FA fine Palace £5,000 for brawl

Crystal Palace today escaped with a £5,000 fine from the Football Association for their part in a mass brawl during their Boxing Day match against Gillingham.

The Gills, who won the game 4-1, were also ordered to pay £15,000 after at least 12 players were involved in a melee.

Palace had to pay £20,000 for a similar incident in their match against Nottingham Forest in August.

They face a further FA hearing for another brawl during their match against Norwich in February and will have to pay a much bigger fine if they fail to prove their innocence for a third time.

Palace's previous conduct will be taken into account and they face a maximum penalty of £150,000.

A date for the hearing will be set when the club decide whether to appeal against today's punishment.