Mansfield Town rocked by huge £10,000 fine over promotion night pitch invasion

A big pitch invasion followed Stags' promotion to League One that night after the historic 2-1 victory with fans streaming onto the field and celebrating with players.

Fans were asked to leave the field so a proper lap of honour could be undertaken which eventually happened.

However some fans had already spilled out onto the pitch surrounds before the final whistle and the findings also decided Stags had not done enough to prevent the invasion on the night while there was a worry that fans were on the field before Accrington players had reached the dressing rooms which was unsafe for the opposition.

Mansfield Town have admitted that they failed to 'ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion; don’t use words or behave in a way which is improper, threatening or provocative; and don’t commit any form of pitch incursion.'

An independent Regulatory Commission imposed the club’s sanctions following a hearing.

Referee Charles Breakspear had submitted an extraordinary incident report on the night's proceedings to the FA.

That included: “In 90 + 1 minute of play, Accrington Stanley FC tried to take a corner from the corner arc located between the Ian Greaves Stand and North Stand, but there were a large number of Mansfield Town FC spectators that had left their respective stands and encroached over the barrier, standing a yard from the field of play interfering with the Accrington Stanley FC player who tried to take the corner.

“I left my position on the corner of the penalty area and moved to the Accrington Stanley FC player who was due to take the corner kick, to check that he was ok and asked the Mansfield Town FC stewards and Police to move the Mansfield Town FC spectators away, to enable the game to continue.

After a short delay to the game, Accrington Stanley FC took the corner and the game proceeded.”

The panel concluded that: “At present, however, we wish to observe that whilst we do not know whether a point would have been sufficient for Mansfield Town to secure promotion, given the presence of so many spectators on the wrong side of the advertising hoardings, if Accrington Stanley F.C. had equalised, whether from their corner or otherwise, that could have been a trigger for a very sudden, dramatic and unfortunate change of mood amongst supporters who were plainly not under the control of Mansfield Town or its stewards.”

They also noted that: “Fans from the main stand were allowed to enter the area next to the away dugouts from around 85 minutes when a pitch side gate was opened.

“We are disturbed to hear this, which seems somewhat at odds with the Match Day Briefing and Risk Assessment of 'Be alert around the dug out area and at the tunnel area at all times but specifically around half time and full time'.

The commission pointed out that EFL guidance clearly states that: “We need to move away from almost an acquiescence, that pitch incursions at the conclusion of the season are celebratory in nature and to be expected.”

Prior to the match the club had issued communication via their official website and social media channels reminding supporters to remain in the stand in the event of a victory.

On the night of the eventual promotion-sealing match, several tannoy announcements were also made, along with scoreboard notices, asking supporters to stay off the pitch as part of the club's efforts.

The Commission considered that a fine in the sum of £12,000 was appropriate, mitigated to the sum of £10,000 and Mansfield Town were also warned as to their future conduct and must pay the costs of the Regulatory Commission.

Stags do have a right of appeal against the decision, but were making no comment this evening.