Hull KR and Salford fined for crowd trouble

Fans from both clubs invaded the pitch at the Lightstream Stadium at the end of 80 minutes and again after golden-point extra-time following the Red Devils' dramatic 19-18 win over Rovers that preserved their Super League status and condemned their opponents to relegation.

There were ugly scenes as fighting broke out and stewards attempted to control the melee before police flooded onto the field and restrained the culprits.

Following a comprehensive investigation, including liaising with the police, the Rugby Football League has imposed a fine of £25,000 - £20,000 of it suspended - on Hull KR after finding them guilty of breaking ground safety rules and failing to control their supporters.

Salford were fined £10,000 - £7,500 of it suspended - and ordered to pay an additional £3,000 which was hanging over them following crowd trouble at Huddersfield last Easter Monday.

Salford chief executive Ian Blease said: "We accept the fine from the RFL and are committed to working with them going forwards to ensure that the sport retains its reputation as a family game.

"There is absolutely no place in rugby league for crowd trouble and as a club we will not tolerate incidents such as this. I would also like to go on record to thank the majority of our supporters who are a credit to Salford week in, week out."

Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell said his club accepted the punishment but expressed his surprise that they were more harshly treated than Salford and called it "another nonsensical day".

Hudgell says Salford misled his club over the number of travelling fans expected at the game and accused Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash of aggravating the situation by his unsporting behaviour.

Koukash ran onto the pitch to celebrate his team's victory and posed for photographs alongside a mock cheque for £1million.

"We accepted the RFL adjudication for expediency's sake as we preferred the matter be put to bed and for accountability as there were failings in the match day operations and a minority let us and the vast majority of supporters down with their appalling behaviour," Hudgell said.

"We are still seeking some of those people out to issue appropriate banning orders.

"What I didn't know at the time of accepting the adjudication was that we would be more harshly dealt with than Salford. I do not seek a fall-out with that club but I'm here to defend my club and its very many loyal and passionate supporters.

"I cannot understand why we have been more harshly treated given the following matters:

:: Salford had a very recent finding of crowd misconduct and 12 other related incidents recorded against them.

:: Salford gave media statements overstating the level of their support by more than two-fold, this meaning the unnecessary deployment of stewards to the south end of the stadium.

:: Salford fans entered the field of play first.

:: Salford's owner aggravated the situation with his unsporting actions post-game.

"Set against that, we as a club have a clear record of good crowd behaviour going back several years.

"In summary, I accept our culpability and we will continue to work hard to rid the club of the minority who bring shame on it, but I fail to follow the basis on which the sanction has been set by an administrator against that of the other offending club. It's another nonsensical day for me in the operating practices of the RFL's disciplinary machinery."