A chaotic end to Birmingham’s Championship opener against Ipswich saw a 16-man brawl erupt, with a fan taking a heavy fall after trying to intervene. The shameful scenes unfolded late in the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, after a controversial injury-time penalty was awarded to Ipswich.
Former Manchester United star Ashley Young was among the players involved, attempting to restore order by dragging teammate Tomoki Iwata and Ipswich’s Conor Chaplin away from the melee. The fan’s involvement came when he jumped over the guardrail and tried to grab players, only to be tackled to the ground by security before stewards intervened.
Ipswich have confirmed they will report the incident to the FA. The match had looked set for a Birmingham win after Jay Stansfield’s opener, but George Hirst’s late penalty—awarded when the ball struck Lyndon Dykes’ hand—sparked the violence.
Tempers flared when Birmingham defender Christoph Klarer charged at Chaplin, leading to a mass confrontation near the advertising boards. Young, who joined Ipswich this summer, was seen in a heated exchange with Klarer after helping to break up the fight.
Despite the drama, Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves insisted his side deserved the point, claiming the penalty was justified. The draw means Birmingham have now started their season with a stalemate for the fourth consecutive year. The FA is expected to review the incident, which could lead to disciplinary action.
The match also saw fans hurling objects at the referee as they left the field, capping off a tumultuous return to the Championship for Birmingham.
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