A BRADFORD City supporters’ group says it is disappointed with the lack of response from the football authorities following the pitch invasion at the League One play-off final at Wembley.

 

The Bradford City Supporters’ Board has written an open letter to both the Football Association (FA) and English Football League (EFL) after hundreds of Millwall fans invaded the turf at full-time of City’s 1-0 defeat last month.

 

During the ugly scenes, a number of supporters of the south London club goaded the Bantams players and their manager, Stuart McCall, who said he was close to “clocking” a couple of the fans.

 

A total of 13 people were arrested at the match, including two men from Bradford. Three of the men who were arrested for being part of the pitch invasion were later released without charge, a Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed.

 

Carl Smith, Bradford City Supporters’ Board vice-chairman, said he was frustrated with both the lack of action on the pitch invasion and also the lack of a response to a letter dated May 23.

 

He said: “It is incredibly disappointing that we have had no official response to the letter yet.

 

“We are extremely disappointed in the response from the EFL and are astonished that there has been no statement from the FA at all, as it is the FA who has the power to punish clubs for this type of incident.

 

“We have had nothing back from the FA at all. We don’t believe this is being taken seriously at either the FA or the EFL.

 

“We emailed the FA and EFL to put it in front of their chairman and chief executive.

 

“It just does not look like something is being done to make supporters think twice before going on the pitch. There is not enough of a deterrent.”

 

An EFL spokesman said it had provided an initial response to City’s supporters’ board’s queries raised in the open letter and added it was currently looking into the matter and would respond to them fully under the terms of the EFL’s supporters’ charter.

 

Under its policy, the EFL says it will respond to any correspondence within seven working days, with a detailed reply to follow within 21 working days of receipt of the original communication.

 

It adds it will attempt to resolve all justifiable complaints within 28 working days.

 

The FA told the Telegraph & Argus they did not have the facts to answer the questions raised.

 

Millwall Football Club was unavailable for comment.

 

But speaking after last month’s incident, the club’s chief executive, Steve Kavanagh, said: “We cannot condone the actions of the few who just went that bit too far on this occasion.”