- Did you see what happened at the gig? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
A woman has been left scratched and bruised after she was mobbed by two men for Liam Gallagher’s maracas which he threw to her in a crowd.
Oasis fan Chantal Arpino, 42, was 11 rows back when Liam threw the instrument into the air after finishing the show.
But after catching them, several men nearby allegedly began fighting her for them, snatching them from her and leaving her injured.
Upset mortgage advisor Chantal – who paid the best part of £1,000 for tickets – said the ordeal at the band’s Wembley show on Sunday night ruined her experience.
She has several cuts to her hands as well as large bruises on her legs, where the two men allegedly crushed her to prise the pair of maracas from her hands.
Photos of a group of men with what appear to be the maracas were then posted on Facebook by a man called Adam Warwick, who wrote: ‘Yes we got one! Anyone see my mate in the black T-shirt grab it to confirm it’s legit before we consider selling it to fund more tickets? What a night.’ It is not known if these were the men who wrestled Chantal.
Chantal, of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, had travelled to the event with her partner Matt Marchant, 47, and was among 90,000 fans who packed into the London stadium.
‘The maracas were tied together and when I grabbed them I’ve got my hands round both of them,’ she said.
‘One hand has been pushed into another; I think the cuts are actually from my own nails.
‘The one to my left was quite big, he’s kind of over me, he’s got his hand over my hand and he’s squeezing.
‘The other one he’s literally trying to prise my fingers off.
‘I told him ”You are going to snap my fingers, this is really painful”. I couldn’t let go as my hands were trapped between the maracas.
‘It was horrible. The maracas separated and then the guy who had his hands on me, he picked one up and put it under his jumper.
‘I was literally shouting ”You’re hurting me. You are going to snap my fingers.” He would not let go. The strength they used was unreal. I’ve never experienced anything like it.
‘I don’t even know where the bruise to my leg came from. I think the guy to my left must have been kneeling on me.
‘It would have been a lovely memento, but the behaviour. It’s not even about being a girl. Why behave like that?’
She added: ‘The level of strength used – think about what you’re doing guys.’
Chantal said she still had a good night, but it was a ‘shame that was the ending’.
She also posted on Facebook about her experience. ‘Just a little reminder to not behave like animals please,’ she said.
‘Someone has posted their delight at securing one of Liam’s maracas from last night’s concert.
‘This was at my expense, it’s not OK to wrestle someone to the ground for any reason let alone for maracas!
‘I completely get that it was the heat of the moment but just remember there is a human being that you are wrestling with, two guys against one girl is not ok.
‘I had no way to defend myself as both my hands were trapped between the maracas and one man’s vic-like grip, with the other man trying to snap my fingers back.
‘I can only assume one of them also grabbed my leg given the nicely developing set of bruises on my thigh!
‘Cheers guys, hope you’re proud of yourselves!
‘So if you are lucky enough to go to one of the remaining concerts and lucky enough to have a tambourine or maracas launched in your direction please remember you are not animals!!
‘Have an amazing time, it really is an incredible experience! The bruises and cuts will fade, the memories of a brilliant night won’t.’
People said they were horrified by Chantal’s experience.
One said: ‘It really is disgusting that people behave this way!’
Another penned: ‘Just wrong. If that was them in the pic I’d have them for assault.’
‘How awful for you! All for money,’ another said.
The post on the same Facebook group from those who apparently got the maracas drew widespread criticism.
Images show a group in Oasis T-shirts with the maracas as well as one maraca tucked up in bed.
It is not known if these were the men who wrestled Chantal.
Replying to the post, one Oasis fan said: ‘Saw someone wrestle one from a woman’s hand causing her injury so could be legit.’
Chantal was inundated with responses to her post.
She later said: ‘Blimey! Thanks for all the responses, far too many to personally reply to but honestly thank you for your kind words and best wishes.
‘I’m absolutely fine, like I said bruises will fade and cuts will heal, I had a great night and the memory will last a lifetime.
‘I did see one of the guys/his friend posted and someone called him out for wrestling with a girl.
‘I just felt it was an opportunity to speak out and remind us all that in the heat of the moment we shouldn’t lower our standards.
‘It’s irrelevant in my eyes whether I was a girl or not, just don’t behave that way full stop!
‘I sincerely hope the two guys wouldn’t usually behave in this way and it’s a one off when caught in the moment.
‘Thank you all xx.’
The day before, a fan plunged to his death from the upper tier of block 511.
The Metropolitan police said a man in his 40s died after suffering injuries consistent with a fall at the end of the band’s performance at about 10.19pm on Saturday night.
