FA to investigate Midlands derby trouble

The English FA today began an investigation into the crowd trouble that marred the derby clash between Aston Villa and Birmingham…

The English FA today began an investigation into the crowd trouble that marred the derby clash between Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

Spokesman Adrian Bevington said the FA were "taking seriously" the events at Villa Park with an ill-tempered affair boiling over in the second half.

Fans came onto the pitch, with one spectator confronting City midfielder Robbie Savage; Villa followers tried to attack Blues supporters in the Doug Ellis Stand after the second goal from Geoff Horsfield secured victory for Steve Bruce's side.

It was a throwback to the first meeting between the clubs in September when a Blues fans - later jailed for four months - ran onto the St Andrews pitch and taunted Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman after his bizarre own goal.

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Bevington said: "We are already in the process of communicating with Aston Villa following events at last night's match.

"Obviously we are taking what happened very seriously. Our crowd safety adviser will be talking to the police and both clubs to ascertain further details.

"We would hope anyone found to be involved in this behaviour is immediately barred from grounds up and down the country and also found facing action from police authorities," he said.

PA