The chaotic brawl on the pitch, although intense, didn't last long. Players from both teams quickly realized how serious the situation was. Everyone, despite the heat of the moment, was still a professional, and they understood the consequences of such an incident.
Once the players were separated, the referee regained control and immediately issued a red card, holding it high as he punished the Reading player who had instigated the fight. The guilty player seemed to expect this outcome but didn't leave immediately—he was waiting to see what the referee would do next.
As expected, the referee wasn't satisfied with just one red card. He marched over to Merelles and gave him a red card as well. Merelles, remaining calm, walked straight to the player's tunnel without saying a word. His teammates patted him on the back as they passed, showing their support, while the fans in the stands cheered his name, almost as if he were a hero.
But the referee wasn't done yet. He turned to Kuyt, who had been very active in the fight, and issued him a red card too. In total, there were twelve yellow cards in the match, with very few players escaping without punishment.
The referee had now become the main focus of the match. Every decision he made seemed to have a massive impact on the game. But it wasn't over yet.
After the initial chaos had died down, David, who had been watching from the stands, was unexpectedly called out. Despite the confusion of the brawl, the referee had clearly noticed him in the melee and, with a pointed look, sent him off with a red card as well. David, though a bit surprised, wasn't bothered by it. He wasn't coaching on the field, so his absence wouldn't impact the team's performance.
As he walked off, the fans gave him a warm reception. David, the chairman who had invested heavily in the team, had become a fan favorite. His gesture of walking into the tunnel with a wave only made them cheer louder. Löw', watching from the sidelines, seemed speechless.
David smiled and, in an attempt to lighten the mood, remarked to Luff, "Sometimes, it's better for an assistant coach to take the hit. We don't always need to step in ourselves." His punch had been a release of built-up frustration, a cathartic moment for both him and the team.
The referee, now completely in control of the situation, blew the whistle for halftime and retreated to the locker room. It was clear he was worried about further trouble, probably fearing retaliation from either side.
The second half saw both teams down to nine players each, and the match finally settled into a calmer rhythm. Notts County, seizing the opportunity with more space on the field, scored four more goals and won 5-0. However, despite the commanding scoreline, the victory felt hollow, overshadowed by the violence that had marred the match.
Despite the win, Notts County had suffered significant setbacks. Di Natale had been injured in the brawl, and although the extent wasn't clear, it didn't look promising. Meanwhile, both Merelles and Kuyt would miss the next few games due to their red cards. Loew might have been glad for the break, but the situation was far from ideal.
The incident had escalated into a case of stadium violence, and the FA's disciplinary committee was sure to look into it. The punishments could be severe. David worried about the potential consequences, especially suspensions for Merelles and Kuyt that could last for several months. Even players who had avoided red cards might face sanctions when the FA reviewed video footage of the incident.
To make matters worse, some fans had crossed the barriers and invaded the pitch during the melee. Such actions could result in Notts County facing hefty fines, and the possibility of a stadium ban loomed large. David feared that fans might be banned from attending home games for several weeks, which would severely impact the team's home advantage.
For David, the financial aspect of the fines was insignificant compared to the loss of fan presence. He couldn't allow that to happen—the home atmosphere was one of the team's strongest assets.
After the match, reporters flocked to Meadow Lane, eager for more information about the incident. Stadium brawls were rare in even the lower leagues, and the media were hungry for every detail.
At the press conference, Luff addressed the media, his tone sharp with frustration. "Reading played a 'great game,' did they? No, I didn't see football today—I saw brutality. I'm not going to say much about the fight, but I'll say this: the injuries to my players will be reported to the FA, and we'll see what happens."
Luff's anger was palpable, but he knew better than to lash out at the referee. He refrained from blaming the officials directly, aware that attacking the referee would only hurt Notts County's position and might lead to further sanctions.
Reading's coach, when asked about the brawl, shifted the blame to Notts County. He claimed his team had been provoked by Notts County's aggressive play and had no choice but to retaliate. It was a typical reaction from a losing side.
The following day, the FA issued its penalties:
Merelles was suspended for 15 games and fined £20,000. Kuyt was suspended for 12 games and fined £10,000. Lescott, caught on video during the fight, was suspended for 8 games and fined £10,000.
David, as the assistant coach, was given a 10-game suspension and a £10,000 fine as well.
