Birmingham City 1-1 Ipswich Town: FA and police investigating after Blues fan appeared to try to hit Jack Taylor
A Birmingham City fan appeared to try to strike Ipswich Town's Jack Taylor as the visitors celebrated a late equaliser in Friday's Championship curtain-raiser at St Andrew's; tempers flared in stoppage time of 1-1 draw after controversial penalty
Saturday 9 August 2025 14:55, UK
The FA and police are investigating an incident which saw a Birmingham City fan appear to try to hit Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Taylor.
The flashpoint occurred as Ipswich players celebrated their late equaliser at St Andrew's, with the bad-tempered Championship curtain-raiser ending 1-1 on Friday.
The FA confirmed to Sky Sports News that it would be investigating, while West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We're aware of the incident and are liaising with the club and reviewing CCTV footage to establish the full circumstances."
A source told Sky Sports News that referee Andrew Kitchen and the EFL were also aware of Taylor's claims following the game.
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Tempers flared after Ipswich were awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty. Striker George Hirst converted it and the Ipswich players celebrated in front of a stand filled with Birmingham supporters.
Both sets of players clashed, with one melee spilling off the pitch towards a section of the crowd.
Footage shows a fan hurdling a fence and running towards the scene with security and stewards having to intervene and wrestle him to the ground.
Taylor was at the centre of the dispute attempting to protect team-mate Conor Chaplin.
Chaplin was booked for kicking the ball into the stand behind the goal following Hirst's equaliser.
Sky Sports News has also contacted Birmingham City and the EFL for comment.
McKenna on altercation after Hirst equaliser
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was asked about the altercation between the Birmingham fan and his players after Hirst's equaliser. "It'll be seen and reported and let's see what happens," he said.
"I think there might have been an incident with the crowd and one of the players, that wasn't ideal. In terms of the players on the pitch [clashing], emotions run high at those moments and it's understandable."
