An annual ‘ball game’ escalated into a mass brawl this week that reportedly ended with one man having his ear torn off.

The traditional Atherstone Ball Game dates back to Medieval times and involves hundreds of competitors gathering in the street to try and gain possession of a giant ball.

But the mostly male crowd quickly descended into violence, with punches thrown, clothes torn off and cabling being ripped out from buildings lining the side of the road.

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Competitors openly threw punches at one another (Picture: PA)

Many spectators gathered to watch out of windows or sat on ledges above shops.


Several of them later jumped down to join the affray, raining blows on anyone that got in their way.

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Two witnesses claimed they saw a man’s ear being ripped off, The Mirror reports – although this is unconfirmed.



It is not yet known if any arrests were made as a result of the game.

The aim of the game is to be the last person holding the ball when the game ends at 5pm.

The Ball Game has been going since Medieval times (Picture: PA)

The ball was covered in blood at one point (Picture: PA)

Whoever has hold of the ball come 5pm is pronounced the winner (Picture: PA)

It was first played in Atherstone, Warwickshire, in 1199 and has been running in the same place on every Pancake Day since.

The game has few rules competitors need to follow – two being that play is restricted to Long Street and participants are not allowed to kill anyone.

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Children also have a chance to enter a safer version of the game to win a a golden penny and scoop themselves £10.

The game usually begins with a celebrity throw-in and this year’s was kicked off with former Aston Villa manager Brian Little hurling the ball out of a window.

At 5pm, Jonathan Slesser was crowned the 820th champion of the crazed tradition – the fourth time he has won the game.

Shops boarded up their windows for the game (Picture: PA)

One man’s ear was reportedly ripped off (Picture: PA)

This year was the 820th game (Picture: PA)

There is also a version for children where they win £10 (Picture: PA)

The 39-year-old told Birmingham Live: ‘This means everything to me and the team. This is the Ball Game, it is what we are here for.’

He continued: ‘I am nothing without my team, I owe it all to them.

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‘I wasn’t that confident in winning at the start, tactics are a spur of the moment thing. I think it is somebody else’s turn to win it next year now!’

The Ball Game organisers denied that anyone’s ear had been ripped off during the game.

Chief marshal and Ball Game committee member Rob Bernard said there were ‘no casualties reported’ and no arrests made by police.

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