Match halted after claims of ‘monkey noises and gestures’

Football - Eunice FC deny all allegations of racist abuse from fans

A Peterborough League match was abandoned at the weekend amid claims of monkey noises aimed at a Stilton United player.

Match referee Paul Gale took the players off after 40 minutes of a Division Two game at Huntingdon-based Eunice after Stilton players claimed their midfielder Ali Nyang had been taunted by some home fans.

Referee Gale didn’t hear any racist comments - Eunice claim there weren’t any anyway - but became concerned that players on both sides were getting involved in potentially spiteful confrontations.

Gale has sent a report to the League which will be forwarded to the relevant county Football Association.

Peterborough League chairman Keith Sharp said: “No player, spectator, manager, match official or club/ league official should ever be subjected to any sort of abuse.

“There is no room in the game for this type of behav- iour and working together we need to address this and remove this sort of behaviour from the game.”

Tweets from Stilton players after the abandonment condemned the use of ‘monkey gestures’ aimed at Nyang.

Stilton assistant manager Paul Burnage said: “It was a competitive game between two good sides, but my players were incensed by what they heard. On such a windy afternoon it would have been difficult for the referee to hear anything, but I agreed with his decision to abandon the match.

“The safety and welfare of my players was my priority. Luckily we have a great bunch of lads who have made sure Ali is fine.”

Eunice FC issued a statement denying any racial taunts took place and blamed Stilton’s management team for the abandonment

Eunice led 1-0 when the game was halted.

Eunice have been thrown out of the Peterborough Junior Cup Final after playing an ineligible player in their semi-final. They would have played Stilton in the final, but Premiair now take their place.

Ali Nyang (right).