Birmingham City And Portsmouth Fined After Mass Confrontation

Birmingham City and Portsmouth have been fined £85,000 and £53,125 respectively after a Football Association Regulatory Commission found both clubs guilty of misconduct following a mass confrontation during their Championship meeting in May.

The incident occurred during the 80th minute of the clubs' final Championship fixture of the season on 2 May 2026 and stemmed from a controversial attempt by Portsmouth forward Adrian Segecic to score after Birmingham had put the ball out of play for an injured player.

The Football Association charged both clubs with breaches of Rule E20.1, alleging they failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper or provocative manner. Both clubs admitted the charges.

According to the Commission's written reasons, Birmingham players reacted angrily after Segecic chased down a loose ball and attempted a shot on goal instead of returning possession to Birmingham, as is customary in such situations. The confrontation quickly escalated, drawing in players and substitutes from both teams, while a Portsmouth supporter also entered the pitch and became involved.

Birmingham argued that Segecic's actions were the catalyst for the incident and maintained that many of their players were attempting to calm the situation. The club also highlighted the brief duration of the confrontation and the absence of violent conduct.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, contended that Birmingham players had overreacted by surrounding and confronting Segecic. The south coast club similarly argued that most of its players had sought to defuse tensions and pointed to educational initiatives introduced following previous disciplinary issues.

The Commission rejected Birmingham's claim that Segecic's actions justified the subsequent confrontation, ruling that players should have allowed match officials to manage the situation. It also dismissed suggestions that the involvement of so-called "peacemakers" should be treated as mitigating, noting that large numbers of players joining confrontations rarely help to calm matters.

In its findings, the Commission concluded that both clubs were equally responsible for the incident.

"The mass confrontation itself was started by the Birmingham players running over and confronting and pushing [Segecic]," the Commission stated. "It did not however consider that this meant that less blame should be attached to Portsmouth. Its players had rapidly become involved as well."

The panel identified several aggravating factors, including the number of players involved, the proximity of the confrontation to supporters, and the fact the match was televised.

Birmingham's sanction was increased due to its poor recent disciplinary record, which included multiple previous Rule E20 breaches over the last two seasons. The Commission expressed concern that previous educational measures had not led to a significant improvement in player conduct.

After applying aggravating and mitigating factors, Birmingham received a fine of £85,000. Portsmouth, whose disciplinary record was considered less severe, was fined £53,125.

Neither club was ordered to pay costs, and both retain the right to appeal the decision under FA regulations.

The Commission's written reasons were published on 26 May 2026.