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Oldham players join fans’ protest after tennis balls thrown and team bus blocked

Oldham players decided to join in with their own club’s fans’ protest after tennis balls were thrown and the away team bus was blocked.

Members of the Latics squad found themselves in an awkward moment on Tuesday night when having to chuck off the objects which ended up getting onto the pitch during the Carabao Cup Second Round fixture.

Oldham played host to Accrington Stanley, and for the second home game running, supporters decided to make a stand against the ownership and launched tennis balls onto the field of play after just five minutes into the game.

Video footage from Boundary Park captured the Oldham end of the pitch filled with green balls as smoke of a bright red flare could also be seen which had also been thrown.

Players then threw some of the balls back into the stands, whilst others rolled the off back behind the goals with supporters could be heard chanting in the background.

They were taking a stand in the early minutes of the match to protest against the club’s owner Abdallah Lemsagam and his sporting director brother, Mo.

The scenes followed on from Saturday’s pitch invasion at the final whistle after a defeat at home to Colchester United, see more on that HERE.

Oldham Athletic Supporters Federation’s statement called for ‘calm heads’, with the group saying it ‘understood’ fans’ feelings but also added it ‘cannot endorse encroachment’ on the pitch.

The statement continued: ‘Many of us have felt for a long time now that the football club has been slipping further and further into danger due to poor recruitment, heavy-handed management and alienation of supporters.

‘Yesterday’s overflowing of emotions by some supporters was a direct result of that frustration and we want to assure you that we are planning our next moves in close liaison with [fellow supporter group] Push The Boundary and other supporter groups, starting on Monday.’

Also during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup fixture, some fans could be seen wearing clown masks, and then after the final whistle, they again flooded onto the pitch and held up banners.

Then to the surprise of the fanbase, outside the ground, Oldham midfielder Dylan Bahamboula came out to the crowd.

He joined those who were protesting as they sang his name with glee, and you can just see how much the player was loving it.

Accrington Stanley saw their team coach blocked, always because of the fans’ protests. Police eventually chose to escort them away so everyone could make their journey home.

The match itself finished goalless, and then Oldham went on to win the penalty shootout 5-4, putting them into Wednesday night’s Third Round draw.

Latics boss Keith Curle wants another penalty shoot-out success to be the catalyst to kick-start their season with the club currently bottom of League Two and without points with four games played.

“We haven’t been happy with the results that we’ve been getting in the league,” said Curle.

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist, we know what we need to do.

“Sometimes out of adversity, that’s the changing room starting point. It’s what we need to build on.

“We are committed. Oldham fans know and they see that commitment and they appreciate it and value it which I think is massive.”

A full timeline of events ever since Abdallah took up the role at Boundary Park can be seen HERE.

Twitter users reacted as Oldham players join fans’ protest after tennis balls were thrown and the away team bus blocked…

@actyres: For seasons we have never missed a game home or away #lengthandbreathofcountry supported them with 10’s of ÂŁ1000’s but now we boycott the club under current ownership #oafc #lemmiesout it hurts but it’s the only way. #KTF #BAWA #oldhamhour @OldhamChronicle

@anthonyfdshaw: any football supporter with a brain would support what they are doing.

@BenGate1984: We’ve had enough! 50k or 4k. Clubs up and down the country have fans that care. Its not the size of the dog in the fight. Its the size of the fight in the dog keep it up Oldham passion not fashion #Abdallahout #oafc

@_Dr_Phibes: Just clear off and put it down to a bad experience. You have no future in Oldham and I hope no future being involved in any other football club #oafc

@adamwebber87: Again putting #nufc fans to shame. Our lot moan about the owner and still turn up and buy all the merch.

@hiyathisisclass: would love a bit of this at the mkm but a lot of our fanbase now thinks this is ‘too negative’ and that we should just facilitate what has happened for the past 8 years #hcafc

@93rdmin: Brilliant this. Direct action. A few banners wouldn’t get the attention these lads have got for their aim. Don’t forget mishandling of clubs has seen clubs go into none existence.

@nufc_seb: Good to see fans take a stand!

@midwingba: Well done. Wonder if their manager will come out publicly claiming that their owner is “family” and “loves the club”.

@Wayne__sc: Not being in the ground and doing this hurts his pocket and forces him out. Kill them from the outside

@seasider4eva: We did it at Blackpool don’t go we boycotted games for years. Don’t buy tickets. Shirts. Starve them of cash they will leave.

@UAGMVMT: Well done Oldham fans people of Oldham don’t mess about! Hope you manage to get rid of your crap owner

@DeanMcMackin: Good on you lot. Need more clubs doing this

@oafc19: Sell the club #oafc

@georgeOAFC1999: Well Done to each and everyone of you #oafc

@stgrimmers: Pitch invasions and tennis ball invasions, seen that before… Hope Oldham get their club back

@Matt_Smith93: Lovely stuff #Abdallahout

@steclegg18: Get out of our club, @abdallahout #oafc

@bungle666ue: FANTASTIC WORK! Keep it up lads #lemsaghamout

@CasAddick: I see #cafc battle tactics are being emulated elsewhere. Hope it pays off for them #oafc

@Pandamonium1881: 👏👏👏 Just like at Charlton, what I would love to know is this. At this point and after a couple of pitch invasions, what the hell is the thoughts of the authorities. We all know the EFL and the FA are spineless but don’t they say to themselves “why is this happening?”

@rogw1: #SaveOAFC the club is in the mire, please have a dig around and spread the word. #oafc

@ChrisJStott19: Half time score : deuce đŸŽŸ

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