YORK City are to admit a charge of failing to control their players following the mass brawl during the 1-0 defeat against Woking at KitKat Crescent last month.

The FA has confirmed it has started disciplinary procedures against both clubs in the wake of the festive "Friday fight night" which saw City players James Dudgeon and Nathan Peat, along with Woking assistant manager Matt Crossley, sent off.

City are now likely to be fined for breaching the FA's E20 (a) rule which says clubs must ensure their players and staff conduct themselves in an orderly fashion on the pitch.

As well as City's conduct charge, Peat has also been charged with violent conduct while Dudgeon has been accused of improper conduct. Crossley faces two charges of violent conduct.

The chaos at the match, on Friday, December 29, began when City substitute Dudgeon, warming up on the touchline, stepped in as a peacemaker after Neal Bishop and Woking left-back Danny Bunce tangled in stoppage-time.

Crossley then confronted Dudgeon 20 yards from the visitors' bench before allegedly head-butting the York defender. The two were then part of a fracas involving players and staff from both benches and including Peat, who allegedly through a flurry of punches.

When the melee was cooled, Peat and Dudgeon, along with Crossley, were dismissed.

City have until tomorrow to reveal their intentions to the FA but club communications and community director Sophie McGill said the Minstermen would admit the charge.

But she added that the club would be sending the FA documentary and video evidence to support the cases of Peat and Dudgeon.

The Press understands Peat will admit his violent conduct charge but will argue that he retaliated in the face of extreme provocation.

Dudgeon, on the other hand, will hope the video evidence will show he has no case to answer.

McGill said: "York City Football Club are admitting the charge made by the FA and will not be requesting personal representation in front of an FA panel. However, the club will be submitting documentary and video evidence to support our case.

"From our video evidence, you can clearly see Woking's assistant manager, Matt Crossley, stride 15 to 20 yards from his technical area to confront our substitute James Dudgeon.

"Without provocation, Matt Crossley then head-butts James Dudgeon and chaos ensues. Nathan Peat was also the recipient of one of Matt Crossley's head-butts and subsequently sustained a facial injury."

An FA spokesman said the punishment for failing to control players was a fine, while Peat could face another ban of at least three matches. He has already served one three-match ban for the original sending-off.

The spokesman added that the offence of improper conduct faced by Dudgeon was "wide-ranging" and punishment could be as little as a warning or as much as a proper ban.