Birmingham City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was racially abused at Blackburn Rovers as their FA Cup Fourth Round clash turns rather sour.
Jordan James, a teenager substitute, scored an injury-time equaliser to give the West Midlands outfit a replay. The 18-year-old rescued the draw at Ewood Park, finding the net just two minutes after coming off the bench.
Reda Khadra’s low finish was well-placed to put the Blues ahead, before Bradley Dack levelled the score with a tap in.
Joe Rankin-Costello gave Rovers the lead with a shot from 20 yards, only for James to force the tie to a replay.
Anger replaced jubilation quickly, with Birmingham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge appearing to complain about the comments directed at his.
Richard Wilford writes via Twitter: “John Eustace confirms that @BCFC goalkeeper Neil Etheridge reported being racially abused late in the game at Ewood Park. The match officials were made aware of the incident at the time.”
You can see some of the scenes below…
Keep Right On as it should be sung 🔵
Those 4,000 traveling fans deserved it 🤝#UTFB #KRO pic.twitter.com/i2OK5iRxEF
— Chris Dunford (@yankeebluenose8) January 28, 2023
The drama overshadowed what was an entertaining tie between the Championship sides, which now goes to St Andrew’s.
Blues, who have only won in seven games, was defeated by Forest Green in round three. They capitalised on a bad Blackburn pass in defence to gain an early lead.
Thomas Kaminski was unable to stop Khadra’s third-minute skidding shot.
The Germany Under-21 international, who is currently on loan from Brighton after spending last season at Rovers, was close to getting a second soon afterwards but Kaminski’s shot missed the mark and squirmed past the far post.
Ben Brereton Diaz twice tried to get the ball past Etheridge either side of Khadra’s miss in a half which provided many opportunities for both sides.
Etheridge pushed a Rankin–Costello shot onto the woodwork. Dack was there to tap in as the rebound bounced into his path.
Kaminski kept the hosts level at the break by preventing a diving header by Lukas Jutkiewicz from going in towards the end of the first period. However, Rovers took the lead shortly after the break.
Blues lost possession in defence to concede the first goal. They did the same after restart to allow Rankin–Costello to score with his outside boot.
Khadra called Kaminski to action as Blues looked for a leveller. Brereton Diaz sent a big chance wide, and Dack also failed the make the most out of a promising opportunity.
The home side was made to regret those missed chances when James received a pass by Hannibal Mejbri and coolly slotted home from 12 yards.
Speaking after the match, Eustace spoke on what had happened, as per Birmingham Live. “Neil was racially abused which was bang out of order, there is no room for racism in society, let alone football. Really disappointing that has happened and us as a football club don’t condone it and we are fully behind Neil.
“The referee will report it and there will be further action from there. The referee took it by the scruff of the neck, it’s a very, very serious issue, you can’t not take it by the scruff of the neck. Neil was shook up a little bit after the game and rightly so but the lads got round him.”
BLACKBURN STATEMENT
This isn’t the first time this fixture as seen an alleged racist incident.
West Midlands police investigated allegations of racial abuse on social media that followed Birmingham’s FA Cup third round victory over Blackburn in 2020.
Birmingham found a late winner to secure a 2-1 win over their Championship rivals at St Andrew’s.
At the time, police confirmed they were looking into complaints over alleged racial abuse on social media.
A police statement said: “The force is aware of allegations on social media and further enquiries will be carried out”.
A series of incidents of racial abuse – both in stadiums and on social media – have occurred for a number of seasons now, with pressure growing on the game’s authorities to take stronger action against the culprits.
This is what Twitter users said after the Birmingham goalkeeper was alleged to ave been racially abused at Blackburn as the FA Cup clash turns sour…
@TheSpecialRon: Fair play to @Neil38Etheridge for raising it. 👍
@luke420alien: Hope they get fined and banned from all games.
@ChrisGr60511028: Absolute disgrace
@bluesloyal3: Why am I not surprised
@Gez11381272: Hope they find the culprits, no place for it… Good draw today #Kro #BSHLOUT
@womble28: Just NO NEED FOR THIS hope whoever is involved FINED & THEN BANNED
@GiallorossiBlue: Disgusting. Whoever it was, I hope they’re found and banned from attending all future games.
@ThunderousEx: Should be fined and banned, no place for it.
@BirmzshireRich: Rats. Hope Big Neil is alright.
@mickbcfc1975: @EFL throw the book at them, let’s make a point of it not welcome in football have some ball and dock them points if you have then at least fans would think twice #notiracism
@Covbluenose: Unacceptable, totally unacceptable!
@TP0wen: That area of England is stuck in the 70s. Fair play to Etheridge for having the courage and level headedness to report the abuse. Disgusting
@avfcPJR: Disgusting that players are still having to deal with stuff like this. Fair play to Etheridge for bringing it up and Eustace also. Makes you wonder how much more it goes on but is unreported
@BluesAnalytics_: Nice to see Etheridge booed by Blackburn Rovers fans for reporting racist abuse against him… Pond-life. #bcfc
@TomEd_1999: Once again asking why thus happens in the 21st century. Absolute moron who did this to Ethers
@amandableazard: I hope @Rovers #Rovers fully investigate this and authorities made aware. Please know #bcfc #birmingham myself and many #Rovers fans will not tolerate racial abuse – I hope #Etheridge is ok
@bobbyjones007: Filthy Blackburn wankers.
@TomMarsland: Ban for life if this is proven
@BcfcMichael: Disgrace, hopefully those individuals will be found #bcfc
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