Cobblers and Accrington fined for breach of FA rule

Cobblers and Accrington Stanley have both been fined £2,500 for failing to control their players during this month's Sky Bet League One fixture at the Wham Stadium.

The incident occurred in the 85th minute when Town's players reacted angrily to a poor challenge from Joe Pritchard on Sam Hoskins.

Pritchard was shown a second yellow card and therefore sent off, and later Accrington midfielder Sean McConville was handed a four-game ban after video footage showed him pulling Peter Kioso's hair in the subsequent melee.

An FA statement confirmed: "Accrington Stanley FC and Northampton Town FC have both been fined £2,500 for a breach of FA Rule E3 that occurred during their EFL League One fixture on Saturday 6 February 2021.

"Both clubs admitted that they failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the 85th minute of the fixture.

"The standard penalty was accepted by Northampton Town FC and unsuccessfully contested by Accrington Stanley FC during a subsequent hearing."