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Stoke City were punished more severely than Southampton after their championship run ran out, despite an independent panel admitting that “Southampton’s players gave the impression of being the main aggressors”.
Last week it was shown that Stoke were to be fined £12,000 and Southampton fined £8,000 after being flagged for further investigation by referee James Bell following their clash in early October. The reasons have now been published in writing through the FA detailing the charges. The clubs have admitted each other’s allegations and presented evidence, adding statements from Southampton duo Carlos Alcaraz and Jan Bednarek before a three-man committee.
Bell wrote in his report to the panel: “In the 87th minute after play was stopped, I surrounded seven Stoke players who were challenging and seeking to influence my decisions. I have notified Stoke No. 27 (Mehdi Leris) still in accordance with PGMOL guidelines, I am reporting this incident from the entourage for further investigation.
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Leris had been frustrated by Ryan Manning’s decision to award Wouter Burger a foul, however the FA panel, after watching video clips of the incident, noted that Bell’s tally of seven Stoke players included captain Josh Laurent and goalkeeper Mark Travers who were “trying to stop their teammates from surrounding the in-form referee. “
Bell, Alex Neil noted at the time, had allowed Southampton 17 free-kicks that night, compared to Stoke’s two. The referee also criticised through the pundits for not awarding Stoke a penalty for a foul on Nathan Lowe.
In the incident after full-time, Travers pushed his back to the ground through Alcaraz, who then positioned himself toward Burger and a wave of players and staff scuffled. Subsequently, Burger booked through Bell and is now one yellow card away from a goal. Suspension of league matches.
Bell wrote: “After the final whistle, as the players shook hands, a massive confrontation developed. It’s unclear what caused this as we (the apt officials didn’t see anything), however, SOU 22 (Carlos Alcaraz) and STO 1 (Mark Travers) gave the impression of being in the middle and preoccupied in the exchange of angry glances and words. they were not audible.
“A large number of players and coaching staff were involved in this scrum in which no act of misconduct was observed by the referees on the pitch. Since we didn’t see what triggered the confrontation and in accordance with PGMOL rules, I’m pointing out this giant confrontation for further investigation.
Bell and his assistants seeing the incident influenced the punishment.
The governing committee, made up of Bradley Pritchard, Tony Allen and Michael O’Brien, reviewed the videos and said: “After reviewing the footage provided, the Southampton players gave the impression of being the main aggressors. However, as a conceivable past occasion was not included, the commission was unable to verify it. Therefore, only minimal weight is given to this aggravating circumstance.
Stoke’s disciplinary record over the past five years has been declared “a significant aggravating circumstance”. The club was fined five times that period for failing to ensure players or staff did not behave in an “inappropriate, offensive, violent, threatening and abusive manner”. , indecent, insulting or provocative. “
This includes a £1,250 fine for an incident following an FA Youth Cup draw against Manchester United in January, a £9,000 fine following an attack on Bristol City in April 2022, a £10,000 fine for a bench collision and an attack on Barnsley. In April 2021, a fine of £10,000 for an incident against Birmingham in December 2018 and £5,000 for an incident against Aston Villa in December 2018.
By contrast, Southampton have faced a misconduct rate since 2018, £20,000 when tempers flared against Sheffield United in March 2021.
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The court concluded: “Therefore, following the respective infringements of the two clubs, taking into account the aggravating and mitigating factors, and then applying discounts based on their respective admissions, the commission (fined Stoke £12,000 and Southampton £8,000). “
Southampton won the match 1-0 thanks to a free kick by Stuart Armstrong. PGMOL contacted Neil the next day to admit that Stoke had been awarded a penalty.
Bell wasn’t appointed to officiate any other games for another fortnight, however, he has returned to action in recent days to oversee two league games.