Watford striker suspended following fight at Royal Ascot on Friday
A teenage Watford striker has been suspended by the Premier League club over his alleged involvement in a fight at Royal Ascot on Friday.
Reece Miller, 18, faces a disciplinary investigation after a video was posted on social media showing a frightening fight breaking out on a lawn in the Windsor enclosure during racing on Friday.
A club spokesman confirmed Miller, who plays for the Under-23 team but has not made a Premier League appearance, was under investigation. He said: "We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness. The club will not tolerate any behaviour which tarnishes its image and a full disciplinary investigation is now in process.
"As soon as the footage was brought to the club's attention, an immediate decision was taken to suspend the player."
Ascot director of communications Nick Smith had played down the fight when contacted by the Racing Post on Sunday. Smith said: "There will always be some incidents in crowds of circa 70,000. We stepped up our security considerably last year and have maintained that, with many more highly visible stewards.
"In the rare event of incidences of antisocial behaviour, our reports indicate they were dealt with satisfactorily.
"People could now just be aware there's a zero-tolerance policy. I think they're beginning to realise the racecourse isn't a place to overindulge in drinking. I wouldn't say the problem has been eradicated overnight, but the nature of these events is moving the way organisers would want it to."
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