The stroy broke on social media on Saturday, when a video emerged of police officers spraying the substance at fans as they gathered in the stadium.
Some fans were appaled by the images, especially as it was reported that a 12 year-old boy was caught up in the action and was touched by the spray, which causes burning sensations in the eyes.
After a debriefing took place following the incident at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium, the police force admitted that lessons had been learned form the situation.
However, they maintainted that officers on the scene "acted in the honestly held belief that the threat they and others faced made the use of PAVA justified and proportionate,"