FA launch Watford riot probe

The Football Association today launched an investigation into last night's riot at Watford.

The FA are awaiting reports from Hertfordshire police and match referee Peter Walton, but could take action following the violence which marred Luton's 2-1 Worthington Cup win at Vicarage Road.

Spokesman Adrian Bevington said: "We have to wait for the match official's report and police reports, but we are now investigating serious crowd trouble."

Running battles were fought between rival supporters on the pitch after 50 Luton fans jumped advertising hoardings prior to kick-off, which was delayed by 15 minutes. Police in riot gear eventually restored order and the match went ahead, but one minute's silence planned to mark the victims of 11 September had to be scrapped.

The Football League have teamed up with the FA to investigate the violence. League spokesman Ian Christon told Standard Sport: "The FA are in charge of disciplinary matters, but last night's disgraceful scenes involved our clubs and don't do football any favours.

"Football has increasingly become a family game and we thought we had left the dark days behind, but hooliganism occasionally raises its ugly head.

"We believe it's an isolated incident, but local derbies seem to raise levels of tension. Hopefully the police will make more arrests and the clubs will ban hooligans from the ground."

Watford manager Ray Lewington was appalled by the violence between supporters who have not met for four years. He said: "We don't want it and the violence was pretty bad. The problems were starting on the motorway and continuing into the town.

"I thought this thing had more or less disappeared from our game. I've been involved in some problems before, Crystal Palace v Millwall matches and at Chelsea when I was a player, but this was every bit as volatile."