Six people were arrested and one man was taken to hospital after more than 30 minutes of chaos broke out during West Bromwich Albion’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The police were forced to intervene when fights broke out in stands in the Hawthorns. A football player was also hit by an object collected from the crowd.
Police were seen using batons to control the crowd as the players were removed from the field. Fans were seen pouring onto the pitch, bloodied.
A statement from West Midlands Police (WMP) confirmed five people had been arrested for public order offences, with one man arrested for possessing an offensive weapon before the match. One person was taken to hospital with head injuries.
WMP said: “They had extra officers at this local derby and they responded immediately as the disturbance in the stands caused fans to enter the pitch.”
The incident happened when Matthew Cunha gave Wolves two goals in the 77th minute before Pedro Neto’s goal in the first half.
The game has been stopped for 10 minutes more than normal.
The game resumed in the 78th minute after a 37-minute break. Wolves boss Gary O’Neill and West Brom manager Carlos Corberan spoke in the tunnel and agreed that the teams would walk out together for the restart in a show of unity.
The Football Association (FA) has confirmed that it will investigate the incident, calling it “absolutely unacceptable”.
“Safety and security are paramount, and the behavior of those involved was dangerous and intolerable,” the FA’s statement read.
West Brom said they condemned the “very unsavory scenes” that marred the game and said they would work with the WYP and the FA to “fully investigate the events that led to the suspension of the game”.
The statement read: “Any individual involved in trouble will be subject to a club ban in addition to a criminal investigation.” The club will not make any further comment until a full and thorough investigation has been completed.
O’Neill added that he had seen some West Brom players “having to carry their children out of the stands”.
He said: “I didn’t see much, I just saw a little overflow in the far corner from where I was and couldn’t figure out what was going on.
“It was really disappointing, anyone who wants to come to a football game wants to feel safe, children and elderly people can be in that area and we shouldn’t be talking about incidents like this.
“It’s unfortunate and I’m sure that things that happened off the field need to be discussed now. I know my main concern was the families and children of the players in that area and I hope everyone is safe.
“I am very sad to see some WBA players leaving the stands with their children. No one needs to do this, frustration. I hope everyone gets home safe and there’s nothing silly after that.
Corberan said: “We are really saddened by the violent behavior that has occurred, especially when you are so close to this incident.
“That probably sums up this game for me. Our fans were amazing.
“They created a special atmosphere. Until the event, everything was incredible in terms of the feeling they created.
Now we have to talk about something, which is an act that we are totally against in football.
Wolves secured their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a win.
(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)