Birmingham and Ipswich fined by FA over melee

Tempers flared during stoppage time after Ipswich Town equalised against Birmingham City at St Andrew's

Birmingham City have been fined £100,000 and Ipswich Town £24,000 for failing to control their players in their opening Championship match of the season.

Both clubs have been given warnings after they admitted the charge at the Football Association's independent regulatory commission.

It had been alleged the clubs "failed to ensure their players didn't behave in an improper and/or provocative way around the 95th minute" of their 1-1 draw at St Andrew's on 8 August.

Pushing and shoving involving both sets of players first broke out after Ipswich were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, and again after it was converted by George Hirst.

The commission noted that this latest disciplinary sanction on Birmingham was the club's fifth in 12 months, with the first of those having come against Wrexham in League One on 16 September 2024.

Five days ago, the club's fourth sanction was handed down - a £20,000 penalty for failing to control their players on the final day of the League One season on 3 May against Cambridge United, who were fined £5,000.

Birmingham's record of ill-discipline meant the maximum fine that could have been imposed in the latest case was £135,000, which was reduced because of mitigating factors and the club admitting the charge.