Yahoo News Stoke City slammed for 'utterly dreadful' record after Plymouth Argyle clash
Stoke City have been hit with a £24,000 fine following a mass confrontation which took place during last month’s relegation battle with Plymouth Argyle. The Greens have been fined £5,000 for their part in the fracas.
Both clubs admitted they failed to ensure their players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative way following an incident in the 35th minute of a high-stakes match at the bet365 Stadium.
Nevertheless the case went to an independent commission, which met to consider the fine – which could have been as high as £100,000 given the fact Stoke were charged for a ‘non-standard’ breach for their part in the fracas. Argyle’s part was deemed to constitute a ‘standard’ breach which carries a £5,000 penalty.
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The confrontation was sparked by a coming together of Stoke's Million Manhoef and Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper, which resulted in Ki-Jana Hoever and Tyrese Campbell being booked for the hosts and Cooper and Bali Mumba for the visitors.
The FA relied upon the report of referee Robert Madley and video clips of the incident and the commission was especially critical of Hoever’s role, condemning the full back for running ‘from almost the halfway line to deliver a forceful two-handed shove to an opponent which inflamed the confrontation even further. It was mindless aggression and totally not necessary.’
The Commission also cited Stoke’s five previous breaches in the last five campaign, and the fact this was the second such incident this season, following the game with Southampton in October 2023 for which the Potters were fined £12,000. The judgement describes the ‘utterly dreadful record that SCFC have for offences of this type’
It also rejected the argument that the significance of the match as a relegation battle and fact that Steven Schumacher had previously been Plymouth’s head coach provided mitigation, indeed the commission felt this was an aggravating factor in that it placed extra responsibility on the Potters to ensure such an incident didn’t occur.
The ruling said: “The only real mitigation in this case is the admission of the Charge. In our judgment an appropriate starting point is a financial penalty of £36,000. We reduce that in SCFC’s case to one of £24,000 to take account of their admission and to reach, in our unanimous view, a proportionate and fair sanction.” Stoke do have the right to appeal.
