• Wolves are 2-0 up against rivals West Brom in the fourth round of the FA Cup 
  • The game has been suspended with eight minutes and stoppage time to go
  • Both teams headed into the tunnel after fan unrest caused a pause in the game

This was the day fan violence brought shame on English football as West Bromwich Albion’s FA Cup derby against Wolves was abandoned amid appalling and upsetting scenes at the Hawthorns.

‘I’ve seen it bad, but never like this,’ said one lifelong Albion observer as he watched a man led across the pitch, blood pouring from his face. At one point Albion defender Kyle Bartley was seen holding a young child on the pitch.

The match had always had the potential for violence as it was the first time these rivals had met in front of fans since 2012.

A spicy atmosphere exploded soon after Matheus Cunha gave Wolves a 2-0 lead in the 78th minute and a heavy punishment for Albion is inevitable.

Moments after Cunha scored, scuffles broke out in the corner of the Birmingham Road End as supporters entered the pitch.

About 30 police and a similar number of stewards tried to calm the situation but despite four announcements for fans to leave the field, the game was not restarted. 

 Both sets of players had returned to the changing rooms as an announcement over the PA system warned that unless fans went back to their seats, the game could be abandoned. 

About 30 minutes after the original stoppage, the players returned to the pitch to warm up.

At one point Albion defender Kyle Bartley was seen holding a young child on the pitch, and he has since not returned to the field of play for the restart of the game.

The match had always had the potential for violence as it was the first time these rivals had met in front of fans since 2012.

There had been about 250 riot police deployed to the area and the atmosphere was tense. It was unclear what had caused this flashpoint though towards the end of the first half, Wolves supporters seemed to have been ejected from the Albion end.

There had been baiting and provocation from both sets of supporters throughout but the security teams looked to have it under control under the final distressing scenes.



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Post source: Daily mail

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