The south coast derby — played at Fratton Park — ended in a 1–1 draw, with Léo Scienza giving Southampton the lead before Ebrima Adams equalised for Portsmouth.
The incident occurred around the 69th minute, when tensions spilled over into a large altercation involving multiple players after a heavy challenge. Both sides were found to have failed to “ensure that their players did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way.”
After admitting the charges, the Commission imposed the following fines:
Southampton FC – £50,000 fine
Portsmouth FC – £25,000 fine
Both clubs accepted the sanctions.
In its ruling, the Regulatory Commission noted that while rivalry is part of football’s appeal, incidents that lead to large-scale confrontations undermine the integrity of the game. The fines serve as a reminder to clubs to manage player conduct, especially in high-intensity fixtures such as local derbies.
No further penalties — such as points deductions or additional bans — were announced in connection with this case.
Clubs often face stricter scrutiny and potential sanctions for repeated breaches of conduct rules, but both Portsmouth and Southampton will hope this episode is an isolated one in what has otherwise been a competitive Championship season.
