PROFESSIONAL Footballers’ Association chairman John Mousinho believes supporters who assault players must be banned for life and football needs to realise it has a growing problem with fan disorder, it was reported today.

The Oxford defender insists the worrying trend of violence towards players has to be stamped out quickly after a series of recent flashpoints.

A teenager has been charged after three Nottingham Forest players were allegedly assaulted while celebrating a goal during their 4-1 FA Cup win over Leicester.

Nottinghamshire Police said Cameron Toner, 19, of Leicester, has been charged with three counts of common assault and a separate offence of going onto a playing area at a football match.

Rotherham also banned two supporters for life earlier this month after a pitch invasion where Harry Pell appeared to be struck as he prepared to take a penalty against Accrington, with Stanley manager John Coleman saying he expected the game to be abandoned.

Leicester have also promised to issue a lifetime ban and Mousinho would support blanket bans for offenders.

He said: “I can’t see a reason for a fan to be allowed back into a football stadium if they come onto the pitch and assault a player.

“It’s a conscious choice. The term has to be large enough for people to decide they are not going to do it.”