• FA begins investigation into east Lancashire derby violence
• Lancashire Police confirm 42 arrests from fans of both clubs

The Football Association has opened its investigation into the violence that marred yesterday’s east Lancashire derby by asking Burnley and Blackburn Rovers for their accounts of the ugly scenes at Turf Moor.

Lancashire Police have confirmed they arrested 42 supporters of both clubs after trouble flared between rival fans inside the stadium and objects were thrown at the referee Mike Dean and several players.

Dean was targeted by what is believed to have been a coin following his decision to award a contentious penalty to Blackburn while a bottle was thrown at the Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen before kick-off.

Two Rovers players, David Dunn and Christopher Samba, were also pelted with coins as they headed to the post-match interview area.

Blackburn supporters ripped out approximately 150 seats and wrecked toilets in the away section at Turf Moor and there were outbreaks of violence in Burnley town centre after the home side’s 1-0 defeat.

The FA has yet to receive either Dean’s match report or the findings of its own crowd control adviser who attended the derby, but it has contacted both clubs for their observations on the unrest.

Burnley are already under investigation after Chris Kirkland, the Wigan Athletic goalkeeper, was struck by a coin thrown from the away end at the DW Stadium the previous weekend.

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• Some disorder inside and outside the ground, say police
• FA launches investigation amid claims of coin-throwing

As many as 40 fans have been questioned by police after violence at yesterday’s east Lancashire derby between Burnley and Blackburn.

Supt Terry Woods from Lancashire police told the Press Association last night: “A major policing operation has been in place throughout the day to prevent any disorder.

“Unfortunately we have had to deal with some disorder inside and outside the ground. However, the operation that is in place has enabled us to successfully deal with those pockets of disorder rapidly.”

He said police used an intelligence database as part of the operation to make a number of proactive arrests as a preventative measure against further disorder. “I would like to point out that the vast majority of fans have behaved appropriately,” he added. “Unfortunately, a minority have chosen not to behave in the same way, which has led to a number of arrests.

“The safety of the majority of spectators there to enjoy the game was paramount, and I am conscious that in order to achieve this, people leaving the ground have had to take alternative routes home. I would like to thank those fans who have been patient, especially around travel arrangements and changing their route home.”

It was Blackburn’s first visit to Burnley for more than five years, and their first league fixture at Turf Moor for nearly a decade.

The Football Association has started the process of looking into the disorder and is contacting the clubs, match officials and police before deciding what action to take, if any.

There have been suggestions that coins were thrown at the referee Mike Dean as well as the Blackburn players David Dunn and Chris Samba. An FA spokesman said: “We are aware of the events of yesterday and will be contacting the clubs, match officials and police for their views.”

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Manchester United sit on top of the Premier League today after beating Liverpool, while Chelsea dropped more points against Blackburn Rovers. On your brand new Football Weekly, James Richardson, Sean Ingle, Paolo Bandini and Fernando Duarte analyse the various machinations of the title race. Can the Blues regain their confidence? Are the Red Devils utterly unstoppable? And will Arsenal still have a say, or will the Champions League prove too much of a distraction?

Plus, at the bottom of the table, we ask: who’s more ill-equipped to get their team out of trouble – Brian Laws at Burnley, or Hull City’s, ahem, ‘football management consultant’ Iain Dowie?

Elsewhere, we pay tribute to Roy Hodgson’s formerly plucky and now formidable Fulham. After brushing aside Juventus, can the Cottagers go all the way in the Europa League?

Finally, never mind the caveats, Sid Lowe throws caution to the wind and indulges in the Lionel Messi love-in. Is the 22-year-old the best player ever to have kicked a pig’s bladder, or is he flattered by the current weakness of La Liga?

Have a listen and post your comments on the blog below. We’re also on iTunes, Facebook and Twitter, and if you enjoy this type of thing, get your daily dose of fooball with our tea-time email, The Fiver.

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