SADLY, the ugly side of the beautiful game reared its head not once but twice at the weekend. While the incidents at Wembley and on the streets of Newcastle were shocking, they were not altogether surprising, as the mindless minority seems to be cropping up with regularity both on and off the football pitch.

The sight of a young girl wiping away tears as Millwall fans fought with each other more or less uninterrupted by stewards and police really does bring shame on the sport.

The London club has a history of crowd trouble and hooliganism, and it would appear these deplorable traits still remain.

While the Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland is rightly revered for its fierce rivalry and passion, there is no excuse for things to boil over into disorder and violence.

One fan even took it upon himself to not only square up to a police officer but to actually aim a punch at an officer’s horse – what sounds like a bizarre and almost comedic episode is nothing more than thuggish stupidity.

Both incidents do nothing to enhance the image of the national sport, which seems to tarnish further with every passing season.

It is about time the Football Association, along with the even more toothless FIFA and UEFA, stands up to such louts and dishes out punishments that genuinely hurt the clubs and discourage any repeat of this poor behaviour.

Paltry fines are normally slapped on teams and associations for everything, from failing to control their players and crowd disturbances to racism from the terraces, or even on the pitch.

This just isn’t enough.

With the top level of the sport being so financially out of touch with the normal, everyday people who turn up week-in, week-out, a fine just won’t cut it.

A few thousand pounds here and there are just a drop in the ocean for the multi-million pound industry.

What would really make people sit up and take notice would be point deductions, bans from certain competitions and games played behind closed doors.

Until a hardline stance is adopted these, thankfully rare occurrences, will continue to take place as the fear factor just doesn’t exist when the punishment doesn’t suit the crime.

It would be nice to be able to praise the relevant authorities for working hard to stamp out the problems of the game, rather than bemoaning repeat performances and weak responses.