Thursday 24 August 2017 19:03, UK
Lancashire Police have charged four people arrested following incidents during Blackburn's 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Burnley at Ewood Park.
One supporter is accused of two counts of assault by beating and one of pitch encroachment, while a second man has been charged with throwing a missile onto a football playing area.
Both are due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on September 14.
A third person has been charged with pitch encroachment, with a fourth charged with possession of a firework/flare at a sporting event. Both are due to appear at Blackburn Magistrates' Court on September 21.
Meanwhile, a man from Burnley arrested on suspicion of assault has been released under investigation pending further enquiries.
There was a huge police presence in and around the stadium, with police lining the streets in the build-up to kick-off, but neither officers or stewards were able to prevent two supporters running onto the pitch after Jack Cork opened the scoring for Burnley.
One fan ran to the visiting players as they made their way back to the centre circle and appeared to push captain James Tarkowski before being tackled to the ground by Ashley Westwood.
The Football Association has written to both clubs for their observations and have also requested footage of the incident which took place as Burnley players celebrated Jack Cork's goal.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche criticised the time it took for stewards to tackle the fan who confronted his players and revealed he almost came onto the pitch himself.
He said: "It seemed a long time before anyone did anything and then our players had to eventually defend themselves, and that can't be right anywhere in football. We were going to go on because I can't have that. Not to do anything ridiculous just to say 'this can't happen'.
"To think you go to the extreme [of escorting fans] and then someone just wanders onto a football pitch is a bit bizarre at least. The safety of players is paramount."
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray did not see the incident but criticised the actions of the fan.
He said: "It doesn't do anything for our football club and I'm pretty sure the authorities will deal with the people who were involved.
"I'm sure the vast majority, if not all the rest of the supporters will be disappointed with the supporter who came on the pitch. It's not what we want to see, it's not what this club's about."
