'Disgusting': FA Cup match abandoned after 'horrendous' scenes
The FA Cup fourth-qualifying-round tie between English non-league sides Haringey Borough and Yeovil Town was abandoned on Saturday when the home team walked off the field after one of its players was racially abused.
It’s the second time in a week that English football has been caught up in shocking scenes of racism, with Bulgarian fans targeting Three Lions players in their recent World Cup qualifier.
London club Haringey came off in the 64th minute after claims their Cameroonian goalkeeper Valery Pajetat had been targeted by racial abuse by visiting fans minutes earlier, when Yeovil took a 1-0 lead from a penalty.
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Haringey manager Tom Loizou told the BBC that defender Coby Rowe was also racially abused, and that "there was no way I could let him continue."
He added: "The abuse a few of my players got was disgusting.
"Yeovil's players and manager were different class. Their team tried to calm their supporters down and they supported us."
Haringey released a statement after the match insisting it was only a small percentage of Yeovil fans responsible for the "horrendous" behaviour.
Sorry for the late update but wanted to make sure we gave correct information.
Game has been abandoned following racial abuse. Horrendous afternoon.
It must be said that 99.9% of @YTFC fans are also disgusted by what’s happened as much as we are.
One club, one community.— Haringey Borough FC (@HaringeyBoroFC) October 19, 2019
Afterwards, Haringey and Yeovil players walked out to show their solidarity and applauded the Haringey fans.
The English Football Association said it was looking into the incident "as a matter of urgency".
"There is no room for discrimination in our game and we are working with the match officials and the relevant authorities, as a matter of urgency, to fully establish the facts and take the appropriate steps," the FA said in a statement.
The football anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out praised the "swift and decisive action" taken by Haringey boss Loizou and his players, comparing their response to that of the England team in last week's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria.
With AAP