FA probe Newcastle and Southampton after  31-man brawl during draw at St James'

By Colin Young

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Newcastle United and Southampton face FA fines for failing to control staff and players after an entertaining draw ended in an astonishing melee.

Goalkeeping coaches Andy Woodman and Toni Jimenez were sent off by Mike Jones and the FA will study Jones’s report before deciding what action to take, although managers Alan Pardew and Mauricio Pochettino tried to play down the incident after acting as peacemakers.

Poor Jones had an eventful day. The referee fell to the ground after being hit by Moussa Sissoko’s flailing arm as he remonstrated with Southampton keeper Paulo Gazzaniga for his blatant time-wasting.

Probe: Newcastle and Southampton will be investigated by the FA for failing to control players and staff

Probe: Newcastle and Southampton will be investigated by the FA for failing to control players and staff

Eventful: Referee Mike Jones ended up with a bloody nose after being accidently hit in the face by Moussa Sissoko

Eventful: Referee Mike Jones ended up with a bloody nose after being accidently hit in the face by Moussa Sissoko

Both managers had their backs to the confrontation, which at one point involved 16 coaches and support staff, eight substitutes and seven stewards.

It started after the Newcastle contingent reacted angrily to a Morgan Schneiderlin tackle on Massadio Haidara. Pardew and Pochettino ensured it ended quickly.

It was a shame the row overshadowed a thrilling encounter, Jay Rodriguez levelling Yoan Gouffran’s goal.

Overshadowed: The row between players and staff overshadowed a thrilling encounter

Overshadowed: The row between players and staff overshadowed a thrilling encounter

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

Handbags at ten paces! The FA should concentrate their time on tackling real issues rather than a bit of pushing and shoving. However as much as I am a Newcastle fan, they must have the most provocative Manager and backroom staff in the league.

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No one should be getting high and mighty about this., Everyone loves a good scrap, especially when it invvolves all the players and both benches, great way to end a game!!

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if Southampton are not careful, they'll end up being touted as the new Stoke.

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the highlight of the game was the ref taking a knock and showing players how to "dive".

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Nice. Mature. These divas need some chocolate.

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And what's the betting that the big hard man Carver was looking for the smallest, youngest lad to have a go at ?

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Pardew is normally trying to start fights with every opposition manager and their staff.

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At least the 'scrap' gave some entertainment, that's more than can be said for the game.

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I thought it was quite an entertaining game. Maybe you were watching another one or didn't watch it.

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