Manchester United and Chelsea top table of Premier League’s most dangerous grounds with a chef given an electric shock and a steward being doused in beer after getting a burning spark in his eye

A chef at Manchester United was left ‘sick and confused’ after touching a faulty light switch and giving himself an electric shock, while a steward at Chelsea had a pint of beer thrown over his head by a ‘helpful’ fan after a spark from a burning flare went into his eye.

The above are two of a number of incidents which took place at Premier League grounds over the course of a year, revealed by a Freedom of Information request.

Fans falling down steps and breaking bones, a prom night student sliding backside first down a railing and tumbling backwards and a ball boy breaking a wrist all feature.

Data shows United and Chelsea’s home grounds topped the table, with five reported incidents to the Health and Safety Executive each. 

The report discloses that the ‘senior’ chef at Old Trafford inadvertently touched a button in the kitchen that was missing a cap. As a result his finger hit a live fuse, resulting in a ‘loud bang’. 

‘He burnt the end of his finger and felt the current travel up his arm and across his chest,’ the report added. ‘He felt sick for a while and confused’. 

A medic arrived and the chef’s blood pressure was taken, along with an ECG. The results came back fine and he returned to work. An electrician was called and the offending button was isolated. 

United launched an investigation but, according to the report, nobody would admit to having removed the cap.

Also at Old Trafford, one employee was left suffering from smoke inhalation after fans protesting about the club’s ownership lit smoke bombs and flares close to turnstiles. 

Despite wearing a protective mask, the worker became ill and started vomiting before being taken to hospital. 

Elsewhere, a carpenter working on a bar at the stadium drilled through his own thumb while trying to fit a new door.

At Stamford Bridge, two fans were injured in slips as they left the ground, while the steward in question initially asked the fan to drop the flare. 

The supporter then responded by waving it in the official’s face – sending a spark into his cheek and left eye. A second fan was reported to have then thrown a beer over the steward’s head.

Both United and Chelsea were not alone, with 30 incidents reported over the period.

The data, obtained by a request by freebets.com, found that Anfield saw four reports, including that involving a tour guide who injured their nose when they walked into a gantry shutter. 

In one, noteworthy incident, a 58-year-old suffered a fractured vertebra while taking part in an organised abseil down from the roof of the stadium. 

A review found it to be a freak occurrence, which may have been down to an existing medical condition.

At Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, a steward suffered a broken finger after they were pushed down the stairs by an irate fan during the team’s 7-0 victory over RB Leipzig, in last season’s Champions League tie while at Selhurst Park a delighted Palace fan managed to break a shoulder blade after falling while celebrating the Eagles’ equaliser in a 1-1 draw with rivals Brighton.

Those injured were not just restricted to workers and fans. At Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane a ball boy broke his hand when he went to retrieve a spare ball during a pre-game warm-up. 

The same venue saw a fan break his jaw and need stitches to a cut on his knee after tumbling down the gangway five minutes before the break in their match against Newcastle United. 

At the time, the visitors were 3-0 up on their way to what would end an 8-0 romp.

At Brighton’s AMEX Stadium, a student attending a prom held at the ground’s function room ended up being taken to hospital after making his way into the stand and attempting to slide down a handrail on his bottom. 

Sadly, he toppled over backwards and cracked his head on the concrete floor below. 

The school’s deputy head and stadium staff administered first aid before paramedics arrived.

In total, 30 incidents were logged with the Health and Safety Executive. 

Such reports are made if the person involved is injured to an extent that they need more than seven days off work before they return.