A Leyton Orient player was “rugby tackled and pinned down on the floor” in a 17-man brawl during their 1-1 draw with Northampton last night.
Both teams had a man sent off after a huge melee broke out when Josh Wright scored a late penalty to earn Orient a point in the League Two clash at Brisbane Road.
The incident started when Orient midfielder James Dayton attempted to grab the ball from Northampton defender Scott Wharton.
The brawl was eventually broken up and both teams finished the match with 10 men after referee Alan Young sent off Dayton and Wharton for the incident.
Orient goalscorer Wright said: “I ran off celebrating, I turned around and I saw Dates [James Dayton] got rugby tackled and pinned down on the floor by one of their players.
“There was a bit of a scuffle but I felt Dates was hard done by to get a red card. Someone tried to grab the ball and it went from there.”
The point moves Orient six point clear of the relegation zone in League Two.
Both clubs face punishment from the FA for the incident.
