Northumbria Police are examining allegations of criminal damage during the match between Newcastle United and Sunderland at St James’s Park.
Newcastle supporters tore down signs advertising owner Mike Ashley’s business Sports Direct at the ground, which was recently controversially named the Sports Direct Arena.
The referee halted play and the players took a drinks break as officials restored order, before play resumed.
The incident happened during a match played in front of a crowd of nearly 3,000.
NEWCASTLE RES 3 SUNDERLAND RES 3
NEWCASTLE:Baird,Airey,Riley ,Abeid,Streete (Storey 46), Perch,Richardson (McDermott 46),Gosling,D Taylor,Obertan (Moyo 65),Donaldson
SUNDERLAND: Wilson,Marrs,Callaghan,Gorrin (Laidler 90),Bagnall,Watson,Mitchell,Elliott (Honeyman 28 )Tounkara (Oliver 70),Noble,Deacon
Crowd:2995
The Magpies scrambled a 3-3 draw last night in the FA Premier Reserve League against Sunderland as they fielded first team fringe players Mehdi Abeid, James Perch, Dan Gosling and Gabriel Obertan.
In a game of few early chances Obertan found a way into the box but scuffed his effort wide of the target on 20 minutes.
Obertan made no mistake three minutes later when Ryan Donaldson won the ball on the edge of the box for the Frenchman to run on to and pick his spot with a calm right foot finish past Ben Wilson.
Sunderland were back in it when Alex Baird rushed out to make a routine clearance but after a0 mix up with Perch connected with nothing but fresh air on 28 minutes.
That left Oumare Tounkara with an easy task to roll into the empty net.
In first half stoppage time Remie Streete was carried off after coming off second best after falling awkwardly.
Then in the same additional period Gosling missed a header for Ryan Noble to hammer a shot at Baird, before applying the finish at the second attempt at Gallowgate.
Five minutes into the second half McDermott floated a corner in for Perch to head at goal only for Wilson to tip it wide.
But Wilson could do nothing on 59 minutes when Donaldson's corner was swirled to the back post for Phil Airey to knock back in and Gosling to head home.
With a quarter of the game left a curling left wing cross by Jordan Watson was headed home by Tounkara.
Abeid hit a late right footed effort at goal but Wilson palmed it wide.
In the last two minutes Gosling was sent off for a second booking after handling in the box.
Then moments later Yven Moyo danced down the left for Donaldson to head home from close range and deny Sunderland a win on Tyneside for the second time in a week.