Additionally, the club was fined £50,000 for the disorderly conduct and fan invasion, and the north stand would be closed for the next three home games.
The aftermath of the match would be felt for a long time. While the team had emerged victorious, the cost was steep, and the consequences were just beginning to unfold.
David couldn't sit on the coach's seat for this game, especially as it was an away match, and he had no intention of going to the stadium. However, just before the match, David received an unexpected official invitation from Manchester Club. Gino Pozzo had invited him to watch the game together in a box at Fitmere Stadium.
David didn't want to be around Gino Pozzo, who he knew would likely gloat if Notts County lost. But after some thought, David decided to accept the invitation. He reasoned that it would be much more satisfying to see Pozzo's smug face falter after his team lost.
Notts County's schedule had been intense lately, with a series of challenging opponents ahead. First, they were facing Manchester Field, who were second in the league standings, followed by Brighton, the league leaders. After Brighton, Notts County had a tough League Cup match against Premier League team Middlesbrough—arguably their strongest opponent so far this season.
The general consensus was that these three games would be the toughest stretch for Notts County. If they managed to continue their good form, the season would remain promising. But if they faltered, their chances would suffer.
Sitting in the box at Fitmere Stadium, David didn't even bother to engage with Gino Pozzo. Their relationship had already soured, and neither felt the need to pretend otherwise. Pozzo, too, kept quiet.
David looked around at the old Fitmere Stadium and couldn't help but chuckle. He'd once thought Meadow Lane Stadium in Nottingham was a dump, but now, seeing the state of Fitmere, he realized Meadow Lane could last a few more years with some investment.
Fitmere had originally boasted around 10,000 seats, but due to fire regulations and poor maintenance, its capacity had been reduced by half. Only about 5,000 fans could attend the match now, and even that was a stretch. For this particular game, if you excluded the Notts County fans, there were no more than 4,000 spectators in attendance.
This was typical for Mansfield, a club that had long struggled in the Premier League. Despite being a part of England's top division, they were relegation candidates year after year. The local fanbase was small, as Nottinghamshire had only around 280,000 people. Compared to larger cities like London or Liverpool, it was practically a small town. With three professional teams in the area, the local fan market was saturated.
Notts County had a strong fanbase due to its rich history as the oldest professional football club in England, but it was dwarfed by the larger and more successful Nottingham Forest, which had won two Champions League titles. Mansfield, caught between these two giants, struggled to maintain relevance.
David couldn't help but feel a sense of superiority. While he knew it wasn't fair to compare his club to Mansfield, it still gave him a certain satisfaction to see an old rival in such a pitiful state.
Of course, Notts County still had a long way to go before they could become the true representative team of Nottinghamshire.
As the game kicked off, Mansfield started with a fast, aggressive attack, hoping to overwhelm Notts County early. They controlled the ball for the first few minutes, but Notts County wasn't rattled. Their opponents had used the same strategy in earlier matches, exploiting Notts County's lack of cohesion in the opening stages.
Löw wasn't about to make the same mistake. While he trusted his players, he knew Notts County was still a new team. He instructed them to stabilize defensively in the early stages.
After 10 minutes, while Mansfield still had possession, Notts County's defense held strong. Their Italian-style counter-attacking football began to shine through. Alonso, after receiving a pass from Ram, started organizing the team's attack from midfield, deliberately slowing the pace of the game. This strategy was more in line with Notts County's strengths than the frantic pace Mansfield had hoped for.
Alonso, aware of the limitations in the team's current style, decided not to force a long pass but instead to focus on building up play from the back.
As the game settled, Notts County gained confidence. Alonso shifted the ball to Iniesta, who faced an aggressive Mansfield defense. The opponents had clearly studied Notts County's tactics, and Iniesta was seen as the biggest threat. But Iniesta, with his superb ball control, avoided the pressure and passed to Misimovic in the middle.
Misimovic, using the outside of his foot, chipped the ball over Mansfield's two central defenders and into the penalty area. Hubner, ever alert, had already anticipated the pass. He positioned himself perfectly and, with a deft touch, shrugged off the defenders to take the ball and set up a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper.
The veteran forward, who had worked his way up from the lower leagues to Serie A, didn't hesitate. As the goalkeeper rushed toward him, Hubner calmly slotted the ball past him, giving Notts County the lead.
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