SPORTING FANS ARE WARNED IN SMOKE BOMB ROW

BROMSGROVE Sporting may have to play behind closed doors if fans continue to let off smoke bombs, they have been warned.

Smoke grenades were hurled allegedly by fans of both sides at last Saturday’s 3-1 FA Vase win at Wisbech Town.

It has also been alleged that Sporting keeper Reece Francis left the pitch in tears at the interval, claiming he had been subjected to racial abuse by someone in a group of home fans behind his goal.

The hosts sent a message over the tannoy to remind all fans of the club’s stance against racism.

Bromsgrove club chaplain Rev Steve Levett said his son had been hit by a smoke grenade thrown by Wisbech fans, while another narrowly missed the visitors’ team boss Paul Smith.

Wisbech chairman Paul Brenchley personally ejected a member of the crowd from the ground for throwing a flare.

While Brenchley condemned any racist language, and promised an investigation into the claim would be carried out, he said that the match officials did not hear any being used.

Brenchley also said that he found no evidence to back up a complaint that coins were thrown at the Sporting goalkeeper.

There had also been claims that smoke bombs were let off in Bromsgrove’s Total Motion Premier Division game against tenants Worcester City on Boxing Day.

Sporting chairman Mike Burke said that sanctions that could be taken against his club could include reduced crowd sizes for cup games, or matches played behind closed doors.

Both club chairmen said that anyone caught in possession of smoke bombs would be permanently banned from their grounds.