US Portsmouth to use video evidence in bid to get off FA charge of failing to control their players following FA Vase victory

The club plan to use video evidence in a bid to escape a potentially hefty fine.

USP have been charged by the governing body with regards to the events that took place immediately after last month’s historic FA Vase win over Millbrook at the Victory Stadium.

Referee Robert Finn’s report of the scenes that greeted the final whistle included the fact he booked home midfielder Jordan Pile for ‘excessive celebration’.

Finn also reported ‘players and staff’ coming together ‘arguing and getting in each others faces.’

Millbrook’s manager, chairman and players have provided several statements to the FA, but US will rely on a letter from secretary Robin Brady and statements from non-club officials to fight their cause, as well as video evidence.

US held off a late fight back from their Cornish-based visitors to progress to the last 32 of the Vase for the first time in their history on December 19.

The Wessex League Division 1 club stormed into a 3-0 lead through goals from Dec Seiden (penalty), Frankie Paige and Tom Jeffes.

Millbrook set up a tense final few minutes by netting twice in 60 seconds in the closing stages.

US’ disciplinary hearing is scheduled to take place next Wednesday.

So far, US have earned £3,575 from winning through four rounds of the Vase – beating three teams from the Wessex League Premier before beating a Millbrook side who have won 10 and drawn one of their 11 South West Peninsula East games in 2020/21.

They have yet to receive any of that money, though, and if found guilty of their FA charge could lose several hundred of it due to a fine.

The Vase is currently on hold during the national lockdown, but it appears the FA are keen to ensure the tournament is played to a conclusion.

They have told North Ferriby and Seaham to replay their third round tie, which the former won on penalties last month, after finding Ferriby guilty of fielding an ineligible player.

Farcically, that came after the FA had told Ferriby the player, Iwan Heeley, WAS eligible to play 10 days before the tie took place!

A club statement said Ferriby were ‘reeling’ from the decision and accused the governing body of ‘incomprehensible handling of this matter’.