EFL issue a statement condemning the pitch invasion from Crawley fans after beating Fulham in the Carabao Cup Second Round.
It was the biggest upset of the night, with the League Two side, who are winless after five matches in their division this season, pulling off a shock win against the Premier League outfit.
Goals from Tom Nichols and Liverpool loanee James Balagizi gave the hosts a famous win, with the full time whistle prompting a pitch invasion by their jubilant supporters as expected.
Crawley currently sit 23rd in League Two – 84 league positions below their opponents – having lost four of their opening five league matches this season.
😱 THE SHOCK OF THE NIGHT 😱
Premier League Fulham are DUMPED out of the cup by Crawley Town! pic.twitter.com/uIrdJkDdez
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 23, 2022
“This club will go from strength to strength.”
“What an evening,” manager Kevin Betsy, a former Fulham midfielder, told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Little Crawley Town beating Premier League Fulham. Unbelievable.
“What we have done is phenomenal. We had a plan of how we wanted to play and that will be our blueprint going forward.
Fulham – last season’s Championship winners – entered in the second round game on the back off good form having beaten London rivals Brentford 3-2 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Crawley Town owner Hunter Orrell celebrates with the fans after their 2-0 victory over Premier League Fulham in the EFL Cup.
LIMBS! 🔴🙌
🎥 IG/HunterOrrell pic.twitter.com/BxumMm122U
— Barstool Football (@StoolFootball) August 23, 2022
EFL STATEMENT:
The EFL condemns the actions taken by a number of individuals leading up to, during and following the unacceptable mass pitch incursion at the end of Crawley Town’s Second Round Carabao Cup tie against Fulham at the Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday evening.
EFL Clubs, their employees, the Football Supporters’ Association, and the game’s wider stakeholders, have made a collective commitment to ensure that the safety of all those involved in the game is not compromised by anti-social and criminal behaviour.
Everyone associated with staging and attending football matches has a responsibility to meet that commitment and should also be fully aware that it is against the law to enter the pitch at any time without permission and doing so could result in a Club ban and criminal record for the perpetrators.
More importantly, it puts the safety of players, coaches, managers, and match officials at risk. It is vital that those playing the game can do so safe in the knowledge that they will not be subjected to violent, threatening, or anti-social behaviour going forward.
It is also ill advised to encourage and glorify such actions through social media, other digital platforms, and the broader media. This type of inappropriate behaviour is not welcomed and wherever appropriate, the authorities will take the necessary action to ensure this does not happen in the future.
Whilst acknowledging the occasion of Crawley’s victory against a Premier League opponent, there can be no justification to enter the pitch without authority.
Simply put, the pitch is for participants and the stands for spectators.
The EFL has been in contact with the Club to discuss the various circumstances surrounding the incursion, including identifying the individuals involved, while the FA have confirmed they will be investigating last night’s events.
There was reaction as EFL issue a statement condemning the pitch invasion from Crawley fans after beating Fulham…
@nottsowls: They’ve just knocked a Premier League side, 84 places above them, out of the cup. World’s gone mad. The slow death of football continues.
@cafc95: Bunch of clowns
@willspe71550851: Gone so soft
@MnRainer: Maybe have a look at your standard of your refs as well.
@rogerthedodge2: You have just beaten a Premier League team over 80places above you in the pyramid what do u expect? Fans to sit politely in their seats clapping – clowns get real
@caunce_owen: Massive waste of space you lot
@SheffUtd25: Fans condemn the EFL for hiring the worst officials they could find
@MattWWoolwich: Po-faced nonsense. Put your efforts into refereeing standards and dodgy club owners.
@Bristoliang1en: What about @ntfc’s pitch invasion on Saturday just because they managed a draw against Crewe? @EFL are an absolute joke!
@andyridg: Really @EFL_Comms? Their fans celebrated as fans have done for over 100 years. 2nd from bottom of EFL, no points so far and they beat a Premier League opponent and you condemn their fans for celebrating as fans have done for over a century? As they did last season? Disgrace.
@lukeoafc_: fuck off EFL bunch of knobheads
@LeeW1875: Oh piss off! Every week there’s 3 unwanted people entering the pitch in every game… EFL officials!
@MattRayns: Fuck the EFL.
@FfcTom: Can’t wait to be the first team to win a cup after losing the 1st round to the 91st worse team in English footy
@conbcfc95: The EFL always have and always will be cunts, let them celebrate beating a premier league team ffs
@ToteEndBarPod: Imagine condemning Crawley fans for celebrating a massive night in their club’s history, but not their shyster owners pushing shady investments to Christ knows who on the internet.
@detroitlatics: Modern football. What a night it was for Crawley. No points so far this season and they beat a premier league opponent and their fans celebrated as fans have in these situations for 150 years. Mad.
@Rob_K82: But then processed to do nothing! @EFL the jokers in the pack! 🃏
I think they are targeting this comment by one of the club owners pic.twitter.com/4xbazsry7X
— Gareth Duncan (@garethduncan) August 24, 2022
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