FAN ‘HIT PLAYER’ IN SEMI PENALTY DRAMA

MIDLAND League officials plan to replay from scratch a cup semi-final that was abandoned during a penalty shootout after a player was allegedly struck by a fan.

Wednesday’s MFL Cup derby between Atherstone Town and Hinckley AFC was called to a halt after the fourth Adders penalty had been saved.

A video shared to social media shows a small number of fans go onto the pitch with an Atherstone player said to have been attacked by one individual before the fans were restrained.

Atherstone’s Twitter feed branded the incident “disgusting”, sparking a row between fans of the clubs before posts were taken down.

A conciliatory joint statement followed on Thursday, condemned the actions of “the single individual” that “do not represent either club or indeed football fans”.

“We would like to state that admissions in the heat of the moment do not represent the brilliant people and volunteers that represent both our clubs,” it read. “It is born from frustration and a need to protect what we love.”

MFL secretary Nigel Wood said that while the matter would be dealt with via County FAs – Birmingham and Leicestershire – the league would be seeking permission to replay the match, “almost certainly with no crowd”, so the final against Whitchurch Alport at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium on May 9 can go ahead.

Atherstone chairman Nick Corbett said both clubs were “singing from the same sheet”.

“From what we have been told the instigators are not regular Hinckley fans,” he said. “We are disappointed it happened but we need to move on. We have a good relationship with Hinckley and that will continue.

“There was no animosity from supporters of either side, it just seemed that one or two lads who would not normally come along had a gripe with one of our players.”

Hinckley chairman Bryan White said he had no issue with playing the match again. adding: “The person concerned is not known to us and we will work jointly with all parties to resolve the matter.”