Birmingham charged after fan riot

Fans ran on to the pitch at the end of the match against Villa

Birmingham have been charged by the Football Association with “failing to ensure spectators didn’t enter the field of play” at a match in December.

The charge relates to scenes at the end of the club’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Carling Cup quarter-final at St Andrew’s on 1 December 2010.

Birmingham have been given until 11 March to respond to the charge.

Alex McLeish’s side went on to lift the trophy after beating Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley last Sunday.

More than 1,000 Birmingham supporters invaded the pitch after the match with local rivals Villa.

They confronted the 3,800 visiting fans situated in the Gil Merrick Stand at the other end of the stadium and a flare appeared to be thrown into the section housing the Villa supporters, before it was tossed backwards and forwards between the rival factions.

Seats were also ripped out and used as missiles along with other objects.

After the violence, 14 people were treated in hospital and five were arrested.

The FA described the incidents as “serious crowd disturbances”.

Birmingham said in a statement they “would like to thank the FA for their assistance and communication prior to and during the investigation”.

On the night of the disturbance, Birmingham manager McLeish called it a return to the “dark ages” – a reference to the trouble that blighted football in Britain in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The police presence in and around St Andrew’s had been swelled to nearly 500 officers for the first midweek meeting between the clubs since ugly scenes seven years previously.

Blues acting chairman Peter Pannu added at the time: “Whilst we are very happy with the victory, we are extremely disappointed with the events that took place after the game.

“I promise there will be an impartial investigation by the club as we do not condone the embarrassing actions of certain individuals.”