Players walk off over ‘racist abuse’
AN FA Cup tie was abandoned during the second half yesterday after players were allegedly racially abused and spat at.
The Haringey Borough side walked off after abuse was reportedly directed at them from spectators as Yeovil led 1-0 following a penalty.
It is said some threw bottles and spat at Cameroonian goalkeeper Valery Douglas Pajetat, 33, before British-born defender Coby Rowe, 24, was “racially abused” in the 64th minute.
Haringey boss Tom Loizou took the decision to abandon the fourth round qualifying match. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The abuse a few of my players got was disgusting. They (Yeovil) got a penalty and as they were lining up, my goalkeeper got spat at and had a bottle thrown at him.
“Then my number six – Rowe – got called names. He got racially abused and there was no way I could let him continue.
“Yeovil’s players and manager were different class. They said, ‘If you’re walking off, we’re walking off with you’. I have not done it for any other reason than looking into my players’ faces and seeing how distraught they were.
“I don’t want Yeovil to get punished for it. If we get thrown out of the FA Cup and they go through, there is no hard feelings.
“The FA Cup’s not worth that much to us. If we get punished and thrown out. I don’t care.”
In a tweet Rowe wrote: “Can’t believe I’m tweeting this and it’s 2019 but today I was a victim of racism, in what was supposed to be a great day for @Haringeyborofc. Another game of football ruined by racists.”
Yeovil boss Darren Sarll said: “I want Haringey and our football club to know we don’t condone anything of that nature.”
The match was played at nonleague side Haringey’s ground Coles Park Stadium, North London. The incident comes just five days after England players were subjected to racist abuse from Bulgarian fans during an away Euro 2020 qualifier.
The Football Association said: “There is no room for discrimination in our game.”
Scotland Yard said it was investigating reports of racist comments.