Blues get £42k fine for attack
BIRMINGHAM CITY have been fined £42,500 for the shameful incident that saw Jack Grealish attacked on the pitch by a fan.
Blues fan Paul Mitchell was jailed for 14 weeks in March for striking the Aston Villa captain from behind in last season’s derby at St Andrew’s.
A three-man independent regulatory commission has now ruled that the Championship club had been lax over safety standards.
The commission reported a number of “serious failings” and that City had been “almost cavalier” in their approach to a powder-keg derby, which was eventually settled in Villa’s favour by a Grealish goal.
Both clubs were fined £5,000 by the Football Association in March for failing to control their players. SUNDERLAND’S takeover by a consortium of American billionaires moved a step closer last night.
New York-based businessmen John Phelan, Glenn Fuhrman and Robert Platek have registered with Companies House under FPP Sunderland Limited.
Computer tycoon Michael Dell, one of the world’s richest men, will hold a minority stake in the new business.
The company’s trading address has been named as the Stadium of Light.
It suggests a takeover is imminent, with the Americans set to buy a 90 per cent stake in the League One club, which suffered back-to-back relegations and lost a play-off final to Charlton in May.
Chairman Stewart Donald (above) will retain a nine per cent holding and stay on in his current role.