-response team, and ensure medical staff are on standby for every player appearance.
Within 72 hours: collect and preserve evidence, issue clear internal and public communications, and open structured aftercare for affected players and witnesses.
Longer-term: adopt a formal risk-assessment framework, integrate AI-assisted monitoring where legal, and run quarterly incident simulations with local police.

Why this matters now (2026 context)

Fan aggression and spontaneous violence at public entertainment events spiked across Europe and North America in late 2024–2025. Insurers and governing bodies responded in 2025–2026 by tightening underwriting criteria and requiring demonstrable security protocols. Additionally, new real-time analytics, wearable alert devices and integrated incident-management platforms have matured enough to be practical for clubs and venues of all sizes — but only if they are implemented with clear policies and training.

Case study: The Peter Mullan assault — what happened and why teams should care

In September 2025 outside Glasgow’s O2 Academy, actor Peter Mullan intervened to stop a woman from being assaulted and was himself attacked — headbutted and struck with a glass bottle — suffering a head wound. The assailant, Dylan Bennet, was jailed for 18 months after the incident and subsequent prosecution. Reporting from BBC and Deadline confirmed alcohol and drug use played a role, and that the attack occurred outside the venue, in public egress space.

Key facts: intervention to protect a third party; assault occurred outside controlled space; weapon (glass bottle) was used; justice followed, but prevention and response gaps were exposed.

Implication for sports: player appearances and fan events are vulnerable not just inside arenas but along approach routes, outdoor activation zones, and adjacent public property. Staff planning must account for the full fan journey.

Lesson 1 — Start with a robust risk assessment

Every event must begin with a documented risk assessment tailored to the specific activity, location and audience profile. Generic security plans fail because they don’t account for local variables: nearby nightlife (alcohol), public transport hubs, protest events, or known problem supporters.

Risk assessment checklist

Location scan: entrances, exits, choke points, egress lighting, CCTV coverage.
Audience profile: expected age, ticket pricing (cheap mass gatherings attract different behaviors), alcohol availability.
Timing: proximity to late-night venues and transport schedules.
Threat vectors: glass bottles, illicit drugs, crowd surges, lone-actor assaults.
Legal and regulatory constraints: local laws on search, surveillance and biometric tools.

Lesson 2 — Design the event with layered protection (prevention)

Layered security reduces single points of failure. Think of it as concentric rings that protect the player from casual threats through to determined attackers.

Pre-event screening: timed tickets, identity checks for VIP areas, and digital registration reduce anonymous vectors.
Perimeter control: physical barriers, clear signage, and stewarding to separate fans from access corridors and player paths.
Operational controls: alcohol policies, bag-check protocols, and a zero-tolerance policy for weapons or aggressive behaviour.
Safe circulation routes: fixed player entry/exit paths with options for rapid evacuation and discrete movement.
Staging layout: meet-and-greets should have buffer zones, limited and pre-screened attendees, and escape corridors.

Lesson 3 — Use modern tech, but with governance

2026 tools can transform detection and response — but they require policy and consent frameworks.

Recommended tech stack

AI-assisted camera analytics: real-time anomaly detection for crowd surges and suspicious behavior.
Wearable panic devices: discreet panic buttons or GPS-enabled wearables for players and key staff. Consider wearable strategies alongside consumer wearables insights such as smartwatch use cases when evaluating battery and connectivity trade-offs.
Integrated incident management platforms: single dashboard that triangulates CCTV, staff radios, medical logs and police liaison.
Encrypted comms: secure team chat with location pinging for rapid coordination.
Fan apps with reporting: allow vetted attendees to report incidents quickly (with moderation and privacy safeguards).

Important: check local privacy and biometric laws before deploying facial recognition or persistent tracking. In many jurisdictions in 2026, consent and data-retention policies are strict — see guidance on protecting privacy when deploying AI-enabled tools.

Lesson 4 — On-site personnel and training

Technology is only as effective as the people who use it. Invest in training and clear role definition.

Staffing and ratios

Designated Player Protection Officer (PPO) for any appearance — single point of accountability.
Minimum steward-to-attendee ratios (adjust for venue size and risk profile).
Dedicated rapid-response unit (security + medic) within sight of the stage or appearance area.

Training priorities

De-escalation and conflict avoidance for front-line staff.
Trauma-informed first response for medical and PR teams.
Evidence preservation and witness interviewing techniques for senior staff.
Quarterly tabletop and live-action drills with local police and ambulance services.

Lesson 5 — Assault response protocol: a minute-by-minute play

When an assault occurs, speed and structure limit harm and legal exposure. Below is a practical timeline your club can adopt as a SOP (standard operating procedure).

First 0–5 minutes (on-scene)

Secure the victim(s) and remove them from danger.
Alert medical staff and summon police (use pre-agreed emergency numbers/lanes).
Preserve scene: prevent crowd interference, keep bystanders back.
Record immediate observations: time, location, visible injuries.

