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Taiwo Ogunlabi, the viral AFTV star known as Ty, has claimed a Sunderland steward was 'way over the top' after viral footage showed him being forced away from rival fans after Arsenal's 2-2 draw on Sunday.
The Arsenal fan had appeared agitated during an exchange with Black Cats supporters and was forcibly held back by a steward.
Video footage of the incident shows the steward clutching the Arsenal fan near the throat as he forced him away from opposing fans.
Ty was heard shouting as the steward forced him out onto the street, before another man comes over and attempted to pull the supporter away from any conflict.
It remains unclear whether the steward was employed by the home side or the travelling outfit, with visiting clubs often taking their own stewards to assist at matches.
The incident was addressed on AFTV's YouTube channel on Monday, with Ty claiming it had initially been sparked by Sunderland supporters being 'in our faces' after their side had snatched a last gasp draw against the league leaders.
AFTV broadcaster Ty clashed with a steward after Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Sunderland
Ty claimed the steward had been 'over the top' after he had allegedly responded to Sunderland fans taunts by stating that Arsenal were 'top of the league'
Ty claimed he had replied 'top of the league' in response, with his comment leading to the intervention of a steward.
‘What happens was we come out at the Sunderland fans were in our faces, I replied and the steward grabbed me and he is way over the top,' Ty said.
‘I replied “We are top of the league”, I had not been abusive, I wasn’t swearing, I am only answering them, but the steward didn’t like it.
‘What I would say, a tip for Sunderland, when you have a game like that and it finishes like that, you can’t have fans in their faces, because that is where the trouble could be.
‘We came out and they were in our faces, if that is Sunderland against Newcastle it would never happen because it would have been serious’. I think because of the way the game ended you have to let us go first or Sunderland fans go first.’
AFTV host Robbie Lyle offered his backing to Ty by claiming he believed the steward’s reaction to have been ‘over the top’.
Lyle said he had been the subject of ‘banter’ from home supporters as he left the Stadium of Light, noting he had departed after Ty due to his fellow fan needing to leave earlier to get the team bus.
The host said he had ‘walked away and laughed’ while suggesting to his fellow fan ‘that is how you have to be’ to avoid being involved in similar incidents, rather than responding to comments from rival supporters.
The Arsenal fan broke his silence on the incident on the YouTube channel on Monday
Host Robbie Lyle claimed the steward had been 'over the top', but suggested his fellow supporter avoid responding to rival fans in a bid to avoid similar incidents in the future
‘I have to say I did not see any problems, I came out a little later to be fair,’ Lyle said.
‘I got it when I came out of the ground, I am not having a go at Sunderland fans because it was banter, I don’t know about your situation but Sunderland fans were giving me loads of banter and I understand it.
‘When I look at it, I think the steward was over the top, Ty is just responding to them saying “top of the league”, he’s firing back at them like they are firing back at him.
‘I don’t think he needed to grab you like that around the neck and push you out like that, I felt that was over the top. He did not need to do that.
‘Stewards have got a hard job, let me say that as well, police in particular. They have to strike a balance every game of keeping everybody peaceful and don’t want it to be a hostile environment. The police in this country do a really good job as they are there but try not to be in your face and create a hostile vibe.
‘I am not calling for anyone’s head. I can see what he was trying to do to remove you from the situation, but I feel he was too over the top.’
Launched in 2013, AFTV - formerly known as Arsenal Fan TV before the club asked the YouTube channel to change its name - has become an internet sensation due to the often over-the-top reactions from passionate supporters.
The channel has led to regulars becoming well-known faces, with some having occasionally been confronted outside matches in the past.
Brian Brobbey rescued a point for Sunderland to shatter Arsenal's 10-game winning streak
The incident on Sunday had followed Arsenal's 2-2 draw with the Black Cats, after the hosts struck late in the second half at the Stadium of Light.
Brian Brobbey earned the newly promoted side a point by levelling the match in second half stoppage time, ending Arsenal's winning run at 10 games.
Sunderland took the lead after 36 minutes through a Dan Ballard strike, before Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard turned the match around in the second half.
Brobbey produced an acrobatic finish in stoppage time as the forward beat David Raya and Gabriel to the ball.
The 2-2 draw saw Sunderland head into the international break in fourth position in the Premier League.
Sunderland declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Sport.
