FA imposes sanctions on Birmingham City and Aston Villa for failing to control players

The English Football Association (FA) has penalised Birmingham City and Aston Villa after incidents occurred in their derby clash earlier this month. 

FA released a statement to confirm that both the clubs have accepted fines of £5,000 ($6,613) for failing to control their players during the match. 

The flashpoint was when a confrontation followed a foul by Birmingham's Maikel Kieftenbeld on Villa captain Jack Grealish in the fifth minute. 

Players from both teams were charged with breaching FA Rule 20. 

"Birmingham City and Aston Villa have been fined 5,000 pounds following their EFL Championship fixture on 10 March 2019," the FA said in a statement.

"Both clubs accepted a charge and the standard penalty for failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during the fifth minute."

In the same match, a Birmingham fan was jailed for 14 weeks and has been banned from St Andrews stadium for life for running on to the field of play and punching Grealish later on in the match. 

The FA have yet to confirm whether Blues will face any further punishment for that incident. 

Grealish, who escaped unhurt, eventually scored the winner as Villa won 1-0 to leapfrog their derby rivals in the standings.