Gillingham’s manager looked to play down a scuffle at the final whistle against Colchester United.
Players and staff from both teams squared up at the end of the game at Priestfield, after referee Matthew Russell had signalled the end of the League 2 fixture, one that ended 1-1.
Report: Gillingham 1 Colchester United 1
Mr Russell had only issued one yellow card all match, and even after the large-scale scuffle, he kept his cards in his pockets, eventually walking off after initially appearing to be waiting to speak to a member of the Colchester team.
Gills manager Gareth Ainsworth said: “Words were exchanged at the end, as they often are, and then I think both players have got involved.
“I’d rather not speak about it. Passions of football, it’s spilling out onto the touchline.”
The Gills have already faced retrospective punishments this season, with winger Garath McCleary getting a ban for diving and Armani Little a suspension for a gesture to Newport County fans.
The game’s governing body, the Football Association, will no doubt want to see the footage from Monday night after reading the referee’s report.
Ainsworth said: “We’ll have to wait for that, as always.
“But we’re together. We’re a real together group. It’s just the passion of the game.”
Opposition boss Danny Cowley was asked about the incident, but said: “I’d rather talk about the football – because I thought we were magnificent.”
He added: “Two team were fighting really hard to try and win and it boiled over.
“I don’t think it should have done, I don’t think it was necessary, I don’t think it was good, but we as Colchester United have to stand up and be counted and we did that on the pitch.
“The boys are a close group, they look after each other, and sometimes in football you have to do that.”
