RACIST ABUSE SHAMES HARTLEPOOL
HARTLEPOOL manager Craig Hignett and Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler discussed taking their players off the pitch after alleged racist abuse marred their National League match on Saturday. Dover striker Inih Effiong celebrated scoring a first-half penalty by cupping his ears in front of the home fans at Victoria Park before he was apparently targeted. Play was stopped for 11 minutes as Dover players argued with supporters in the Town End stand. Hartlepool players also spoke angrily with their own fans. A public address announcement at half-time condemning racism drew applause from most of the 3,329 people in the crowd. The FA and Cleveland Police are investigating. Hartlepool, who lost 2-0 and finished the game with nine men, promised they would take strong action against those involved. ‘At half-time we were calm,’ Hessenthaler said. ‘I spoke to Craig
and at one stage I wanted to come off the pitch and Craig agreed with me. We backed each other up. But the players wanted to carry on. I didn’t like what was going on. I felt it in my stomach.’ Jeff Stelling, the Sky Sports presenter and Hartlepool president, said he was ‘ashamed’ of the scenes. ‘I would not blame any of our black players if they did not want to play for the club again. The scum who have disgraced us will never be allowed back.’ Effiong said: ‘Week in, week out no one will ever understand what we as black players go through for just trying to enjoy a game of football. They will never feel our pain. It’s not acceptable.’