After 77 minutes at the Hawthorns, Sunday’s FA Cup match between West Brom and Wolves deteriorated into mayhem. Play was halted with the visitors leading their bitter opponents from the Black Country 2-0, and it didn’t resume for 39 minutes.
Given the length of time fans had been waiting for a matchup between the two teams, many were looking forward to the fourth round match. However, unpleasant circumstances near the end of the competition marred it. In the end, Wolves prevailed and advanced to the fifth round, although the match was tainted by crowd unrest that resulted in one supporter being covered in blood and several arrests.
“We have extra officers at this local derby and they responded immediately as fans spilled onto the pitch due to disorder in the stands,” a West Midlands Police spokesperson stated. For violating public order, two people have been placed under custody. We’re coordinating with the referees to resume play as soon as feasible.”
BirminghamLive has dissected a timeline of the Hawthorns’ events here.
For Wolves, Matheus Cunha doubles their lead. The away end bursts into celebration.
Due to crowd unrest in the Birmingham Road end, West Brom is unable to resume play after conceding. During the festivities, missiles are launched into and out of the away section. In an attempt to diffuse tensions, players approach the throng.
The area is cordoned off at the junction of Brummie Road End and Halfords Lane Stand by police and additional security. The athletes get off the field.
The altercations seem to spread. According to reports, after the second goal, tensions erupted amongst Wolves supporters who were in the home end. The tunnel leads out for the Wolves players. A Baggies supporter arrives on the field but is removed by officials. Pictures of spectators with one fan who is severely bleeding appear.
Players from West Brom also exit the field. There are a lot of bodies at the touchline. The fan issue is still present.
In the photo, Kyle Bartley is seen holding the hand of a girl and carrying a boy in his arms. Not far from the brawl, in an area behind the dugout, are some of the families of the players.
In an effort to maintain control, police are still encircling the supporters. The police remove a supporter. More pictures of supporters and fans covered in blood on the ground, surrounded by security, are made public.
“Please return to your seats,” is displayed on the Hawthorns’ large screens as a message to supporters. It is illegal to enter the playing field. The safety team must give the officials the all-clear before they can begin the game. The FA will choose the next course of action if it is not considered safe.”
The players stay in the changing rooms as things begin to settle down and disperse.
The TV program returns to the studio. Following the game’s review, Roy Keane analyzes Cunha’s second goal and encourages the West Brom defenders to “do your job”.
ITV Touchline reports Katie Shanahan provides an update based on discussions occurring at the pitch. “I have just been speaking to a number of the team around here and the referees are waiting to get the go-ahead from the safety officers,” she continued.
There’s an update that says the choice to resume will be made in the next ten minutes. At this point, it seems like every scenario is imaginable, even if the game is abandoned after 80 minutes with Wolves winning 2-0.
The two groups of fans are still very noisy. Events won’t begin until spectators are back in their seats, the stadium announcer confirms in a statement. Fans are surrounded by stewards on both ends of the field.
West Brom and Wolves are getting set to emerge from the tunnel while the players are inside.
For a warm-up, the athletes take the field once more. The fact that the game would be restarted has not yet been confirmed.
Together with the match officials, the two managers discuss what’s going to happen next.
It has been confirmed that play will resume at precisely 77:10, following the goal by Cunha.
According to ITV, the game won’t start until paramedics have finished treating injured spectators.
Police in West Midlands declare that two persons have been taken into custody. “We have extra officers at this local derby and they responded immediately as fans spilled onto the pitch due to disorder in the stands,” the statement says. For violating public order, two people have been placed under custody. We’re coordinating with the referees to resume play as soon as feasible.”
Before the game resumes, Bartley is replaced.
The game resumes.
We will postpone the fifth-round draw. It was originally scheduled to happen before Liverpool vs. Norwich at 2:30 pm, but it had to be moved to Anfield during halftime.
Tommy Doyle is the target of yet another round of missiles as he turns the corner.
whole-time. About forty minutes later than expected, West Brom 0-2 Wolves is the final score of the match.
Regarding the incidents at the Hawthorns, an FA statement is made public. It says: “It is totally unacceptable that there was disorder at the West Bromwich Albion vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers Black Country derby. The utmost priority should always be given to safety and security, and the actions of individuals engaged were reckless and unacceptable. Along with the clubs and the relevant authorities, we will be looking into these serious instances, and the necessary action will be done.”
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