5–60 minutes

Collect witness details and assign an officer to statements.
Acquire and mark CCTV footage; note cameras that captured event.
Notify senior team leadership, legal counsel and insurer.
Draft holding public statement and prepare spokespeople.

1–24 hours

Provide medical follow-up and mental health support to affected players and staff. For quick pop-up medical coverage models see micro-clinic playbooks that outline short-term staffing and triage approaches.
Hand over evidence to police and assist with prosecution as needed.
Implement temporary safeguards for next events (increased staffing, adjusted routes).

24–72 hours

Conduct post-incident review with multidisciplinary team (security, legal, PR, medical).
Issue transparent updates to stakeholders while preserving legal integrity.
Update risk register and adjust future event plans.

Lesson 6 — Evidence and legal follow-up

Most successful prosecutions hinge on quality evidence preservation. Clubs must act as responsible custodians of video, witness statements and incident logs.

Keep CCTV exports in read-only format and log chain-of-custody; use secure workflows such as custodial and vault workflows for sensitive media.
Date/time-stamp security logs and GPS data from wearables.
Record formal witness statements as soon as possible, ideally with a police officer present.
Coordinate with the club’s legal team before issuing public statements about ongoing investigations.

Lesson 7 — Aftercare: supporting the player, staff and fans

Physical injury is only part of the harm; mental health impacts can be long-lasting. High-performing teams implement structured aftercare.

Immediate medical and psychological assessment for the injured and those who intervened.
Flexible scheduling and leave policy to allow recovery.
Confidential counselling and trauma support services funded by the club.
Proactive communications training for players asked to comment publicly.

Policy, insurance and contractual considerations

Since late 2025, insurers have explicitly required documented mitigation strategies for player appearances. Without up-to-date policies, clubs face higher premiums and possible refusal of coverage.

Ensure event contracts include security obligations and indemnities.
Review insurance policies annually and maintain an incident register for underwriters.
Update club policies to include digital evidence retention and privacy-compliant surveillance practices.

Training and simulations: live drills that save lives

Routine tabletop exercises and live simulations build muscle memory. Simulate diverse scenarios: lone-actor assault, bottle/weapon attacks, crowd crush and mass-ejection events. Involve local police, ambulance, venue staff and player representatives in these exercises.

2026 tech & trend watch — what clubs should evaluate now

Predictive crowd analytics: AI models that flag rising risk scores 15–30 minutes before incidents. See advanced edge analytics playbooks such as Edge Signals & Personalization.
Wearable safety devices: panic buttons for VIPs and players linked to operations dashboards.
Integrated incident platforms: tools that log events, evidence and actions in a single secure repository to speed legal and insurance workflows.
Fan engagement moderation: AI tools that surface threats from social channels before events — keep an eye on costs and outage impacts in your social monitoring stack (see cost impact analyses).

Note: adopt technology with a clear privacy impact assessment and local legal counsel sign-off.

Quick actionable checklist for your next player appearance

Run a location-specific risk assessment 14–30 days out.
Assign a Player Protection Officer and brief all staff 72 hours prior.
Confirm rapid-response and medical presence onsite.
Lock down entry/exits and circulation routes; mark buffer zones.
Test CCTV & AI alerts 24 hours prior and verify recordings are accessible.
Limit meet-and-greet numbers and pre-screen VIP guests where possible.
Deploy wearable panic devices for players and senior staff.
Have a pre-approved public holding statement and spokespeople ready.
Conduct a post-event debrief within 48 hours and update your risk register.

Real-world example: How one club avoided escalation (hypothetical but practical)

Club X scheduled a public meet-and-greet outside a city arena in November 2025. After a pre-event risk assessment flagged high alcohol sales nearby, the club relocated the signing table inside a fenced activation zone, deployed two rapid-response medics and issued wearables to the player group. During the event, AI analytics flagged an individual attempting to force entry; stewards intervened and removed the person before the situation escalated. Post-event, the club handed over footage to police who later charged the suspect. The combination of pre-event planning, layered security and technology prevented injury and ensured swift legal action.

Checklist: Incident report form (essentials)

Event name, location, date/time of incident
Names and contact info of victims/witnesses
Summary of incident and immediate actions taken
List of evidence collected (CCTV IDs, wearable logs, photos)
Medical treatment provided and referrals
Police report number and contact officer
Internal case owner and next review date

Final takeaways — building a culture of prevention and care

The Peter Mullan case is a reminder that heroism (intervening to help) can come at a cost — and that prevention, not just reaction, must be the default. For clubs and leagues, protecting players and fans requires an operational commitment: documented risk assessments, layered security, staff training, technology with governance, and compassionate aftercare for victims. In 2026, stakeholders expect demonstrable security standards; teams that deliver both safety and fan access will reduce liability, protect reputations and keep players on the field.

Actionable next step

Start by running a 15-minute risk scan for your next event using the checklist above. If you’d like a ready-made incident response template or a 48-hour post-event auditing tool tailored for clubs, subscribe to Players.News operational briefings or contact your security adviser and schedule a simulation within the next 30 days.

Safe events keep players on the pitch — and fans coming back.

players

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.

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