West Brom handed fine for Black Country Derby trouble

The Baggies have also been warned for misconduct after admitting to breaches of two FA rules after violence flared during the FA Cup fourth round tie.

Play was suspended for 38 minutes after fighting erupted in two corners of the ground late in the second half, with several Albion players rushing into the stands having become fearful for the safety of their families.

Police made five arrests, while one supporter was taken to hospital with head injuries.

In a statement, Albion managing director Mark Miles said the club fully accepted the decision of the FA’s regulatory commission and said it had implemented procedural changes “based on learnings” from the incident.

More than 40 Baggies fans have been issued with banning orders after being identified as causing trouble. A police investigation remains ongoing.

Miles said: “While the written reasons state the club did a very considerable number of things right and plainly took its responsibilities seriously, it is clear there were also areas in which we fell short, and it is imperative we continue to focus on these aspects as we strive for improvement.

“Since the fixture, the club has met with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, acting on its recommendations to improve internal procedures which will help to prevent similar issues arising in the future.

“The behaviour we witnessed that day is totally unacceptable, and the club has since banned or suspended in excess of 40 supporters who were involved in the incident. West Midlands Police is also continuing its own criminal investigations into individual fan behaviour.

“I am confident we will continue to make the improvements necessary to ensure The Hawthorns never again witnesses scenes of this nature.”

The match was the first between the rival clubs for more than 12 years and there was a large police presence both inside and outside The Hawthorns.

Wolves supporters let off a number of pyrotechnics after Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the 37th minute, while there were further incidents of bottle throwing between fans in the second half.

But it was nothing compared to the violence which flared in the 79th minute after Matheus Cunha had doubled Wolves’ advantage.

A Wolves supporter sat in the home end of the ground between the Birmingham Road and Halfords Lane Stands celebrated the goal and was attacked by a group of Baggies fans.

Supporters trying to escape the trouble spilled on to the pitch, while players waded into the stands to rescue family members. Amid chaotic scenes, one Albion supporter walked across the pitch before unfurling a scarf in front of the travelling fans.

Further fighting took place in the corner between the East Stand and Smethwick End, the latter of which housed the Wolves supporters.

Albion admitted breaches of two FA rules, conceding they had failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and did not behave in an improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, indecent, insulting or provocative way.

The club also admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) refrained from throwing missiles or other potentially harmful or dangerous objects towards the pitch.

While the FA commission acknowledged the Baggies had done “considerable” work win the build-up to the match to try and address the risk of crowd trouble, it found the club had fallen short in some areas.

The eventual fine of £30,000 was reduced from £50,000, after the commission took into account mitigation from the club.