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Two non-league teams have been kicked out of a cup competition for a mass brawl which saw the match between the two sides abandoned.

The Telegraph reported in October how the Midland Football League Cup fixture between Rugby Town and Coventry Copsewood, at Butlin Road, was called off by the referee after violence broke out on the pitch.

Video footage captured by a fan, which can be viewed above, showed how the scuffle unfolded with players aiming kicks and punches at each other. Substitutes also ran from the bench to get involved and there was pushing and shoving during the incident, which lasted several minutes.

The fracas was reportedly sparked by a late tackle from a Copsewood player, before the video began, which resulted in the heated reactions from both sets of players.

A Rugby Town statement said police were called after the incident to ensure the safety of both sets of players and management leaving the ground.

The referee called off the game in the 43rd minute with Rugby leading their lower league opposition 1-0.

Punishment

A statement from the Midland Football League read: “Following the abandonment of the Polymac Packaging League Cup Round Two tie between Rugby Town and Coventry Copsewood on October 24, 2017, and the conclusion of the subsequent investigation into the events surrounding the abandonment, the Discipline Committee’s decision was that both clubs were found guilty and that they are both removed from this season’s competition.”

It is understood both clubs also received further punishment from the Football Association.

(Image: @Jackson_Downie)

Coventry Copsewood

The player behind the late tackle which sparked the brawl was Copsewood defender George Whitelaw.

He spoke to the Telegraph the following day and admitted his tackle was late. But he pointed the finger of blame for the abandonment at Rugby Town for the way their players reacted.

The player, who was booked for the challenge, said: “I put a tackle in that was late, I admit that.

“When we were on the floor he grabbed me and another player came running in and kicked me in the side of the head.

“Another one of their players punched our centre half and gave him a black eye.

“It was a bit of handbags, it was a bit petty really - there’s no need to be kicking and punching people.

“It was a bit of a nightmare situation.”

(Image: @JohnPittem)

Rugby Town

A statement released by Rugby Town after the incident read: “Rugby Town’s Midland Football League Cup tie with Coventry Copsewood was abandoned by the referee just before half time.

“Match referee Darren Laska called time early after a large fracas between the two sets of players which occurred following a late tackle on Rugby midfielder Ben Ashby.

“Once tempers calmed on the field, the referee began to give out cards including a red card to two players plus a booking to another before then deciding to abandon the game.”

It added: “The police were called to attend to ensure the sets of players and management left the stadium safely and there were no further reports of incidents after the players left the field of play.

Warwickshire Police

A statement from Warwickshire Police , released shortly after the incident, read: “Warwickshire Police were called at around 8.40pm on Tuesday 24 October, following a report of an assault on the grounds of a football club in Butlin Road, Rugby.

“Officers attended and no arrests were made.”

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