Bristol City will ban a Robins supporter for three years after they lit a flare inside the away section of the MKM Stadium following Andi Weimann’s goal against Hull City last Saturday.
Hull Live report that a smoke canister was released among the travelling support in the North Stand, with 800 having made the trip to Humberside, after Weimann had scored from close range in the 30th minute. Social media images show thick plumes of red smoke engulfing that area of the ground following the goal.
Bristol Live understands that City have identified the supporter in question and irrespective of any future court judgement, the club will take a hard-line stance and ban them from Ashton Gate for three years plus also deny them access to away tickets.
The intended punishment comes amid a nationwide crackdown on anti-social behaviour at football, with a focus on pitch invasions, the use of flares and other pyrotechnics and stiffer penalties for drug use.
In June, City fan Spencer Pettifor received a three-year banning order after trying to light a pyrotechnic among home supporters at Ashton Gate after the Robins had scored against Middlesbrough in February.
Hull, like many clubs, have been blighted by issues with genuine concerns last season that the rise in incidents would lead to a full stadium ban and the Tigers having to play matches behind closed doors.
"Due to an unexpectedly high amount of anti-social behaviour at last Saturday’s match against Bristol, we have had to significantly increase our police resource budget," head of operations Paul Woodford told Hull Live.
"Our chairman has made a promise to the fans; that he’ll re-invest money back into the club. That’s where this money should have gone, not into additional police officers, simply because a minority of people want to attend a football match to cause trouble
"We are now working closely with Humberside Police, and reporting to the league on our progress as we identify and take action against people who commit offences.
"I urge our fantastic fans to get behind the team, and support us in getting rid of anti-social behaviour - it has no place in our sport."
Last week the EFL outlined a new set of actions, which includes reporting all incidents to the police, to try and combat the rise of problems which are costing clubs considerable amounts of money.
On Tuesday, Bristol Rovers were fined £16,500 by the FA after the two pitch invasions during and after their promotion-clinching 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United in May, which included visiting goalkeeper Owen Foster being assaulted by a fan who had ran onto the field of play.
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