West Midlands Police say they are “reviewing CCTV footage” as they look into the incident in which Town midfielder Jack Taylor appeared to be assaulted by a Birmingham City fan during Friday’s 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s.

Yesterday, the newly promoted Midlands club issued a statement regarding the incident which took place as Town celebrated George Hirst’s late, late penalty and during a melee with a number of home players, the fan appearing to try to drag Taylor over a barrier.

“Jack’s alright,” manager Kieran McKenna said afterwards. “Someone just showed me it. It’s obviously not ideal, but I think it’s been reported, so the authorities will deal with it.”

Town have reported the incident to the FA, while the EFL and referee Andrew Kitchen were also aware on the night.

West Midlands Police say they are working with Birmingham to look into what went on.

“We're aware of the incident and are liaising with the club and reviewing CCTV footage to establish the full circumstances,” the force said in a statement.

Friday wasn’t the first time Town players have had issues with the home support at St Andrew’s.

In the Worthington Cup semi-final second leg in January 2001, Birmingham supporters repeatedly invaded the pitch and confronted Blues players with referee Jeff Winter at one stage threatening to take the teams off.

Since then, there have been other similar incidents at St Andrew’s, most notably a fan, who was later jailed, running on the pitch to attack then-Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish in March 2019.

Photo: Matchday Images

Bazza8564 added 16:15 - Aug 10 Third incident of player assault at that end. time for the FA and The Police to stamp on it. The fan will get a ban, a fine etc but the Club need to be paying a price too. Clear the first three rows and net those off, all the way around the stadium. That will stop it, and birmingam City will lose capacity and revenue
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Monkey_Blue added 16:15 - Aug 10 The only sanction for this sort of thing from the football authorities has to be points deductions otherwise we will see worse. This will make the clubs control their fans tighter but will dissuade fans. Imagine if that idiots mates blame him for a 4 point deduction? Obviously let’s hope the Police dish out the right charges but this isn’t the first time brum fans have attacked players.

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AYACCA added 16:30 - Aug 10 Fans take the game too seriously, they see it as a front on them if things don't go their way and react stupidly and people get hurt and sometimes killed because of a sport.
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KBsSocks added 16:43 - Aug 10 It was completely inappropriate. But the stewards were onto the guy pretty quickly, and downed him. Hope they escorted him from the ground and got his seat if not his name.
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MickMillsTash added 17:02 - Aug 10 Never ever felt safe going to St Andrews and that League cup Semi Final was a definite candidate for getting your head kicked in. I recall there was an FA Cup game at Portman road - 86 maybe - when they tried to take the North stand from Portman Terrace. West Midlands police used to be very strong handed - these idiots should be stuck in the back of the van for 5 minutes and be dealt some immediate 'learning ' before some sort of community service, public humiliation and banning order - one of those should act as deterrent for others.

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MickMillsTash added 17:02 - Aug 10 Never ever felt safe going to St Andrews and that League cup Semi Final was a definite candidate for getting your head kicked in. I recall there was an FA Cup game at Portman road - 86 maybe - when they tried to take the North stand from Portman Terrace. West Midlands police used to be very strong handed - these idiots should be stuck in the back of the van for 5 minutes and be dealt some immediate 'learning ' before some sort of community service, public humiliation and banning order - one of those should act as deterrent for others.

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runningout added 17:14 - Aug 10 will take 5 seconds to review and work out that the plonker involved should be fined banned and then give the steward involved some credit
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warwickblue added 18:12 - Aug 10 Points deduction is the only significant sanction that the club will understand. 10 year ban for the imbecile in the sunglasses, plus whatever West Midlands Police deem appropriate in terms of public order offences.
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bluesissy added 18:46 - Aug 10 Is anyone surprised? It's Birmingham....says it all really
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Bluebass added 19:15 - Aug 10 The Birmingham players didn't help, should have just walked away anket Ipswich get on with their celebrations. The players shoved the hole outbreak towards the fans
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Bluebass added 19:16 - Aug 10 Apologies for the multiple typos
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ipswichone added 19:33 - Aug 10 Don't really need CCTV,it was all over the sky cameras and all over media sites
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KRO4Eva added 19:37 - Aug 10 The whole incident started when Chaplin booted the ball into the Birmingham crowd straight into the face of a 13 year old boy. I wonder what the reaction from the Ipswich fans would have been if someone did the same at Portman Road. I hope the full incident is investigated and Chaplin is also punished for his dangerous behaviour. The Blues fan will rightfully get a lifetime ban. I don't know if the child injured was related to him.

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Monkey_Blue added 19:54 - Aug 10 If Chaplin could pick a kids face out and hit it on purpose you might have a point and if the Birmingham fans weren’t hurling missiles at the pitch. There is no excuse and trying to make one does you and your club a disservice
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Monkey_Blue added 19:59 - Aug 10 KRO4Eva… did a player hit a kid in the face accidentally the other times BC fans have assaulted players? Whatever the sanction was those times clearly didn’t work. I have been following Ipswich for I guess I can say decades and can’t recall any of our fans or fans of other clubs attacking players.
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KRO4Eva added 21:40 - Aug 10 Monkey Blue - there is no justification for any supporter attacking any player. I think I'm pretty clear on that subject. I recall Billy Sharp being headbutted by a Forest fan and Derby fans punching a Forest player off the top of my head. These are quite recent incidents. West Brom fans threw coins at Wolves players in a recent FA cup tie. There are idiots at every club. This article talks about 3 incidents over 25 years which amounts to a handful in over a 1000 games. Chaplin kicked the ball in celebration straight into opposition fans who were already angry at a pretty soft penalty. Im not saying he hit the fan on purpose but he was wreckless and his actions was dangerous. If an opposition player did the same to an Ipswich fan I can guarantee your fans reaction would have been similar. I'm not condoning the reaction but it was a heat of the moment thing when passions are running high.

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