28 January 2024 , 14:23
816
0
The Black Country derby was suspended after fighting caused the referee to take the two teams off the pitch.
Matheus Cunha had just scored a 78th minute second goal for Wolves who looked to have wrapped up their FA Cup Fourth Round tie against rivals West Brom when trouble flared. Two Baggies’ players ran over to the corner of the Halfords Lane and Brummie Road End of the ground where their families are believed to be housed.
As stewards battled to keep the situation under control, police ran from the Smethwick End to join in. But they were soon facing a battle on two fronts as a melee erupted in the East Stand next to the Smethwick End which housed 4,000 travelling Wolves’ fans.
Referee Thomas Bramall decided to take off the players for their own safety but some clearly wanted to make sure their families were okay. Baggies’ defender Kyle Bartley waded into the spectators and was seen heading down the tunnel with a child in his arms as the two sides left the arena.
The problems caused the game to be delayed by over half-an-hour and an investigation into the fracas is bound to follow.
Man Utd's January transfer window winners and losers as 'new Scholes' makes exit
(Anna Gowthorpe/REX/Shutterstock)The derby was eagerly-awaited as being the first in front of fans in 12 years and the kick-off was brought forward to a pre-midday time to lessen the possibility of issues between the two sets of supporters.
However, Cunha’s goal proved too much - and tensions spilled over, causing the unsavoury scenes that led to the referee taking the players from the field.