Club fined

[Lincoln Rover]

By Doncaster Rovers FC
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We can confirm that the club have received a fine from the Football Association following crowd disorder during last season’s match against Barrow at the Eco-Power Stadium.
During the Sky Bet League Two fixture on April 20, 2024, multiple pitch incursions took place; one of which involved a confrontation between a supporter and the Barrow goalkeeper. Following the game, the club received a FA charge with a long-running investigation with which the club cooperated fully.
The conclusion of disciplinary proceedings saw Rovers handed a £15,000 fine, reduced to £11,500.
We appreciate the punishment imposed could have been much more severe in the circumstances and are mindful that our management of matchdays at the stadium will be closely observed from now on.

We are approaching the most emotive time of the season, particularly given our push for automatic promotion. There will no doubt be several high-stakes, stirring matchdays at the Eco-Power Stadium over the next two months.
We ask, in the most strong of terms, that our supporters abide by regulations when attending matches. Clear guidance of what is and is not acceptable has been provided and will be reiterated on multiple occasions before each game.
Should we face further FA charges for crowd disorder, the sanctions imposed will be much greater and threaten to cause real damage to the club, whether financial, reputational or to our points total.
Those supporters who breach regulations face club bans and legal proceedings, and the club will work closely with South Yorkshire Police to ensure those guilty are punished.
Together, let us ensure the end to the season is a memorable one, and for all the right reasons.
Statement from the Football Association:
An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed an £11,500 fine and warning on Doncaster Rovers for misconduct in relation to crowd control at their EFL League Two fixture against Barrow on Saturday 20 April 2024.
The FA alleged that the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t behave in an improper, threatening or provocative way; and/or commit any form of pitch incursion.

Doncaster Rovers subsequently admitted the charge. The Regulatory Commission imposed the club’s sanctions following a hearing.

[mushRTID]

Any news on Pete Wilds fine for telling lies about our fans?

[i_ateallthepies]

He didn't need to say anything given that the conduct of more than a small minority was there for all to see.

[scawsby steve]

He didn't need to say anything given that the conduct of more than a small minority was there for all to see.

More than a small minority? About a dozen out of a crowd of more than 10000?

[Nudga]

Any news on Crewes pitch invasion?

[mushRTID]

He didn't need to say anything given that the conduct of more than a small minority was there for all to see.

He said our fans assaulted his goalie when replays showed his goalie chucked a fan to the floor.

[rich1471]

No wonder man city's charges are taking so long to be dealt with if it takes nearly a year to charge us with this

[vaya]

No wonder man city's charges are taking so long to be dealt with if it takes nearly a year to charge us with this

Looking forward to them getting round to laying charges for the White Horse final.

[Pancho Regan]

I’m not for one minute condoning pitch invasions but their goalkeeper should have faced some sort of sanction for what he did.

[PDX_Rover]

The referee’s comments are golden. One of our fans kicked the ball towards him and he had to take evasive action… Sign him up.

[idler]

If none of our fans had gone on the pitch there would be nothing to answer. However it was portrayed or exaggerated those fans have cost the club £12,500. I hope that they are happy knowing this whilst the majority that sat in their seats to celebrate share the cost of their incursion.
Numpties springs to mind.

[roversdude]

Can well imagine that most of those were football tourists

[i_ateallthepies]

He didn't need to say anything given that the conduct of more than a small minority was there for all to see.

He said our fans assaulted his goalie when replays showed his goalie chucked a fan to the floor.

And that was my very point, what happened was there for all to see.

He didn't need to say anything given that the conduct of more than a small minority was there for all to see.

More than a small minority? About a dozen out of a crowd of more than 10000?

There were far more than a dozen involved in the pitch invasion, it's there for all to see.

[roversontheup]

I imagine the FA cut the clubs a bit of slack re fans running onto the pitch as long as they can see that everything possible has been done to prevent or control it. However when fans run onto on the pitch towards players or officials that’s a different situation.
It sounds like Rovers have got away very lightly this time….but still had to pay for something they shouldn’t have needed to. But if it happens again we will be hit with a much, much bigger fine and that could include points deductions! As fans we have to try to police this. It doesn’t matter what other clubs have done or not done. We have to try and stop our fans doing anything that gets us into trouble. We as fans need to police ourselves.

