Following an incident between Northampton Town and Stevenage FC this past weekend, both clubs have been charged by the FA due to ‘mass confrontation’.
In a highly anticipated match between two teams fighting for automatic promotion, the Cobblers and Boro are now set to face a disciplinary punishment, after failing to conduct their players in an orderly fashion, during an altercation in the 90th minute.
The incident broke out late in the game after Northampton defender Akin Odimayo put in a late challenge on Stevenage’s Alex Gilbey. The backlash from the tackle caused a large brawl between both groups of players, leading to the charge from the FA.
Boro’s boss Steve Evans spoke after the game on Saturday and made his feelings well-known on the matter. Evans believed that the defender should have seen a red card instead of a yellow, along with Tete Yengi for his actions after the challenge.
The game itself was a back and forward event, with the two teams being held to a 1-1 stalemate. Taking the lead early on, the Cobblers broke the deadlock when Louis Appere scored from a scramble in the box, following a long throw-in.
With the away side controlling the game as it when through its motions, they finally got an equaliser when Jamie Reid saw his long-range effort trickle in after hitting both posts.
The result leaves both teams in the automatic promotion spots, with Northampton leading ahead by two points.
With Northampton on a run of eight games unbeaten, Stevenage’s form has been a bit more bumpier. Their results and performances have been up and down after a great start to the season, however, they do have a game in hard on their rivals.
The FA released the following statement giving both clubs till 12 April to respond.
They said: “It’s alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 90th minute, and they have until Wednesday, April 12, to respond.”
Writer’s View
With the FA cracking down on things recently with more of these statements, it seems no punishment has been set for either club yet.
At the end of the day, the reaction after the challenge makes it all worse than it was, and the FA are just doing their due diligence in covering that. The two teams have a history with each other, and with both of them in the position they are, it seems the heat of the moment got to the players.
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