CITY are facing a fine after a flare was thrown on the pitch at Walsall.

The club expect to hear from the Football Association by Tuesday following the incident in yesterday’s game.

The pyrotechnic came from the away end in the celebrations after Olly Sanderson’s first-half equaliser and landed on the edge of the six-yard box.

Bantams keeper Sam Walker was not near it at the time but play was briefly delayed until the claret smoke had cleared.

There have been previous incidents involving City supporters with flares.

In August 2022, one landed close to a young fan after being thrown from the upper tier of the Kop in a home game against Newport.

There were similar problems reported later in the season at Northampton and Crewe – while another flare was let off in a town centre pub before a fixture at Rochdale.

City goalkeeper Sam Walker runs over towards the flareCity goalkeeper Sam Walker runs over towards the flare (Image: @Joeynoble)

It is understood that the FA will take previous problems into account when they are deciding on the size of any punishment.

The incident at the Bescot Stadium will have been included in referee Lewis Smith’s report.

Other fans immediately took to social media to condemn the perpetrator.

“I got searched on the way in, so why didn’t they?” asked Danny Baracskay on X, formerly Twitter.

 

 

“Or if they did, how did they sneak it in? Any City fan that sees the person that threw it on should tell the club and get them banned.”

James Noble said: “It delays the restart when we get momentum.”

Ann Firth added: “We really are cursed with some idiots, especially bearing in mind our history. They do us no favours at all.”

A flare is let off among City fans at Northampton in 2023A flare is let off among City fans at Northampton in 2023 (Image: PA)