Ex-FIFA official brands Welsh FA 'weak' ahead of Cardiff and Swansea punishment
Yesterday at 10:55 AM
Cardiff City and Swansea City will both be punished following a brawl after the South Wales derby between the two sides, Keith Hackett has said.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the Welsh FA have however, not always been strong enough when dealing with these incidents in the past.
It was the Bluebirds who claimed local bragging rights at their home ground on Saturday (18 January) with a 3-0 win over Luke Williams’ side.
Hackett though has suggested both Cardiff and Swansea are in line for recriminations over what happened at full-time in that game.
Cardiff and Swansea facing Welsh FA fines over derby incidents
Even before the game had finished things had threatened to boil over when Swans midfielder Goncalo Franco barged into the home side’s manager, Omer Riza, in second-half stoppage time.
The Cardiff boss’ furious reaction to that saw him sent off, and things continued after the final whistle as well.
Players and staff from both teams were involved in angry clashes on the pitch, with several scuffles breaking out.
Hackett has now suggested that could lead to have fines for both teams, providing the Welsh FA take appropriate action.
When asked what sanctions Cardiff and Swansea might face over those incidents, the former referee said:
“Both clubs will be charged with failing to control their players. So that will be reported by the referee on a special incident report form.
“This behaviour’s unacceptable. So they will look at the entire scenario and if they believe there’s an action – there’s two players come together with their heads – whatever comes out of it, they may be charged.
“They tend to actually fine heavily the clubs for this type of thing. Of course the precedent is way back when I refereed Man United Arsenal and there was a points deduction. That will not happen, it doesn’t happen anymore.
“But it needs a substantial fine. It shouldn’t happen. Yes it’s a derby game, I understand all that but self-control and the image of the game is important.
“How strong will the Welsh FA be? I actually think they’ve got a history, personally, of being weak.”
Following that win over their local rivals, Cardiff remain 20th in the Championship table, one point clear of the relegation zone.
Swansea meanwhile are winless in four games in all competitions, and remain locked in mid-table in the second-tier standings.
In other news, Cardiff City are among the clubs racing to sign a Drogheda United player.
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