Disgraceful decision and the written reasons confirm the FA's dilatory handling of this matter. Huddersfield admitted their part in a pitch invasion back in September and were fined £70,000. No players were headbutted. Florist play the not liable card, draw out the process requesting personal hearings and get fined £20,00 less and manage to get a free head butt in for good measure.
The reason this has taken so long is Florist have drawn it out initially refusing to admit liability in October and requesting a personal hearing. They have then subsequently admitted liability on one of the four charges in January 2023, that one being the tunnel area wasn't policed properly clearly on advice after the assault on Billy. The other charges related to insufficient stewards, insufficient deployment of stewards and failure to screen for pyrotechnics.
Florist produced a number of experts at the Hearing, the FA produced none. The FA failed to bring the fourth charge re pyrotechnics in good time so it was thrown out. Those Blades playing head tennis with smoke bombs after the final whistle will be delighted to hear that this was not pursued due to FA incompetence.
Florists due diligence argument that there were sufficient stewarding on the first two points was proven mainly due to the evidence of their experts and the lack of any counter argument from the FA. Always good to get a dig in at the opposition manager to deflect blame and make no reference whatsoever to the attacks on other Blades players and staff by saying the Sharp incident was isolated.
Florist were found to be in breach of not policing the tunnel area as a consequence of the assault on Billy. A charge they eventually grudgingly admitted. Yet despite acknowledging the seriousness of the assault the commission then dilute their ruling by stating that although it was unprovoked and serious Florist fans have raised £25,000 for one of Billys charitys. How is that relevant to the charge admitted by NFFC? In fact if the assault hadn't occurred they state the fine would be lower!!
A complete whitewash. You have to say Florist have played a blinder. Delayed the matter brought in expert evidence and relied on the FA's indifference to the process. What is concerning are the commissions statements that dilute the assault on Billy Sharp. To refer to it as a minor breach calls into question the competence of those sitting on the panel and the effectiveness of FA sanctions.
The PFA must have concerns following this ruling. The report is oblivious to player safety yet a criminal act occurred against one of their representatives on a football pitch in full view of inadequate stewarding and policing. There were immediate promises made by the FA that this would not be tolerated after the assault. This was an opportunity to set an example and implement sanctions beyond a fine such as ground closure. The very fact they have not even bothered to provide adequate expert evidence and meet timescales to submit charges confirms that the FA are just hot air and not interested in player safety. A robust FA would challenge this ruling through the appeal process. Then again to do so the would have had to have employed competent legal advisors in the first place. Its only SUFC and Billy Sharp. One wonders how much more time they would have devoted to this if it was Englands captain Harry Kane on the receiving end.
Based on the content of the written reasons there would seem to be grounds for BS pursuing a civil action against NFFC imo for failing to protect him after the final whistle.
A good case study for any other club that gets charged in future with a breach of FA rule E20. Follow the Baldrick rule