5 players sent off in dressing room after brawl

5 players sent off in dressing room after brawl

Published Mar. 28, 2012 7:16 a.m. ET

A referee has taken the bizarre step of sending off five players in the dressing room following an ugly post-match brawl at an English fourth-tier match that required the intervention of police.

Three Bradford players and two from visiting Crawley Town were shown a red card by the referee after punches were thrown in the aftermath of the away side's 2-1 win at Valley Parade on Tuesday.

Bradford manager Phil Parkinson says ''I have never been in a situation before where a ref has come into the dressing room, pulled players on one side and sent them off. He wouldn't allow me in there.''

Seven players - six from Crawley - were also booked during an ill-tempered match.

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The Football Association is expected to investigate the brawl.

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