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Tottenham To Be Hit By FA Fine After Linesman Hit By Flare

Tottenham To Be Hit By FA Fine After Linesman Hit By Flare (PICTURES)
The Huffington Post UK/PA

Tottenham are expected to receive a hefty fine after a linesman was hit by a flare during their 2-0 Barclays Premier League win at Aston Villa.

The Football Association has launched an investigation and two men were also arrested, police confirmed, after official David Bryan was struck by a flare thrown from the visiting supporters' section at Villa Park on Sunday.

The incident occurred amid the celebrations after Andros Townsend had opened the scoring on 31 minutes.

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Bryan moments after he was hit by the smoke bomb

Bryan was unharmed and able to continue but the FA will now wait for referee Phil Dowd's report before deciding upon its next course of action.

A spokesman said: "The FA will investigate this matter, which is unacceptable.

"We will await the match officials' report and will be speaking to the clubs.

Linesman hit by flare
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(01 of15)
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Assistant referee David Bryan is struck by a flare (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(02 of15)
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Assistant referee David Bryan on the touchline after being hit by a flare (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(03 of15)
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Police and stewards go into the away supporter's stand after a flare is thrown and hits assistant referee David Bryan (not in picture) (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(04 of15)
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Assistant referee David Bryan is struck by a flare (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(05 of15)
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Police and stewards go into the away supporter's stand after a flare is thrown and hits assistant referee David Bryan (not in picture) (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(06 of15)
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Assistant referee David Bryan after being struck by a flare (credit:PA)
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League(07 of15)
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Referee's assistant David Bryan clutches his shirt after he was hit by a missile from the crowd during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on October 20, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League(08 of15)
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Referee Phil Dowd (L) and Michael Dawson of Spurs speak to referee's assistant David Bryan, after he was hit by a missile from the crowd during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on October 20, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League(09 of15)
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Referee's assistant David Bryan clutches his shirt after he was hit by a missile from the crowd during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on October 20, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League(10 of15)
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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Referee Phil Dowd (2L) and Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen of Spurs speak to Referee's assistant David Bryan, after he was hit by a missile from the crowd during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on October 20, 2013 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(11 of15)
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A fan is escorted from the stadium by stewards and police after a flare struck assistant referee David Bryan (not in picture) (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(12 of15)
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Assistant referee David Bryan after being struck by a flare (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(13 of15)
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Tottenham Hotspur's Michael Dawson (20) goes over to speak with assistant referee David Bryan after the match official is struck by a flare (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(14 of15)
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Match referee Phil Dowd (second left) speaks with Tottenham Hotspur's Michael Dawson (left) and Jan Vertonghen (second right) after assistant referee David Bryan is struck by a flare (credit:PA)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park(15 of15)
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Assistant referee David Bryan speaks with referee Phil Dowd (right) and Tottenham Hotspur's Michael Dawson after being hit by a flare (credit:PA)

"Such incidents highlight the dangers of pyrotechnics being used in a football stadium."

Police officers and stewards moved in to remove supporters from the away fans section, which is housed in the Doug Ellis Stand.

Spurs boss André Villas-Boas condemned the people responsible.

He said: "I think situations like this do not have a place in football. I sincerely hope it does not happen again."

West Midlands Police later confirmed two men had been arrested in relation to the incident, which was also captured by a television camera.

"Police have arrested 2 men after a lit flare was thrown on the pitch during the Villa v Spurs game - the flare hit a linesman," a statement, released via Twitter, read.

"The two men aged 25 and 47 were arrested following the incident at Villa Park, fortunately the linesman wasn't injured."

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