Canaries and Millers charged with disciplinary breach by FA following red card melee
Players from both sides rush to get involved as tempers flare after Angus MacDonald of Rotherham United is sent off by referee David Webb for a foul on Oliver Skipp of Norwich during the Sky Bet Championship match at the New York Stadium Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
The Football Association have charged both Norwich City and Rotherham United for a breach of disciplinary regulations following a pitch-side scuffle during the Canaries’ 2-1 win in South Yorkshire on Saturday.
Some players and coaching staff from both teams were involved in a melee in front of the dug-outs at the New York Stadium, after Millers defender Angus MacDonald had made heavy contact with City midfielder Oliver Skipp in a tackle less than two minutes after the visitors had equalised in the 68th minute.
Max Aarons, Jordan Hugill and Ben Gibson all angrily confronted MacDonald in the seconds leading up to his red card, with Canaries boss Daniel Farke also notably furious but keeping clear of the pushing and shoving.
An FA statement released today says: “Rotherham United FC and Norwich City FC have been charged with a breach of FA Rule E20 following their EFL Championship fixture on Saturday 17 October 2020.
“It is alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 70th minute of the fixture.
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“The clubs have until Monday 26 October 2020 to provide their respective responses.”
MORE: Farke feared Skipp’s career was over after horror tackle in City win
The FA handbook for the 2020-21 season details Rule E20, which can be punishable by a fine.
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For example, the Canaries and Ipswich were both fined following a mass confrontation during a derby game at Carrow Road in February 2019, which City won 3-0, with Town boss Paul Lambert sent off for his part in that pitch-side melee.
Norwich were fined £25,000 on that occasion and Ipswich £20,000 after both clubs admitted to two breaches of Rule E20, as another scuffle broke out later in the game as the hosts took exception to another poor tackle from Town.
The handbook explains that: “Each Affiliated Association, Competition and Club shall be responsible for ensuring: (E20.1) that its directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and refrain from any one or combination of the following: improper, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting or provocative words or behaviour, (including, without limitation, where any such conduct, words or behaviour includes a reference, whether express or implied, to any one or more of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability) whilst attending at or taking part in a Match in which it is involved, whether on its own ground or elsewhere.
“And (E20.2) that no spectators or unauthorised persons are permitted to encroach onto the pitch area, save for reasons of crowd safety, or to throw missiles, bottles or other potentially harmful or dangerous objects at or on to the pitch.”
