Carlos Corberan confirms players’ families safe as FA investigates crowd trouble

Police had to restore order after crowd trouble at West Brom v Wolves (Bradley Collyer/PA)

The Football Association has launched a swift investigation after crowd trouble marred Sunday’s FA Cup derby between West Brom and Wolves.

Play at The Hawthorns was suspended for more than half an hour after ugly scenes broke out in the stands and fans spilled onto the pitch.

West Midlands Police confirmed two arrests were made following the second-half disorder and one person was taken to hospital with head injuries.

Some West Brom players were concerned about family members sitting nearby and at least one, Kyle Bartley, went into the crowd to get his children out.

The Hawthorns’ big screen displays a message asking for fans to return to their seats (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Baggies manager Carlos Corberan later confirmed no players’ family members were hurt but the unsavoury scenes completely overshadowed the contest.

Corberan said: “Unfortunately this happened but fortunately no dramatic situation with the families or with any person happened, because of course lives are more important than anything.

“Everything was controlled by the security people and the situation didn’t have any negative consequence on the families. But, of course, the players were worried because they knew that the families were there.”

The FA issued a strong statement on the matter and punishment could follow.

The statement read: “The disorder that occurred at the Black Country derby between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers is completely unacceptable.

West Brom’s Kyle Bartley, foreground left, looks on as police officers deal with crowd trouble in the game against Wolves (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“Safety and security are of the utmost importance, and