FA to investigate Birmingham crowd trouble

The Football Association will investigate crowd violence after Birmingham City and Aston Villa fans clashed on Wednesday.

After the Carling Cup quarter-final had been decided – with Birmingham 2-1 winners – the St. Andrews crowd invaded the pitch in celebration.

While police officers kept the fans apart, flares and seats were thrown as the situation threatened to get out of hand.

The incident came just hours after two coaches carrying Villa fans were ambushed by rival supporters on the way to the ground.

“We wholly condemn the actions of any individual who have been involved in scenes of disorder at St Andrew’s,” an FA spokesman said.

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

“The FA will fully investigate the matter in conjunction with the appropriate authorities.”

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish joined the FA in criticising supporters involved in the unruly incidents.

“It is from the dark ages. We don’t condone it at all. We haven’t beaten Villa for a while, but when you see flares getting thrown it is not something that we want to be associated with at all,” McLeish said.

“Fans shouldn’t come onto the pitch at any time and that is the disappointing aspect for us tonight. It sours it.”

The incidents come at an unfortunate time for England, who are bidding to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with a decision to be made on Thursday evening in Zurich.

But McLeish believes Wednesday’s drama will impact on England’s hopes.

“I don’t think that will affect the World Cup bid, I’m sure it’s already decided,” he said.

“Let’s hope England get it because they deserve it, (but) it doesn’t look good when you see fans running onto the pitch like that, and the interaction between the terracing and the pitch. It takes us back to the dark ages. I didn’t like that at all.”

Birmingham are expected to face a fine over the incident after West Ham – also through to this season’s Carling Cup semi-finals – were fined 115,000 pounds for violence that occurred in their Carling Cup match against Millwall at Upton Park last season.