WITH VIDEO: The Football Association has confirmed it has launched an investigation into Paul Connolly's clash with a fan during Crawley's 1-0 defeat at Brentford last night.

Connolly appeared to lash out a home supporter as he went to take a throw-in near the end of the League One match at Griffin Park.

The defender was then pelted with bottles and cans by fans before stewards moved in to deal with the incident.

Connolly escaped without a caution from referee Stephen Martin but could now face disciplinary action from the FA.

Connolly tweeted: “A total blown up incident at the game last night! Handbags! We move on.”

Brentford have said they will launch their own investigation into the situation which was sparked when a supporter threw the ball at Connolly as he went to collect it for a throw-in. A supporter was later ejected from the ground.

Brentford chief executive Mark Devlin said: “It does look as though the ball went into the crowd, and from what I could see it was thrown towards the player. He didn’t like it and there appeared to be an exchange, whether it was a slap or a punch or whatever.

“The referee has moved in and a plastic bottle has come onto the pitch, so no doubt we’ll hear from the Football League about that as well.

“The club will wait to see what the police say and then take it up with Crawley. If the Football League ask us for our input we will investigate it and let them know from our point of view what’s gone on.”

Reds boss John Gregory admitted he did not get a good view of the incident after the game with the dugouts on the opposite side of the pitch.

Gregory said: “I never saw it at all. I was a long, long way from the incident.

“That was only the exciting part of the night I would think so people dwell on that as opposed to the football match.”