Hull City and Birmingham City have both been hit with FA punishments after admitting charges following a confrontation at St Andrew’s
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
16:04, 02 Dec 2025
Joe Gelhardt and Jay Stansfield square up at St Andrew’s(Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
Hull City have been fined for their part in the touchline fracas which broke out in their 3-2 win at Birmingham City in October.
The Tigers won the game, thanks to an own goal from Birmingham’s Jack Robinson, a strike from Regan Slater and a 90th minute winner from Joe Gelhardt.
However, the game boiled over just before half time when Kyle Joseph brought down Patrick Roberts and was then fouled by Jay Stansfield.
Both sets of players were involved in a confrontation on the pitch, then off it members of the opposing dugouts came to loggerheads.
That led to both clubs being charged and today the Football Association have confirmed the outcome by releasing a statement confirming Birmingham have been hit with a £115,000 fine and Hull with the minimum £25,000.
The statement read : “Birmingham City FC and Hull City FC have been sanctioned for the mass confrontation at their EFL Championship fixture on Saturday 18 October.
“It was alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players and/or technical area occupants didn’t behave in an improper way around the 42nd minute.
“Both clubs admitted the charge, and an independent Regulatory Commission imposed fines of £115,000 and £25,000 on Birmingham City FC and Hull City FC respectively.”
Birmingham’s poor previous record, with five breaches of FA Rule E20 cited in the judgement saw them handed a much bigger punishment.
The judgement included a passage from referee Ruebyn Ricardo’s report which read: “In the 45th minute there was a challenge by BC9 [correction: BC28] in which resulted in MASS CONFRONTATION between both technical areas and Birmingham City stewards, and both sets of players.
“Reports of stewards being pushed by Hull City staff and vise versa. Following the incident both BC9 [correction: BC28] & HC21 was cautioned as well as two staff members from either side.”
The judgement continued: “HCFC have no previous breaches at a First Team level of FA Rule E20 in the current playing season, as well as the preceding 5 [five] season period.
“However, HCFC have 2 [two] previous proven breaches of FA Rule E20 in the past 12 months at youth level.
“These breaches were: i. Against Coventry City in the Premier League Cup (U23) on 3 February 2025, receiving a fine of £1,250. ii. Against Swansea City in the U18 Professional Development League – North (U18) on 15 April 2025, receiving a fine of £1,250.”
Both clubs have the right of appeal but for now that seems to put to bed an unsavoury exchange which continued into the post match press conferences.
After the game Hull boss Sergej Jakirović claimed: “I was in my technical space all the time, they came to us. If you leave your space you get a yellow card. I got a yellow card because I show this (imaginary yellow card) for a very bad foul on Kyle Joseph. This is the age of the red card because it’s on purpose.
“Then I asked, Chris, ‘Why did you come to my technical space?’ and he said to me, ‘F word you’. Some securities too (said) that I go to Croatia.
“I am very happy with this. I am hard born, I am not afraid of anyone. I am doing my job in this country and I respect this country, I will never say something like this.
“For me it’s disrespectful and I didn’t shake hands which is, for me, a disaster but it’s OK, I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”
Also speaking after the game Blues manager Davies said: “There was a melee of people as there usually is in those sorts of incidents and I didn’t think there was anything too unusual but he decided not to shake my hand.
“It’s never happened to me as a manager and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that as a coach. It says a lot but it is what it is.”
Blues then released a statement refuting Jakirovic’s claim: “Birmingham City are aware of a serious allegation made by Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirović towards a member of the security team at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
“Having conducted an internal investigation, the club refute, in the strongest possible terms, Mr Jakirovic’s claims. In addition, we are disappointed that the allegation was made in a public press conference. We will be making no further comment at this time.”
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