Birmingham City charged by the FA with failing to prevent fans from going on the pitch

EPL – Birmingham City vs Aston Villa, Matt Derbyshire and Nigel Reo-Coker(Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

The Football Association has charged Birmingham City for failing to ensure that spectators did not enter the field of play following the serious crowd trouble after the club’s League Cup match against Aston Villa.

The Blues won the match 2-1 against their local rivals at St Andrew’s on December 10, 2010, and the trouble started after the final whistle.

Five people were arrested and 14 people were injured as home supporters rushed onto the pitch and flares were hurled at the away supporters inside the ground.

The violence took place just a day before Fifa were deciding on whether to give England the 2018 World Cup.

A Football Association spokesman said at the time: “We wholly condemn the actions of any
individuals who have been involved in the scenes of disorder at St Andrew’s.

“The FA abhors acts of violent behaviour and we urge the clubs and authorities to identify any individuals involved in disorder, and impose the stiffest available sanctions, including banning orders.”

Birmingham have until March 11 to respond to the charges against them.