Ipswich Town are set to lodge an official complaint after a Birmingham City fan appeared to try to hit midfielder Jack Taylor.
Taylor alerted club staff to the flashpoint which followed Ipswich’s late equaliser at St Andrew’s in a bad-tempered finish to Friday’s Championship curtain-raiser, which finished 1-1.
A source told Sky Sports News that referee Andrew Kitchen, the EFL and police were all aware of Taylor’s claims following the game.
Tempers flared after Ipswich were awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty. Striker George Hirst converted it and the Ipswich players celebrated in front of a stand filled with Birmingham supporters.
Both sets of players clashed, with one melee spilling off the pitch towards a section of the crowd.
Footage shows a fan hurdling a fence and running towards the scene with security and stewards having to intervene and wrestle him to the ground.
Taylor was at the centre of the dispute attempting to protect team-mate Conor Chaplin.
Chaplin was booked for kicking the ball into the stand behind the goal following Hirst’s equaliser.
Sky Sports News has contacted Birmingham City, the Football Association, EFL and West Midlands Police for comment.
McKenna on altercation after Hirst equaliser
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Chris Davies and Kieran McKenna share their thoughts on the late penalty drama and player aggro at St Andrew’s during Birmingham’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was asked about the altercation between the Birmingham fan and his players after Hirst’s equaliser. “It’ll be seen and reported and let’s see what happens,” he said.
“I think there might have been an incident with the crowd and one of the players, that wasn’t ideal. In terms of the players on the pitch [clashing], emotions run high at those moments and it’s understandable.”
Every Championship match LIVE on Sky Sports+ this weekend!
Saturday August 9
- Southampton vs Wrexham, kick-off 12:30pm – Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+
- Charlton vs Watford, kick-off 12:30pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- Coventry vs Hull, kick-off 12:30pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- Middlesbrough vs Swansea, kick-off 3pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- Norwich vs Millwall, kick-off 3pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- Oxford vs Portsmouth, kick-off 3pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- QPR vs Preston, kick-off 3pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- Stoke vs Derby, kick-off 3pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- West Brom vs Blackburn, kick-off 3pm – Live on Sky Sports+
- Sheffield United vs Bristol City, kick-off 5:30pm – Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+
Sunday August 10
- Leicester vs Sheffield Wednesday, kick-off 4.30pm – Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports+
