Unruly players earn Saints fine

Angry ... Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino and the players surround the referee. Source: Chris Radburn / AAP

Southampton have been fined £20,000 ($A29,250) after accepting a Football Association charge of failing to control their players in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Norwich City.

The Barclays Premier League strugglers were charged for the angry reaction of their players when referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a late penalty to Norwich for a foul on Grant Holt by Luke Shaw.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	28	23	2	3	37	71
2	Man City	28	17	8	3	27	59
3	Tottenham	29	16	6	7	15	54
4	Chelsea	28	15	7	6	26	52
5	Arsenal	28	13	8	7	21	47
6	Liverpool	29	12	9	8	20	45
7	Everton	28	11	12	5	9	45
8	West Brom	29	13	4	12	2	43
9	Swansea	29	10	10	9	4	40
10	Fulham	28	8	9	11	-5	33
11	Stoke	29	7	12	10	-8	33
12	West Ham	28	9	6	13	-9	33
13	Newcastle	29	9	6	14	-10	33
14	Norwich	29	7	12	10	-18	33
15	Sunderland	29	7	9	13	-9	30
16	Southampton	29	6	10	13	-12	28
17	Aston Villa	29	6	9	14	-26	27
18	Wigan	28	6	6	16	-22	24
19	Reading	29	5	8	16	-21	23
20	QPR	29	4	11	14	-21	23

Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc saved Holt's subsequent attempt from the spot but the visiting players continued to protest after the final whistle and were joined on the pitch by manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"The FA has today fined Southampton £20,000 after they admitted a charge of failing to control their players,'' read a statement on the FA website.

"The incident occurred following the awarding of a penalty to Norwich during the match at Carrow Road on Saturday 9 March.''

Speaking before the charge was accepted, Pochettino said: "``I don't really feel bad about it because I had full respect for the referee.

"I went to speak with him and perhaps I should have waited until he came to the dug-out to speak to him, but I was always on speaking terms.

"That is the kind of person I am - a spontaneous person.''

Southampton, who host Liverpool this weekend, are currently four points above the Premier League relegation places.

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