Portsmouth fined £50,000 for crowd disturbances

Portsmouth have been fined £50,000 and had their matchday planning criticised after crowd disturbances during their League One game with Barnsley in April.

Portsmouth won the match 3-2 thanks to a late goal from defender Conor Shaughnessy, which secured promotion to the Championship.

But the game was marred by a post-match pitch invasion - during which Barnsley player Jamie McCart was struck by a fan.

There were also four instances of objects being thrown onto the pitch during the game, while a steward was injured during a minor pitch incursion in the second half.

A Football Association regulatory commission report said there was "a distinct lack of detail in planning, especially in the context of how a mass pitch incursion, which was rightly identified as high risk, would be sought to be prevented and how it would be dealt with if it occurred".

Police estimated around 70% of the crowd invaded the field at the final whistle - somewhere in the region of 13,000 people.

It was during this time that McCart was attacked, with the commission saying he took "a blow to the head, causing him to double over before continuing toward the tunnel".

"The commission is not in a position to comment on whether this was an assault or not, but it is absolutely clear the entire situation would have been avoided if there had not been a mass pitch incursion," the report added.

The first incident noted by referee Paul Howard came in the 59th minute, when at least four lighters were thrown onto the pitch after John McAtee had put Barnsley 2-1 up - with one hitting a steward in the face.

Ten minutes later, assistant referee Declan O'Shea was struck by a plastic vape that was thrown from the crowd, while a Barnsley player had an object thrown at him as he went to take an 80th-minute corner.

Following Portsmouth's winning goal in the 89th minute, a blue flare was thrown onto the field and a small pitch invasion took place, although fans returned to the stands before the need to take players off the field arose.

Stewards were powerless to stop the pitch invasion at the final whistle as fans celebrated Portsmouth's return to the Championship after a 12-year absence, during which the club had dropped into League Two amid financial problems.

Portsmouth admitted breaching FA Rules E21.1, E21.2 and E21.3 in relation to failing to control spectators, the throwing of missiles and pitch incursions.

In fining the club £50,000 the commission described the incident as a "very significant mass pitch incursion" with a "gross negligence level of culpability on the part of Portsmouth".

The commission also warned Portsmouth about its future conduct and any future instances could lead to similar financial punishments or other sanctions.

In a statement, Portsmouth said: "Our club is immensely grateful and proud for the incredible support we continue to receive both home and away, and which makes Pompey so special.

"We remain committed to working together with all our supporters and collectively protecting the club from any future financial and/or sporting sanctions being imposed upon us."