Portsmouth and Sheffield United hit with FA fine after Fratton Park confrontation
Pompey have been slapped with a £6,000 fine following their part in last month’s post-match skirmish with Sheffield United.
In addition, Will Norris has been criticised by the independent regulatory commission for actions described as ‘unhelpful and possibly provocative’ in recognition of his role in the Fratton Park proceedings.
Although the Blades have come out of the FA misconduct charge worse, after being handed a £40,000 fine, with the committee having taken into account three disciplinary breaches within the previous 12 months.
The flashpoint arrived when referee Matt Donohue sounded the final whistle in September’s Championship fixture to signal a goalless draw.
A significant number of players from each side clashed in front of the North Stand, while there was confusion among supporters present whether the match was actually over.
Blues winger Josh Murphy afterwards referred to the incident in The News, describing it as a reflection of the team spirit under John Mousinho.
Donohue subsequently referred to the incident in his match report stating: ‘At the end of the match, a number of SUFC players surrounded me to protest the timing of the full time whistle. As this protestation ended, a number of players from both teams confronted each other.
‘In this incident I cautioned SUFC #21 (Vini Souza) for dissent and SUFC #23 (Tyrese Campbell) for adopting an aggressive attitude. No other acts of misconduct were witnessed by any of the match officials’.
Pompey and United were charged with misconduct, with it alleged both teams ‘failed to ensure that its players and/or technical area occupants did not behave in a way which was improper’.
Subsequently, both clubs admitted the charge and neither requested a personal hearing, with an independent regulatory commission today announcing its findings.
The commission stated: ‘There was a degree of frustration apparent from the SUFC players to the extent that a surrounding a match official charge might have been a possibility.
‘Whilst the SUFC players voiced their opinions to the match officials, the PFC goalkeeper chose to run to the officials and shake hands with them. His presence, and in particular something that he said and/or did to SUFC number 42 served to anger some of the SUFC players further.
‘One of the SUFC players (thought to be number 23) then shoves the goalkeeper, causing him to fall to the floor. A confrontation between several players from both clubs then developed, with SUFC number 21 acting as a particular aggressor throughout.
‘The commission found on the evidence available that, whilst the actions of the PFC goalkeeper were unhelpful and possibly provocative, SUFC bore more responsibility for the mass confrontation, particularly with regard to the behaviour of the players who were cautioned by the referee.
‘The commission also noted that the pushing and shoving was relatively brief and no acts of significant violence took place during the confrontation.’
Pompey were fined £9,000, yet this was reduced to £6,000 having accepted the charge. Crucially, in terms of multi-player misconduct, there have been just three breaches in the previous five years - and one in the last 12 months.
These were a ‘mass confrontation’ at Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day last year, ‘surrounding the match official’ in the Carabao Cup at Newport County in August 2022 and a ‘mass confrontation’ in a 1-1 draw with Oxford United in November 2020. Each offence attracted a £2,500 fine.
In contrast, the Blades had 10 previous breaches in the last five years, including three in the last 12 months and two in the last two months.
The commission ‘considered SUFC’s record, and in particular the recency of the last two charges, to be a significant aggravating factor’. They were fined £60,000, but this was reduced to £40,000 having accepted the charge.