FOOTBALL: A MASS on pitch brawl has resulted in Rugby Town being dumped out of the League Cup.
The Midland Football League announced the news on Tuesday night, six weeks after Town players were involved in a heated scrap with players of Coventry Copsewood FC.
Town were leading 1-0 at the time the game erupted following a late tackle on Ben Ashby by Copsewood’s George Whitelaw, and the MFL confirmed the findings of their inquiry into the incident which saw players from both sides and members of the Coventry bench embroiled in a series of scuffles around the pitch.
The league’s released statement read: “Following the abandonment of the Polymac Packaging League Cup Round 2 tie between Rugby Town and Coventry Copsewood on 24th October 2017, and the conclusion of the subsequent investigation into the events surrounding the abandonment, the Discipline Committee’s decision was that both clubs were found guilty and that they are both removed from this season’s competition.”
Meanwhile South Normanton Athletic will receive a bye in round three.
Rugby have also been handed a £200 misconduct fine from the Birmingham FA as a result of the events, with winger Chadd Birch – who received a red card on the night – having already served a three match ban.
