Football
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Millwall chief 'cannot condone' fans' behaviour at Wembley

Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has warned supporters they are responsible for their own behaviour following the unsavoury scenes at the end of Saturday's League One playoff final victory over Bradford.

Lions fans spilled on to the Wembley turf to celebrate promotion to the Championship, with some confronting and goading opposition players.

The English Football League has called for police to take action against the culprits, branding them "mindless", while Kavanagh said the club could not condone the incident.

Speaking to Millwall's website, he said: "Unfortunately the sheer emotion of winning in that fashion spilled over for a small minority who ran on to the pitch after the final whistle.

"Arguments can be made about the strength of the security operation but ultimately people need to be responsible for their own actions, especially as it is of course a criminal offence to enter the field of play.

"In my relatively short time at this club I have already seen just how much hard work and commitment goes into enhancing the club's reputation and thousands upon thousands of our fan base undoubtedly did their part to further that at the weekend.

"But we cannot condone the actions of the few who just went that bit too far on this occasion."

Wembley Stadium has already released a statement announcing its intention to investigate the trouble, which followed Steve Morison's 85th-minute winner.

The EFL wants stadium bosses to cooperate with Millwall and the Metropolitan Police in order to identify those involved.

"It is a criminal offence to enter the playing area and, whilst some of those who made the decision to break the law did so to celebrate their team's success back to the Championship, a mindless few opted to goad the Bradford City players," an EFL statement read.

"Their actions were completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the EFL.

"The EFL will be encouraging Wembley to work with both the Metropolitan Police and Millwall to identify those whose behaviour created the most concern on the day and to take the necessary and appropriate action.

"The EFL will also raise a number of concerns with Wembley as to how the fans were not only able to access the playing area but then able to get so close to the Bradford City team, who showed great restraint given an incredibly challenging and difficult situation."

Millwall manager Neil Harris and some of his players attempted to diffuse the situation by getting the supporters off the playing surface.

The EFL praised the work of the Lions boss and also intends to contact Bradford to apologise.

"The efforts of the Millwall manager and some of his players to remove the offenders from the pitch should be complimented as should appropriate and welcome apology on behalf of his club.

"The EFL will be writing to Stuart McCall and his Bradford team to apologise for the situation they found themselves in."

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