BRAINTREE TOWN’S Aidan Francis-Clarke was sent off in shocking fashion after losing his head completely in the FA Cup first round.
The midfielder lashed out and kicked an opponent when his side were already 4-1 down, sparking a huge on-pitch brawl.
Braintree’s local rivals Chelmsford City were comfortable winners – but all attention quickly turned to the shocking incident in the second half.
Francis-Clarke’s reckless challenge left Braintree down to 10 men and struggling to recover.
Players from both sides immediately swarmed around the flare-up, shoving and shouting as tempers boiled over.
The referee had a tricky job trying to separate the players amid the chaos, with his assistants also trying to calm the situation.
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Braintree’s bench gestured angrily, furious at the red card, while the home team tried to diffuse tensions on the pitch.
Fans were left stunned as what started as a routine cup tie descended into disorder.
One fan said on X: “It goes from bad to worse for Braintree.”
Another said: “This wasn’t good he let his team down.”
Despite the disruption, Chelmsford City kept their composure and ran out 4-1 winners.
Francis-Clarke trudged off, head down, knowing his moment of madness had ruined any chance of a cup upset.
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The incident will now leave Braintree facing questions about discipline and composure in crucial matches.
It also serves as a warning to other players about how quickly frustration can turn a game upside down.
The FA Cup first round tie will be remembered less for the football and more for the fiery scenes sparked by one red card.
Braintree now have to regroup and hope lessons are learned before their next fixture against Brackley Town on Wednesday night.
