Latics to hang fire on appeal

FLASHPOINT . . . players and personnel clash during Athletic’s home game against Carlisle United last month.

Club to consider full FA response
ATHLETIC are considering their options after the FA fined them £3,500 for the brawl which marred last month’s game against Carlisle at Boundary Park.

Both clubs admitted a charge of mass confrontation and were hit with the same financial penalty.

Assistant manager Gerry Taggart admitted a charge of improper conduct for his role in the incident.

He has been fined £1,000 and banned from the touchline for one match.

The flashpoint occurred with seven minutes of the game remaining.

Taggart jumped in after a tussle between Athletic substitute Warren Feeney and visiting centre-back Lubo Michalik, which was then followed by several players becoming involved in a melee near the home dug-out.

Carlisle midfielder Tom Taiwo was left with a cut above his nose, though it was not clear how it was caused.

The two clubs and Taggart have the right to appeal, but Athletic chief executive Alan Hardy said they will hang fire until the reasons for the punishments are explained in more detail.

He added: “We do not know if we are going to appeal yet. We are waiting to receive a written response from the FA in order to learn more about their reasoning.

“It will give us a better idea as to why they took these decisions.

“Gerry’s ban could kick in immediately, but again we will not know for sure until the response arrives from the FA.”

The npower League One outfits asked for mitigation before judgement was passed at a disciplinary hearing in Manchester. They were also warned about their future conduct.

Carlisle said afterwards they were disappointed with the fine and would consider an appeal.

Managing director John Nixon added: “We admitted an incident had occurred, but we felt that the mitigating circumstances were more than in our favour.

“We had an exemplary record as a club in this area, and we felt that would also hold us in good stead.

“We also maintain that our players behaved extremely well during that incident and that they were drawn in to a situation not of their making.”