January 28, 2024
- 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
West Bromwich Albion’s Black Country derby against Wolves was suspended with nearly 10 minutes remaining amid appalling and upsetting scenes at The Hawthorns.
A heavy punishment looks inevitable for Albion amid scenes that brought shame on the game. One man was led across the pitch from the East Stand, blood pouring from his face, and out through the a corridor int he West Stand.
Shortly after Matheus Cunha had put Wolves 2-0 up, 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, nearly 25 minutes after Cunha’s goal.
Both sets of players had returned to the changing rooms and supporters warned that the match could not restart unless they returned to their seats.
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.
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.
About 10 points after the original problems, there were further scuffles in the East Stand, near the corner of the Smethwick End housing the Wolves fans.
Soon after those incidents, a man with blood pouring from his face was guided across the pitch by police and stewards.
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.
ITV reporter Katie Shanahan provided an update from inside the tunnel.
She said: ‘A number of the players children are in that area so we’re just waiting to see what’s happening but the referees can’t start the game until they’ve had the go ahead from the safety team.
‘If it is not deemed safe then it is up to the FA to decide what to do next so we’re still waiting.’
‘At the moment it is not safe to carry on this game.’
