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Haringey chairman says walk-off for alleged racism must be watershed moment Haringey chairman says walk-off for alleged racism must be watershed moment
(about 4 hours later)
Haringey Borough’s chairman, Aki Achillea, has said he fears for the future of football after members of the club’s coaching and playing staff were reduced to tears after the goalkeeper Valery Pajetat and defender Coby Rowe were subjected to alleged racial abuse in an abandoned FA Cup tie against Yeovil Town. Haringey Borough’s chairman, Aki Achillea, hopes the actions of his players in walking off the pitch after suffering alleged racial abuse will prove a watershed moment and prevent others from being targeted after Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Yeovil was abandoned.
Haringey players walk off after racism allegations in Yeovil FA Cup tie Achillea said he feared for the future of football after members of the club’s coaching and playing staff were reduced to tears when the goalkeeper Valery Pajetat and defender Coby Rowe were subjected to alleged abuse five days after England’s Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria was marred by racist chanting.
Achillea said he hoped the actions of his players, who walked off on Saturday after Pajetat and Rowe were allegedly abused, and the Football Association and police investigations, would prevent others from being targeted. Police said no arrests had been made but confirmed they were investigating alleged racism and reports that missiles were thrown on to the pitch. Achillea said stones were thrown at Pajetat from the away end before Yeovil scored a second-half penalty and that the Cameroonian goalkeeper was also spat at on the head. The referee allegedly confirmed to Haringey staff that a water bottle hit Pajetat and a plastic beer bottle was thrown in the player’s direction. After the penalty was scored, Rowe was allegedly abused.
Police have confirmed they are investigating alleged racism and reports that missiles were thrown on to the pitch. Achillea said stones were thrown at Pajetat before Yeovil scored a second-half penalty and that the Cameroonian goalkeeper’s head was spat upon. The referee allegedly confirmed to Haringey staff that a water bottle hit Pajetat, and a plastic beer bottle was also thrown in the player’s direction. After the penalty was scored, Rowe was allegedly racially abused. Rowe was allegedly called “a monkey cunt” and Achillea said the defender was so incensed he had to be restrained from approaching away fans and that it felt impossible for the game to continue because “too many players were distressed by what they had seen or heard”. The Football Association is continuing its investigation, liaising with match officials, both clubs and the authorities to determine appropriate action.
“If the stand we have taken helps other clubs and stops other people from being abused then it’s all been worth it, whatever the personal cost to all of us,” Achillea told the Guardian. “I hope it makes people sit up and take notice. It will be worthless if nothing comes of this that changes people’s perceptions and attitudes. “If the stand we have taken helps other clubs and stops other people from being abused, then it’s all been worth it, whatever the personal cost to all of us,” Achillea said. “I hope it makes people sit up and take notice. It will be worthless if nothing comes of this that changes people’s perceptions and attitudes. If we are responsible for playing our part in identifying the problem, in helping people address the problem and people recognising that they cannot do this at football matches or anywhere in society, then I’ll be very proud that we contributed to that, regardless of the massive impact on us.
“If we are responsible for playing our part in identifying the problem, in helping people address the problem and people recognising that they cannot do this at football matches or anywhere in society, then I’ll be very proud that we contributed to that, regardless of the massive impact on us.
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“These mindless idiots who think you can display that sort of attitude at a football match and get away with it will hopefully realise that you can’t, and that there are consequences. “These mindless idiots who think you can display that sort of attitude at a football match and get away with it will hopefully as a consequence of this realise that you can’t, and that there are consequences.
“It [walking off] made a very, very bold statement. It was incredible to see because there was a lot of support from our fans. There was a big round of applause but it’s reached the stage where people have realised somewhere something has to be done but unfortunately it happened to us in the most prestigious cup competition in the world. It upsets and worries me immensely about the future.” “It [walking off] made a very bold statement. It was incredible to see because there was a lot of support from our fans. There was a big round of applause but it’s reached the stage where people have realised somewhere something has to be done but unfortunately it happened to us in the most prestigious cup competition in the world. It upsets and worries me immensely about the future.”
Achillea said he sympathised with Yeovil’s “exceptional” players and staff, and that they agreed the game should not have continued, and reiterated that “a small minority have tarnished” the National League club’s reputation. The Haringey coach, Dave Cumberbatch, said Saturday’s events act as a reminder that England could not afford to point the finger at other nations over racism. “I’ve been saying that for a long time,” Cumberbatch said. “It’s still here. It’s there. Will it ever go away? Probably not. Can you educate people? I’m not sure. It’s a mind set. I don’t think it’s going away tomorrow. Whatever the FA do, they have nothing in place to deal with this, unless they start moving the goalposts because of the public outcry. But is there anything in place? You can’t even get Uefa to do it properly, so what are we going to get at grassroots level?”
“I don’t know if we’re going to be thrown out of the competition, I don’t know if Yeovil are going to be thrown out of the competition or if the FA are going to order a replay,” he added of the fourth-qualifying-round tie. “It’s never happened before, so all I can do is leave in the hands of the FA to do what they think is right.” Achillea said he sympathised with Yeovil’s “exceptional” players and staff, who agreed the game should not have continued, and reiterated that “a small minority have tarnished” the club’s reputation.
The Metropolitan police are leading the investigation but liaising with Avon and Somerset police, who are in contact with Yeovil and passing on any required information or intelligence. The FA said it was “deeply concerned” by events and the English game’s governing body’s on-field regulation team continue to work with the match officials, both clubs and the relevant authorities to determine appropriate action as a matter of priority. In September a National League match between Hartlepool and Dover was held up because of alleged racial abuse directed at the striker Inih Effiong; FA inquiries are continuing. “Hartlepool were put in the same position as Yeovil,” Achillea said. “I don’t know if we’re going to be thrown out of the competition, I don’t know if Yeovil are going to be thrown out or if the FA are going to order a replay.”
Yeovil said in a statement that they would cooperate “with the authorities and our friends at Haringey Borough”, adding: “We are aware that there are allegations that racist comments were made in the crowd and this allegation will be a key part of any investigation. Irrespective of the outcome of any investigations, we would like to make it clear that the club will not accept racism or discrimination in any form.” Haringey players walk off after racism allegations in Yeovil FA Cup tie
Cumberbatch said he and the Haringey players were keen to replay the game. “Personally, I think the game should be replayed and they shouldn’t be allowed to bring any supporters down,” he said.
The Metropolitan police are leading the investigation but Avon and Somerset police are helping with inquiries.
Yeovil, who had one black player, Remeao Hutton, on the field when the players walked off, said they would cooperate “with the authorities and our friends at Haringey Borough”, adding: “We are aware that there are allegations that racist comments were made in the crowd and this allegation will be a key part of any investigation. Irrespective of the outcome of any investigations, we would like to make it clear the club will not accept racism or discrimination in any form.”
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