Fulham await FA ruling

The Football Association were today considering what action to take against Fulham after the mass brawl at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The club face a fine of at least £25,000 but the FA's punishment could be much more severe after referee Mike Dean accused Chris Coleman's team of deliberately harassing him.

The official claimed Fulham's players repeatedly swarmed around him in a deliberate attempt to influence his decisions during the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns and has reported them.

Fulham's allegedly orchestrated approach follows Mark Halsey's controversial decision to change his mind about awarding them a penalty against Arsenal last week after player pressure.

Dean said: "It seemed to me that they went purposely every time I gave a decision to harass me throughout the game and that will be reported."

Fulham's conduct on Saturday will not help when the FA's compliance unit view video evidence today of the game at West Brom, including a 20-man brawl.

Andy Cole and Neil Clement exchanged punches in one of the worst incidents seen in the Premiership for years and, even though both were sent off, the repercussions for both clubs are set to be significant.

Fulham will be fined at least £25,000 because they also had Papa Bouba Diop dismissed for violent conduct and five other players booked. That is the standard penalty when six or more players from one team are booked or sent off.

Further charges could be brought after Dean's report and the video are digested following a match in which Cole put Fulham ahead and Kanu scored a late equaliser.

It promises to be an expensive time for Fulham, with Coleman already in trouble for branding Halsey "crap" last week.The manager is sure to be censured after following that up today with an attack on Dean.

Coleman admitted his players harassed the official and said: "Maybe it went a bit over the top but he has to hold his hands up. With some of the decisions he made I think he deserved harassment.

"Last week we saw the Arsenal players get round the ref, which overturned the decision. He gave the penalty then took it away because the Arsenal players reacted. Now we are going to get this all the time."

Coleman, who will not fine any of his players, also blamed Darren Purse for Bouba Diop's sending off.

The manager claimed his player reacted to a "coward's" challenge by the defender earlier in the game. "He dived in and got booked and that was the end of that. There was no bad blood."

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