Sheffield Wednesday keeper Chris Kirkland required treatment after being attacked by a fan during his team's Championship game with Leeds United.

Former Liverpool and England keeper Kirkland, 31, had just conceded a 77th-minute equaliser to Michael Tonge as Leeds fought back to draw 1-1.

Moments later, a fan from the Leeds end ran on to the pitch and struck Kirkland with such force he fell to the ground.

Owls boss Dave Jones called for Leeds fans to be banned from away grounds.

"They are vile animals. You talk about racism [but] the chanting, that's a form of racism," Jones, who was taunted by visiting fans during the game at Wednesday's Hillsborough ground, told BBC Radio 5 live. "They should be banned from every away ground if they're going to behave like that.

"They [Leeds fans] are all going to get tarred with the same brush and that's not right, but they will do and they should do because it wasn't one person chanting the vile things.

"I thought those days had gone 15 or 20 years ago. They should be punished. I've had it for 12 years and it is just upsetting that they are able to do it.

"The authorities have to look at it and sort it. I'm talking about an incident when we should be talking about the football."

Jones was also angry that Leeds manager Neil Warnock instructed his players to applaud the away fans at the end of the game.

"I really am fuming that he sent his players to clap them. For what? Wrecking a stadium, beating up my goalkeeper?" he added.

Neil Warnock Leeds United manager “I'm not proud to be Leeds manager when I see that. I thought it was an absolute disgrace”

South Yorkshire Police have issued a statement saying they were also investigating incidents "where it is believed seats and bottles were thrown" inside the ground.

Kirkland was able to finish the game but Jones said the player was "sore", "dazed" and "maybe concussed" in the dressing room.

Warnock, who offered to calm both sets of fans down in the first half as tensions rose, admitted he was "embarrassed" to be a manager. "I thought it was an absolute disgrace. They should get the guy, prosecute him, put him in prison," he said. "I'm not proud to be Leeds manager when I see that. "I don't mind the atmosphere, there's been elbows flying, but to see things like that on the field of play, I'm embarrassed."

Kirkland, who joined the Owls from Wigan in May on a two-year contract, won one England cap in 2006 when he came on as a substitute in a 4-0 friendly win against Greece at Old Trafford.

Leeds, who had 5,300 fans in the crowd of 28,582, released a statement after the game. It read: "Leeds United would like to publicly apologise and condemn the action of the fan who came on the pitch and attacked Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. "The club will fully co-operate with the police and the football authorities in identifying the individual concerned. After the week football has endured there is no place for this type of behaviour and the majority of Leeds supporters will be ashamed of his actions."

Ray Fell, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters' Club, said he was "distressed" at what had happened.

John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw and Leeds fan "I was at the game supporting Leeds as I have done for over 40 years. Both sets of fans were disgraceful. A sizeable group within each were coming out with relentless, abusive chanting. It's sad. There is no question that Leeds should be banned from having away fans for a match. The collective crowd did not hand over this thug after he
returned to his seat. There are people there who know him and they should be banned. That stand where the Sheffield Wednesday fans were rioting should also be shut for a match."

"I sincerely hope the lad is found and sentenced," Fell told BBC Radio 5 live.

"A custodial sentence would be fitting. It is distressing. The majority of the Leeds fans in the crowd did not approve of the chanting and certainly not the lad who ran on the pitch."

A South Yorkshire Police statement read: "During tonight's match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United at Hillsborough, incidents have occurred where it is believed seats and bottles were thrown inside the ground.

"We are also aware of an incident whereby the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper was assaulted by an individual that ran onto the pitch.

"Such incidents are not acceptable and we will be working with both clubs to identify quickly the persons responsible.

"Thankfully, such incidents are a rarity when we see a minority spoil it for the majority of genuine supporters."

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, said he was "very disappointed" with the events.

"It's unnecessary and stupid. There is a vulnerability for players on the pitch if someone wants to do that," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20012421