[i_ateallthepies]

Totally this.     There are enough grown men in the South stand to form a solid line along the stand side of the wall and stewards behind them to dissuade the rest from trying to get to the pitch.

[TonySoprano]

Said at the time, it was a perfect storm of emotion.

Are crewe bollocking their fans ?

Storm in a tea cup. Just rovers overreacting.

[i_ateallthepies]

Said at the time, it was a perfect storm of emotion.

Are crewe bollocking their fans ?

Storm in a tea cup. Just rovers overreacting.

WTF!

[roversontheup]

Said at the time, it was a perfect storm of emotion.

Are crewe bollocking their fans ?

Storm in a tea cup. Just rovers overreacting.

Is that really your opinion of this or are you just trying to get a reaction?
 The FA have given a very direct warning to Rovers about any future pitch invasions. It’s definately Not Rovers overreacting! If we have trouble again we WILL get a very hefty penalty. Financially that has serious repercussions on our budget. I dread to even think about a points deduction!
Surely nobody in their right mind cant not be concerned about that.

[swintonrover]

Daft as it sounds, the timing of the invasion makes it different between what Crewe did and what Rovers fans did against Barrow.
AFTER the final whistle, the FA are willing to overlook pitch invasions. As the Barrow one was before the final whistle, the FA had an issue with it.
We've had numerous invasions over the years at the Keepmoat (Crewe, Burton, West Brom, us in the L2 season) and there has never been any grievance as it was after the final whistle.

[roversdude]

Totally this.     There are enough grown men in the South stand to form a solid line along the stand side of the wall and stewards behind them to dissuade the rest from trying to get to the pitch.

Unfortunately some of those on the pitch were grown men

[deebee]

I hope we don't get a promotion then or we will be bankrupt next year.

[silent majority]

Daft as it sounds, the timing of the invasion makes it different between what Crewe did and what Rovers fans did against Barrow.
AFTER the final whistle, the FA are willing to overlook pitch invasions. As the Barrow one was before the final whistle, the FA had an issue with it.
We've had numerous invasions over the years at the Keepmoat (Crewe, Burton, West Brom, us in the L2 season) and there has never been any grievance as it was after the final whistle.

Thats exactly right.

What makes this different from a celebratory pitch invasion, which most authorities ignore, is the timing of it, plus the goalkeeper and referee made a good case of feeling threatened. For those reasons the FA took a very firm stance with the club.

My advice, if you're doing a pitch invasion just stay away from players and officials and all will be well.

[TheFunk]

To be fair the keeper was well out of harms way until he turned back and approached the fans and threw a Rovers fan to the floor.

[drfchound]

Totally this.     There are enough grown men in the South stand to form a solid line along the stand side of the wall and stewards behind them to dissuade the rest from trying to get to the pitch.

Unfortunately some of those on the pitch were grown men

I seem to recall that there was also an elderly lady ….. with a walking stick!

[mushRTID]

To be fair the keeper was well out of harms way until he turned back and approached the fans and threw a Rovers fan to the floor.

Exactly this! He walked back looking for trouble!

[rich1471]

The idiots who went on the pitch should not have been their, we need to stop trying to justifying there actions by saying the keeper did this or that

[i_ateallthepies]

The idiots who went on the pitch should not have been their, we need to stop trying to justifying there actions by saying the keeper did this or that

100% correct.

[Plumbster]

Agreed, the warnings that the club was at risk of punishment were very clear before and during the game and yet they still had to have their ‘moment’.

[Upton Rover]

If the invasion came after the referendum blew for full time, and it was the final home game that qualified us for the play offs, then all would have been OK

[Glyn_Wigley]

Said at the time, it was a perfect storm of emotion.

Are crewe bollocking their fans ?

Storm in a tea cup. Just rovers overreacting.

Those fans have kicked the club in the b*llocks. If they lined up to kick you in the b*llocks one by one and then presented you with a bill for it afterwards, presumably you'd just brush it off as another storm in a teacup.