Barnsley Football Club and its coaching staff Tonda Eckert and Joseph Laumann have been fined for breaching FA rules during the September 15 clash with Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.
Please see the following FA statement:
Stoke City FC and Barnsley FC have been fined £10,000 and £8,000 respectively for a breach of FA Rule E20.1 that occurred during their EFL Championship game on Wednesday 15 September 2021. Both clubs admitted that they failed to ensure their players and club officials conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from provocative behaviour during the 90th minute of the game.
In addition, Tonda Eckert and Joseph Laumann have been suspended from the touchline for three and two games respectively and have also been fined £2,750 and £2,500 each. Both Barnsley FC coaches admitted that their behaviour during the 90th minute amounts to improper and violent conduct.
Dean Holden and Rory Delap have been suspended from the touchline for one game and fined £2,000 and £1,800 respectively. Both Stoke City FC coaches admitted that their behaviour in the 90th minute amounts to improper conduct and Rory Delap also admitted that his constitutes violent conduct.
An independent Regulatory Commission was convened to decide upon the sanctions for both of the clubs and their respective coaches. The written reasons for these decisions will be published in due course.
As a Club we believe the punishment handed out to our staff is harsh and we stand by them.
Notwithstanding the above, we apologise as a Club for the inappropriate conduct on the night.
With the suspensions enforced immediately, Laumann will return to the dugout on Saturday 16 October at Reading, whilst Eckert will return in time for the trip to the Riverside on Wednesday October 20.
The Club will not comment further on this matter.
