Clubs must be docked points if they cannot control fans

Walk along the corridors of most clubs and there will be, pride of place, a photograph of a moment of triumph or relief or celebration that involves fans invading the pitch. A title win, a relegation escape, a finalday drama. Most clubs have been there and their fans have swarmed over the pitch in colourful scenes.

But it has gone too far. There is a sinister, dark, threatening and criminal edge.

The scenes are becoming more extreme, more violent, more sinister and there is undoubtedly a horrible copy-cat element. Fans see others doing it and getting away with it and follow suit. Just as with the smoke canisters which appear to be everywhere.

For the authorities, points deductions are always regarded as the ultimate sanction; a measure that comes into force when “the integrity of the competition” is under threat. Usually, it is reserved for administration and financial difficulties but it can apply to pitch invasions and clubs failing to control their fans.

It is there, in writing. Under Rule E20b the Football Association has the power to issue a range of punishments

For years football has cut corners on policing and security, often relying on underpaid stewards

– from a warning through to stadium closure and points deduction if a club are found guilty of failing to take adequate action. The rule already imposes strict liability on the clubs. That is not to say that Everton, Port Vale or Nottingham Forest should be deducted points. Each case needs to be investigated, the club’s previous record needs to be taken into account. But the threat needs to be real.

It could be argued that what happened at Goodison Park did threaten the integrity of the game. The first invasion took place after Everton’s third goal, with Crystal Palace players abused and jostled. How could they play properly after that? What would have happened had they scored an equalising goal or Everton got a fourth? There will be a lot of fear about what might happen tomorrow, the final day of the Premier League season, especially with thousands of Leeds United fans descending on Brentford.

Football has to get a grip on this. For years, it has cut corners to cut costs on policing and security, often relying on underpaid and undertrained stewards and hoping to get away with it. Players, managers, officials – why are they being made to run the gauntlet in this way? There is a raft of measures and it is time for the greatest one, losing points, to be threatened. This has to stop.