Yesterday’s Football Association fine of £42,500 for Birmingham City over the Jack Grealish attack was yet another kick in the teeth. This incident, which in my opinion, could not have been prevented by any football club in the world, is seen by the FA as being preventable.
An independent Regulatory Commission has fined Birmingham City £42,500 and warned them as to their future conduct following their EFL Championship fixture against Aston Villa on 10 March 2019. Full statement: https://t.co/YvGNZpZKKV pic.twitter.com/DmcgWcm8Sh
— FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) September 17, 2019
This highly contested local derby, with a big crowd, could not have anticipated or prevented an individual who decided, at a time only known to himself, to break on to the pitch. It is simply impossible to control.
This incident could only have been stopped if each and every supporter had their own steward keeping a watch. Purely illogical. Why the FA cannot understand this is baffling. Many events throughout the country have incidents and tragedies which cannot be foreseen, but proportioning blame or making a scapegoat for such things, is not usually the aim.
The Manchester Arena attack two years which brought about a shocking outcome, was not a preventable happening, likewise the London Bridge horror of violence which again had an awful outcome. In both incidents, neither the Manchester Police nor the London Metropolitan Police were blamed, quite rightly so.
Birmingham City Football Club simply could not have prevented this insane idiotic individual from entering the field of play on the day in question, just like the club could not prevent anyone doing the same this Saturday against Preston.
My conclusion is that, whilst desperately trying not to be overly parochial, the footballing authorities dislike BCFC. Nothing new I know, but this unfair fine is evidence of the feeling. Arsenal had an incident, if I remember, on the same day but a little bit similar, but has anyone heard about that – of course not.