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FA investigates Bradford and Crawley brawl

The English Football Association is investigating the brawl after Crawley’s 2-1 win at Bradford which equalled the British record of players dismissed.Bradford’s Andrew Davies, Luke Oliver and Jon McLaughlin were red carded, along with Crawley’s Pablo Mills and substitute Claude Davis, on Tuesday.Bermuda’s Nahki Wells was on the pitch at the time of the fracas but was not involved.Crawley manager Steve Evans said: “If people have acted out of turn they need to be dealt with.”The FA will liaise with both clubs and review video evidence.Referee Iain Williamson called the offending footballers into his dressing room and issued them with red cards for violent conduct after punches had been thrown by players from both sides after the final whistle.A Bradford City spokesman told the BBC: “We are still in the process of investigating the incident and gathering all the facts from the players. We have received a disciplinary notice from the Football Association.“We are taking the incident very seriously and if the chairman or manager believes the incident warrants fines to the players, we will issue them.”A statement from Crawley read: “Regarding the unfortunate events which took place at yesterday’s game at Bradford City after the final whistle was blown, Crawley Town cannot make any further comment until the club has had the opportunity to view the video footage in detail.”The FA rulebook states that players dismissed for violent conduct receive an automatic three-match ban.Bradford’s Davies is now suspended for five-games as he had twice been dismissed earlier in the season, with each red card incurring a further match ban.Due to the scale of the confrontation, additional bans could be handed out to the players, and the clubs fined for failing to control their players.In 2002, Sheffield United were fined £10,000 by the governing body after three players were sent off following a series of fights and illegal tackles in a match with West Bromwich Albion which was abandoned after 82 minutes when the Blades were reduced to six men due to dismissals and injury.Bradford and Crawley could both also issue internal fines and suspensions following their own independent investigations.