FA to investigate clash between fans

United, Barnsley supporters resort to fisticuffs during League Cup match

In one incident a group of United fans broke into a food kiosk at the Oakwell stadium trapping eight staff, while they stole cash from the till and took all the stock, a South Yorkshire police spokesman said.

"Police officers responded by arresting three people. Some of the fans who broke into the food kiosk also threw food items at the Barnsley stewards," he said, adding a police officer received a minor facial injury trying to arrest one person.

Two fans also invaded the pitch during the game, holding up the action during the fourth round tie for several minutes before stewards eventually removed them. In a separate incident after the match, two people were arrested after jumping on to a railway line and stopping a Barnsley-Sheffield train, he said.

Police added that four home fans and four visiting supporters had been arrested after the various incidents. In a statement on its website (www.thefa.com) the FA said it was awaiting reports from a Crowd Control Advisor and referee Chris Foy. "The FA will also be liaising with both clubs and South Yorkshire Police to gather evidence relating to events at Oakwell.

"Any culprit found to be involved in these disturbances and identified as such by either the police or clubs should be subject to a lengthy ban from attending football matches."
Portsmouth have been banned from registering any new players until further notice because of unpaid debts to other clubs, the Premier League said. The league said in a statement the embargo was imposed on Oct 15. "Premier League rules allow the Board to act if a club has outstanding transfer fees due to other clubs," the statement said. Portsmouth played down the issue, however, with a club spokesman saying they were confident the situation would be "sorted by the end of the week".

The news is another setback for the south-coast club who have been in financial turmoil for two years. Portsmouth, bottom of the league after only one win and a draw in their first 10 games, were taken over earlier this month by Saudi Arabian businessman Ali al Faraj.

He bought 90 percent of the club's shares from Sulaiman al Fahim who took over only in August but struggled to refinance the club's debt. Last month payments to some of the first team squad were delayed and, despite the sale of many leading players over the last 18 months.