Charlton Women fined £500 over lack of oxygen in abandoned Man Utd game
Tuesday 29 January 2019 19:23, UK
Charlton Women have been fined £500 by the Football Association for not having the required emergency first aid equipment at their abandoned Championship match against Manchester United.
The game on January 13 at Oakwood was stopped after Charlton's Charlotte Kerr was injured in a collision during the 11th minute.
The defender received treatment on the field, while the rest of the players were asked to go back to the changing rooms. An announcement was made about an hour later that the match was called off.
Press Association Sport understands that Charlton did not have a supply of oxygen for player treatment, meaning United's was used by medics. The referee then subsequently abandoned the match as there was not enough oxygen left for it to be covered safely.
The rules for the league say clubs must have an oxygen supply present at games.
A statement from the FA on Tuesday evening read: "Charlton Athletic Women have been found guilty of breaching rule 14.5 of The FA Women's Super League and The FA Women's Championship competition rules in their league fixture against Manchester United Women on 13 January 2019.
"The rule states clubs shall ensure that emergency sports first aid equipment is present and in full working order at each competition match.
"At minimum, such equipment shall include: a spinal board, cervical collar, fracture splints, crutches, stretcher, oxygen and a defibrillator.
"Charlton have been fined £500 and the fixture will be rescheduled in due course."
Kerr was taken to hospital in an ambulance, which, it is understood, took around half-an-hour to arrive at the ground. The club later confirmed the defender had left hospital and had a badly bruised sternum and ribs.
Charlton submitted a full report to the FA and also conducted an internal review.
