Oldham v Barrow was yet another game marred by protests as a fan gets attacked from behind, chaos also threatens abandonment.
A second-half pitch invasion by protesting Latics fans held up the Cumbrian side’s 3-0 victory at Boundary Park for three minutes.
Shortly after the hour mark, the supporters, furious at how their club is being ran, legged it onto the pitch, with some choosing to sit in the centre circle before referee Carl Boyeson took the players off.
Play is halted in the 65th minute as fans invade the pitch and sit in the centre circle. Referee calls the players off #oafc pic.twitter.com/4HajFIaf45
— Suzanne Geldard (@SuzanneNQNW) September 4, 2021
After Junior Luamba had messed up an excellent chance for Oldham, it was Barrow who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with debutant Jordan Stevens giving the ball to ex-Oldham footballer Ollie Banks, who drilled home an angled strike from 22 yards.
Oldham nearly made it 1-1 on the half-hour when Jamie Bowden’s bullet header was superbly saved by Paul Farman.
In stoppage-time of the first half, Alan Sheehan saw a well hit free-kick saved again by the diving Farman.
Pitch invasion at Boundary Park – mainly teenagers protesting against the owners #oafc pic.twitter.com/YonzpWCWNI
— Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) September 4, 2021
Barrow then made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute when Offrande Zanzala got past two Oldham defenders before cooling putting the ball past Jayson Leutwiler from close range.
It was four minutes later when Joe Grayson extended the away side’s lead, a free-kick from the right beat everyone before flying in at the far post.
The result left Oldham remaining in 23rd position having lost five of their opening six League Two matches.
It all got heated during the game with allegations made that a security firm had attacked a fan from behind, with police officers quickly coming into the ground during the second half.
A meeting between chairman Abdallah Lemsagam and their supporters groups this week failed to resolve any issues that have led to growing tension and previous demonstrations against the regime.
Representatives of fans’ groups Push The Bounday (PTB) and Oldham Athletic Supporters’ Foundation met Dubai-based Lemsagam over Zoom, however they have been left disillusioned by the board’s failure to acknowledge their concerns.
The supporters’ group representatives – one from each organisation – stated a reason for the recent protests, including the role of the sporting director.
Removing Mohamed Lemsagam from this position, amid concerns of interference with management and poor recruitment, was proposed, but not entertained by Lemsagam, Mohamed’s brother, who put protests down to results rather than the regime.
There’s a lot of anger in the crowd, the owner’s brother has left his seat in the directors box #oafc pic.twitter.com/3AqR2mM01f
— Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) September 4, 2021
FAN REACTION:
@our_wheres: ABDALLAH OUT!!!!!!!
@StuartAndrew47: #oafc lots of police there did they charge the 3 men kicking the bloke on the floor, probably not as they are hired by club. Fucking disgusting. I’m a big man and never have I felt like going to a game of football just to fight with stewards, more than I do now.
@Gallagherlad95: If you have a problem with Oldham fans doing what they did, you don’t get football quite frankly.
@willyfog44: Dear Mr Lemsagem. You are deluded if you think fan unrest is due to results. We are rock bottom of the league, and NEVER played this poorly in our history. Yet you claim your moron of a brother is doing a good job? I’d hate to see what you think a bad job is! Leave my club! #oafc
@yellowflydesign: @gmpolice what are you going to do? Multiple reports of assaults by @SecurityTaurus at #oafc games this week and previous weeks. Your officers stood about watching doing nothing @1kevincampbell you proud of your company?
@liamnorbs: What’s sad in watching Oldham die is all the memories that are dying with it. I am fully out until the owners sell or we start back in the northwest counties. #oafc @OfficialOAFC #stayway
@TaylorMelissa__: I mean I know the stewards are absolute useless but stood watching this happen? A joke.
@ohrogerpalmer: Don’t give a fuck what people say who moan about that invasion. That moment has made more pride in being an Oldham fan than anything else has for last couple of years. It’s mainly young lads as well. Fair play to everyone involved
@afitz27: Home Games: 6 Pitch Invasions: 5 #oafc
@1rhysparsons: Family stand never seen scenes like it hahahahah #oafc
@ohrogerpalmer: @gmpolice hope you charge owners for extra coppers seen as @SecurityTaurus wrestling rejects couldn’t do a job? #oafc
@RHJOfficial: Tick-tock. Time is up, Abdallah. There’s no coming back from this. If you won’t listen to the fans or acknowledge their concerns, then they’ll continue ramping up their protests & pitch invasions no matter how hard you try to suppress it.
@MatteoPirelli: Thoughts and prayers go to all the Oldham fans who are watching their club die slowly because of Abdallah, one of the worst football club owners in existence. How can a club fall from grace with an owner with no empathy whatsoever? #Abdallahout
@Luke2Wallace: Oldham are in BIG trouble & have been for a while, fair play to the fans for trying to save their club. We could be about to see our first ex-Prem team in non-league. Another club the #EFL have allowed to be run into the floor, when will it stop?! NOT. FIT. FOR. PURPOSE. #OAFC
@MetPoliceFC away #oafc #ABDALLAHOUT #MOOUT #EVANSOUT pic.twitter.com/395Hq5N4EF
— sam buca (@sambucawasevil) September 4, 2021
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