It simply doesn’t get any more embarrassing or unprofessional than this. Trailing Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 in the English Championship on Saturday, Preston had both their strikers sent off in the final minutes after nearly coming to blows and being separated by teammates.
Eoin Doyle had halved the Preston deficit in the 82nd minute, but he and strike partner Jermaine Beckford were subsequently shown straight reds for violent conduct in the 90th minute.
The scuffle commenced after Doyle had neglected to pass it to Beckford on a late Preston attack, instead giving it to another teammate who put his attempt over the bar. Beckford was incensed as fellow teammates, the referee and even Sheffield Wednesday players work together to restrain the two.
Fight! Preston team-mates Jermaine Beckford and Eoin Doyle are both sent off for clashing in the side's defeat at Hillsborough. pic.twitter.com/QNxh6SY4Wn
— Football On 5 (@FootballOn5) December 3, 2016
For Preston fans who made the trip to Sheffield only to watch their team capitulate, manager Simon Grayson has informed supporters that they’ll be fully reimbursed by means of the fine given to Doyle and Beckford.
“The fans who travelled to Sheffield Wednesday were let down by the actions of Jermaine Beckford and Eoin Doyle and it is only right that the fines imposed on the players are used to refund the cost of the ticket money for the fixture,” said Grayson.
“It has been made very clear to the players and the squad as a whole that this behavior is not acceptable by any employee of Preston North End and a swift and strong response was important, however, it has now been dealt with and the matter is closed.”
The @pnefc manager Simon Grayson furious with the conduct of Doyle and Beckford after they were sent off..
— BBC Lancashire Sport (@BBCLancsSport) December 3, 2016
