Bradford City and Crawley Town charged by FA after mass brawl

Bradford City and Crawley Town are facing disciplinary charges after a game between the clubs ended in a mass brawl with five players sent off.

The Bantams' Andrew Davies, Luke Oliver and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin were red-carded, along with Crawley's Pablo Mills and substitute Claude Davis.

The clubs have been charged with a failure to control their players.

Mills faces a separate Football Association charge of violent conduct, as does his team-mate Kyle McFadzean.

Goals from Leon Clarke and Gary Alexander gave Crawley a 2-1 victory on Tuesday in a game which equalled the British record of players dismissed., with referee Iain Williamson calling the five players into his dressing room when punches were thrown after the game.

McFadzean's charge relates to an on-field incident which was not seen by match officials but was caught on video.

Mills's violent conduct charge is for an additional offence to the one he was dismissed for.

The clubs have until 1600 BST on 3 April to respond, while the players have until 1800 BST on Friday to respond.

The FA rulebook states that players dismissed for violent conduct receive an automatic three-match ban.

Bradford's Davies could now be suspended for five games as he had twice been dismissed earlier in the season, with each red card incurring a further match ban.

In 2002, Sheffield United were fined £10,000 by FA after three players were sent off following a series of fights and illegal tackles in a match with West Bromwich Albion which was abandoned after 82 minutes when the Blades were reduced to six men due to dismissals and injury.

In a statement, Crawley said that their chief executive Alan Williams would be conducting a full investigation before responding to the FA charges.