source bbc.co.uk
The Irish Football Association has launched an investigation into the violent scenes at Saturday's Irish Cup game between Newry City and Larne.
Referee Raymond Crangle abandoned the match after serious fighting between players and coaching staff.
IFA president Raymond Kennedy said both clubs could be kicked out of the competition following the mass brawl.
"Violence has no place in football - expulsion from the cup is a real possibility," he added.
"The referee will send in his report and then we'll get observations from both clubs involved," Kennedy told the Sunday Life.
"Those reports will go before the Challenge Cup committee, who will decide what the next step should be."
Punches and kicks were traded in the Newry dugout and across the pitch after two Larne players and Larne manager Paul Millar had been sent-off.
Newry were leading 2-1 before Crangle and his assistants walked off the pitch after 82 minutes.
"There were melees developing all over the pitch involving players and substitutes and coaching staff from both dug-outs - I was left with no alternative," said the referee.
"In all my time in refereeing, I have never seen anything so farcical."
Liam Hogan was sent-off for raising his hands to Newry player Darren King and then Alan Reid was dismissed for a challenge on King soon after.
Larne boss Millar was sent from the dugout and then substitutes, players and coaching staff from both sides became embroiled in trading punches and kicks all over the pitch.
Newry boss John McDonnell said the unsavoury events had "kicked off out of nothing".
"It is was not nice what happened - I tried to get my players off the pitch as quickly as possible," said McDonnell.
"We were cruising with seven or eight minutes to go and I'd like to be talking about a cup win but instead we have to wait on the referee's report."
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