Lincoln to report Carlisle 'mischief'

Lincoln City are set to file a report to the Football Association after an alleged brawl between the Carlisle United chairman John Courtenay, the Carlisle striker Richie Foran and Lincoln stewards during the Cumbrians' controversial 1-0 win in the Third Division on Saturday.

Tempers ran high at Sincil Bank as the referee Paul Robinson sent off four players, awarded two hotly-disputed penalties and provoked what the Lincoln chairman Rob Bradley described as "mischief" in the directors' box.

He said in a statement: "Although the club are of course very concerned about some of the incidents that occurred involving personnel connected with Carlisle, we would wish to make it clear no-one connected with the home club is involved with any of the alleged wrongdoing.

"Our report will be referring to the mischief caused by Carlisle personnel from the directors' box."

Carlisle claimed they were "entirely blameless" of any involvement in trouble.

A club statement said: "CUFC feel the whole incident has been blown out of proportion and are disappointed that certain parties have decided to concentrate their efforts on blackening the good name of the club."

Alex Kolinko, the Crystal Palace goalkeeper who was struck last week by his manager Trevor Francis, thinks one of them will have to leave the First Division club. "This situation is a real problem for me. I want to stay, but it would have to be without Trevor. I don't know if that will happen."

The Professional Footballers' Association has been called in by Kolinko to try to resolve the dispute.

Birmingham City's manager, Steve Bruce, has asked Mike Riley to view a video of the tackle which resulted in the Senegal midfielder Aliou Cissé being sent off in Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury.