Leeds have confirmed they will be reporting Tuesday night’s pitch invasion after the JP Trophy semi-final at Carlisle to the Football Association.

United boss Simon Grayson claimed that three of his players had been struck by fans celebrating the hosts’ penalty shoot-out success and complained that the police and stewards had been slow to react.

Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey explained: “It is our intention to make a formal complaint to the football authorities about the apparent lack of security arrangements in relation to the safety of our players in Carlisle.

“It is also our intention to supplement the evidence we already have by having further conversations with both Carlisle United and the Cumbrian police force.”

However, the Leeds manager’s accusations have been firmly rejected in Carlisle. Mark Pannone, the chief inspector of Cumbria Police, said: “We are disappointed by Mr Grayson’s comments.

“As far as Carlisle United and Cumbria Police are concerned, the policing and stewarding of the match was conducted in a restrained and professional manner.”

Carlisle managing director John Nixon also sprang to the defence of those tackling the situation.

He described the operation as: “Text book, with stewards and officers working together as they have been trained to bring the pitch invasion under control as quickly as possible.”