Steve Cervaro, devoted Adelaide United fan known as ‘Red Wig Man’, assaulted in Sydney after game

‘Red Wig Man’, one of Adelaide United’s most ardent supporters, has been attacked after a Sydney match – leaving him in doubt about remaining as a fan.

A devoted Adelaide United fan has detailed his vicious assault by a group of young thugs, which made him seriously consider quitting being a supporter of the game.

Steve Cervaro, well known in the Adelaide United community for his famous red wig, said his mental health has been “severely impacted” after he was tackled to the ground after Adelaide United’s victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night.

Mr Cervaro went over to the game in Sydney, dressed up in all his soccer gear and wig, and was interviewed by Western Sydney Wanderers supporter group RBTV.

“What happened was the last thing I expected on Friday night. I had a great night, we had obviously won, I was on top of the world,” Mr Cervaro said. “I felt bulletproof.”

Adelaide United soccer fan Steve Cervaro.

The 47-year-old, a supporter of Adelaide United for more than 20 years, left the stadium after the game and walked on a path where he came across a group of six youths, known as “casuals”, who asked him for a photo.

“I didn’t have any inkling of any casuals. Casuals are a group of people who go to soccer games just to cause trouble,” he said.

“I saw the group of six youths and thought straightaway, ‘yep, here’s trouble’.”

The youths kept asking for a photo with Mr Cervaro, however Mr Cervaro declined multiple times as he felt unsafe.

“I said no to a photo for the very first time as I had a gut feeling,” Mr Cervaro said.

After the youths asked again, Mr Cervaro gave them the benefit of the doubt, and let his guard down.

After posing for a photo, one of the youths had him in a headlock and brought him to the ground, running away with his wig.

“As I got up, I was dazed and confused, it was awful and so out of the blue,” Mr Cervaro said.

One of the youths left their phone behind, which Mr Cervaro picked up knowing they would be back.

When the youth did come back, Mr Cervaro demanded his wig in exchange for the phone.

“I wish I had done things differently, I should have let them take that wig and then I’d have the phone to take to the police, but in the heat of the moment you don’t think,” he said.

Adelaide United soccer fan Steve Cervaro detailed his mental health struggles after being assaulted after a game in Sydney.

Mr Cervaro was very shaken by the incident, but luckily was assisted and escorted back to his hotel room by RBTV members.

He arrived home on Saturday morning, and said the incident has affected his mental health to the point he was thinking about quitting as a football supporter.

“It wasn’t something I expected and something I definitely didn’t need at this time, especially with everything I’m going through,” Mr Cervaro said.

“I’m seriously thinking, do I even want to follow the football anymore?”

On Sunday, Mr Cervaro posted about the incident to his Instagram page and said RBTV had since sent him new red wigs.

As for the upcoming home game this Friday between Adelaide United and Sydney Football Club, Mr Cervaro said he’ll “see how I go”.

“I’m not really thinking about Friday, I just have to get through today,” he said.