Soccer Fight: 5 Players Sent off After Final Whistle in League Two Brawl

If you know Bradford City at all, it's probably for their memorable final-day relegation escape against Liverpool back in 2000.

Well, now there's another reason. And this one is a lot more violent.

Bradford, now in League Two, lost 2-1 at home to Crawley Town on Wednesday. The Bantams equalized in the 72nd minute after Leon Clarke's opener, but Gary Alexander scored the winner for Crawley four minutes later.

That wasn't the memorable part, though. The memorable part was the brawl that broke out after the final whistle. Highlights appear in the video at left.

From Reuters, via The Independent:

"

A referee sent off five players in the dressing rooms after a post-match brawl in the League Two game between Bradford City and promotion-chasing Crawley Town.

"I can't believe this has happened," Bradford manager Phil Parkinson, who had three players shown red cards after the 2-1 home defeat on Tuesday night, told the BBC.

"I have never been in a situation before where a ref has come into the dressing room, pulled players on one side and sent them off. He wouldn't allow me in there."

Six Crawley players and one from Bradford were booked during the match with Bradford's Andrew Davies, who was sent off, now set for a five-match ban after being shown red cards twice previously this season.

"

Believe it, Phil. The five players sent off were Davies, Luke Oliver and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin of Bradford, and Crawley's Kyle McFadzean and Claude Davis.

Anyway, the FA has launched the requisite investigation into the game, which tied a British record for most red cards in a single match.

Well done, fellas.