CHARGES made against Bacup Borough Football Club after a fight broke out at its grounds have been upheld by the Football Association.

An investigation was launched by the Lancashire Football Association following the incident at Bacup's derby against Nelson in September.

The North West Counties Division One game was abandoned by the referee after violence broke out between spectators and players at the West View Stadium.

Bacup midfielder Lee Anderson had suffered a fractured cheekbone in a challenge in the 77th minute of the game.

There was a disturbance involving spectators and several players from both sides also became involved in the fracas, prompting the referee to call the match off.

The LFA carried out an investigation based on the referee's report, and weeks later both clubs were charged and fined.

Nelson were penalised because two players had left the pitch without permission, and given a £150 fine, which the club paid.

Bacup Borough were charged for allowing violence to break out on its grounds.

Charges were also made against Anderson, for leaving the pitch without permission, the club's physiotherapist Lynton James, who was with Anderson, and club manager Brent Peters, who was said to have acted in an aggressive manner towards the referee.

The club opposed the charges, and took the case to appeal with the FA, following an unsuccessful hearing with the LFA.

At a second appeal hearing on December 8, FA officials dismissed the appeals and upheld all four charges, although punitive action against Anderson was reduced from a fine to a three-match ban, and James' fine was reduced to £30.

Peters said: "We are not happy at all with the result of the appeal, nor with the way the entire incident has been dealt with by the FA. The whole thing was blown completely out of proportion. These were isolated incidents in the match and there was no need for the referee to abandon it.

"I wanted a full scale inquiry into why the derby game was allowed to have a referee with Nelson connections, but the FA refused.

"I think the fact that both Bacup and Nelson were fined over this is a travesty, and for the record, there is no malice whatsoever between the clubs, or the players. We've played matches since then and everything is fine."

Nelson chairman Alan Pickering declined to comment until the North West Counties Football League had been officially informed about the FA's decision.

LFA chief executive David Burgess said: "Procedures were followed and Bacup had the right of appeal to the FA which they duly did and the FA dealt with it as they saw necessary.

"As far as we are concerned that's the end of the matter."