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The club were charged back in April for a "failure to ensure that no spectators or unauthorised persons were permitted to encroach on the pitch," by the FA and now face the six-figure fine (albeit the lowest-possible six-figures) of £100,000. Colm eloquently penned a disparagement of the invasion in the days afterwards for The Tilehurst End, with many Royals' fans disappointed that winning a quarter-final was deemed worthy of a pitch invasion by a section of the crowd. Let's not even mention the fact that a Bradford man was arrested for racially abusing Garath McCleary and how a Liverpool-supporting home fan streaked to the Benny Hill theme tune during the match.
Indeed, with images of flares and coins being thrown into the hardy away supporters who had travelled en masse to watch their team from Yorkshire on a Monday night, it is not hard to see why the FA took this action. Let's remember, no one gets fined when you invade the pitch after winning the title or promotion, do they?
Speaking of which, Aston Villa have been fined £200,000 for a similar pitch invasion at the same stage of the cup, having beaten West Bromwich Albion. During that clash, where Villa fans had already invaded before the final whistle, reports were of seats being thrown into the away end.
Reading's recent history with pitch invasions isn't very pleasing, then. The year before we were fined for the Bradford fiasco, hundreds of Royals supporters found themselves celebrating a play-off place on the pitch after a draw with Burnley... that wasn't enough to finish sixth.
#readingfc's season summed up by a pitch invasion for coming seventh.... #facepalm
— The Tilehurst End (@TheTilehurstEnd) May 3, 2014
Can we do it right, next time, please?