FA to probe Oakwell crowd trouble

Riot police line up in front of the supporters at Oakwell on Tuesday night

The Football Association is to investigate the crowd trouble that marred Tuesday's Carling Cup match between Barnsley and Manchester United.

After a number of reported incidents the FA is awaiting the reports of an FA crowd control adviser, present at the game, and from referee Chris Foy.

Seven fans were arrested at the match after trouble flared at half-time and two more later at the railway station.

Fans also broke into a kiosk and stole money and food from the shelves.

Police were hit with bottles and eight staff were forced to hide in a storeroom for 25 minutes when fans forced themselves into the club's catering area.

Jan Framp, area manager for Lindley Catering, said the attack happened after police told catering staff not to sell alcohol at half-time.

"That's what upset them," Mrs Framp said. "They kicked the doors in and then ransacked the beer bar. They have ripped the water boilers off the counters, they have trashed everything."

Stewards on the pitch also had food thrown at them during the disorder, with one police officer suffering a minor facial injury.

Two men aged 22 and 24 were arrested for public order offences, a 26 year-old-man was arrested for theft and a 32-year-old man was arrested for throwing a missile onto a football pitch with all four from Manchester.

In a separate incident, three Barnsley fans were arrested for running on to the pitch during play.

United beat the Championship side 2-0 to progress into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

Staff inspect the damage of the catering kiosk at Oakwell

An FA spokesman said: "There is no place for anti-social or violent behaviour in our game.

"Any culprit found to be involved in these disturbances and identified as such by either the police or clubs should be subject to a lengthy ban from attending football matches."

Barnsley are also launching their own investigation into the violence, accusing Manchester United fans of causing "substantial damage" in the stadium's north stand.

A Barnsley spokesman said: "It's a hell of a mess down there. Doors have been kicked in, tills have been damaged and there's food and drink everywhere.

"It looks like a swamp in one of the bars. A complaint has been made to the police and we will be taking a look at CCTV footage of the incident before we can comment further."

United have said they support the strongest possible action being taken against those who damage the club's name, including the imposition of banning orders and the cancellation of season tickets.

Two further arrests were made at about 2300 GMT after fans jumped on to railway tracks in a bid to stop the Barnsley to Sheffield train.

Violence also overshadowed a Carling Cup match in August between West Ham and Millwall with fans clashing with each other and police before, during and after the game at Upton Park.

The Hammers are contesting four FA charges of failing to control fans and issued photos this week of supporters they want to identify, stating that 25 people were already facing lifetime banning orders.

Millwall are contesting their three charges with both clubs alleged to have taken insufficient action to stop missile throwing and violent, threatening and racist behaviour.