CARLISLE have been fined £5,000 for the pitch invasion after the City play-off game at Brunton Park last season.

The Cumbrians admitted the charge of crowd control misconduct and have been warned, as well as hit with the fine – of which £2,000 is suspended pending no further trouble up to November 21 next year.

The third-tier side said they submitted "significant" mitigation for the events of May 20 in the League Two play-off semi-final second leg.

 

 

But an independent regulatory commission took into account previous incidents of fan misbehaviour – including one against the Bantams in last season’s league game.

Carlisle beat City 3-1 after extra-time in the play-off second leg – going through 3-2 on aggregate – in front of 15,401 supporters.

A pitch invasion followed the final whistle with many home fans running towards the away section to goad them and there were reports of objects thrown into the City support.

Carlisle admitted they "failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t commit any form of pitch incursion."

"The Commission noted a detailed “Action Plan” is in place already for CUFC until the end of the 2023/24 season," added an FA statement. "No amendments are made to the terms of that Action Plan. CUFC is formally warned as to future conduct."

Carlisle were previously fined £7,500 following racist chanting in their league encounter with City on Boxing Day last year.

Carlisle chief executive Nigel Clibbens released a statement after the punishment for the pitch invasion was confirmed.

"We admitted the charge and provided significant mitigation for the events that took place," he said.

"Having considered the case, the Commission concluded that our culpability fell within the fifth category (lowest category of breach), namely a situation where a club has “marginally failed”.

"The Commission noted the various mitigating factors we put forward but also the aggravating factor of a breached FA Rule E21.4 [discriminatory racist chanting by its spectators] committed in the match at Brunton Park against Bradford City on 26 December 2022.

"We have already implemented changes to arrangements since the start of the season and we will now also look closely and review the findings of the Commission and make any further necessary changes for the future.”

Written reasons for the judgement include the commission's findings that, after "thousands" of fans came onto the pitch, there are "no or very few security or safety staff" visible on the footage of the events.