FA to probe Blackpool abandonment

Blackpool are facing a Football Association investigation after Saturday's Sky Bet Championship game against Huddersfield was abandoned when hundreds of fans invaded the pitch in protest against the club's owners.Already-relegated Blackpool's miserable season took a turn for the worse in the 48th minute of the Bloomfield Road encounter when hundreds of home fans took to the pitch and unveiled banners against the Oyston family's running of the club. Referee Mick Russell was forced to take the players off the pitch with the score 0-0 and, after the game was held up for more than an hour, the decision was taken to call it off altogether. The Football League confirmed it would make a ruling on whether the game will be replayed, while Blackpool could be hit by a fine or a points deduction depending on the outcome of the FA's investigation. A Football League spokesman said on Saturday: ''Following the abandonment of today's match at Bloomfield Road, it will be for the Football Association to consider any matters relating to crowd behaviour with the Football League ruling on whether or not the match should be replayed.'' Blackpool manager Lee Clark refused to criticise those supporters who invaded the pitch but admitted that Saturday's events were "very, very disappointing", while the club's hierarchy has vowed to assist the FA with its investigation. "The club will work with the relevant authorities to take appropriate action against all those responsible for disorder offences inside the stadium," a statement on the club's website read. "The club will also co-operate fully with The Football Association and The Football League in light of any investigations that follow on from the match being abandoned." Blackpool supporters remonstrated outside the stadium before kick-off and the Blackpool Supporters' Trust, who co-organised a pre-match march with the Tangerine Knights, praised the behaviour of Seasiders fans in a statement on their website. "Blackpool Supporters' Trust wishes to congratulate and thank all football fans who attended the Fans United march and protest today on their passionate but impeccable behaviour throughout the proceedings," the statement said. It went on: " Yes, there was a pitch invasion and yes, the afternoon's game did get abandoned but the frustration of the majority inside Bloomfield Road at the way the club has been run of late was palpable and there was clear sympathy for this act of civil disobedience in which both the pitch invaders and the police acted with restraint and good humour."

Source: PA