A pre-season friendly in Scotland this week ended up being abandoned due to ‘crowd trouble’ with police called at half time.
Broxburn Athletic and Edinburgh City only played out a goalless 45 minutes due to crowd trouble on Wednesday evening. The second half was delayed, but the referee decided not to resume.
Spartans FC media chief Mark Brown said in a post on Twitter: “Balaclava wearing ultras reportedly kicking off in the stands at Broxburn tonight, causing a pre-season ‘friendly’ v Edinburgh City to be abandoned at half time. Mental.”
A pre-season friendly between Broxburn Athletic & Edinburgh City was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
🎥: Edinburgh City ultras set off flares before kick-off on Wednesday.
Police were called to Albyn Park, Broxburn at half-time and dispersed supporters. No arrests were made. pic.twitter.com/yTcPWef7YA
— Forth 1 News (@Forth1News) July 4, 2024
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 7.45pm on Wednesday, 3 July, 2024, we were made aware of youths causing a disturbance at Albyn Park, Broxburn.
“Officers attended and following discussions the game was abandoned and the crowd dispersed.”
Local media suggest that Edinburgh City youngsters charged ‘the Shed’ and caused some panic.
But Boab Fallon (@BoabyLuv16) says: “City lads in first and setup in the Shed. Pyro at KO. Polis already there, chose to do nothing, went away. Broxburn the other side of the shed. Appeared to calm down, then at HT, ref out, Michael and some Broxburn officials over. All sorts of stories after that.
“Polis then return, move the City lads. Players said ‘back on’. 30 secs later, Broxburn announce its off. I was told after it that the Broxburn lot charged at our lads inside and out. Painting them as wee angels appears wide of the mark. Didnt appear to adequate security either.
“Could’ve been sorted when the Polis first arrived – ‘you’ve pyro. Out you go’. March them down to the bus stop and see them off. Certainly plenty Broxburn groups hanging around, before and after, looking about for the City lot.”
Edinburgh City said in a statement: “There has been a delay to the restart due to an ongoing disturbance.”
❗️UPDATE❗️
There has been a delay to the restart due to an ongoing disturbance.
— Edinburgh City FC (@EdinburghCityFC) July 3, 2024
Tonight’s match has been abandoned. pic.twitter.com/w25xQ3IqJF
— Broxburn Athletic F©️ (@BroxburnAthFC) July 3, 2024
This is what social media users are saying as the Scottish pre-season friendly gets abandoned due to ‘crowd trouble’ with police called at half time…
@theslav67: 20, 15 year olds attack a dozen pensioners and a dug. Sorted that for you
@GilesGraeme: May i just reiterate, people who wear balaclavas to the football are fucking wallopers and have gimp fetishes.
@William45259616: There seems to be a glamour tag about having ” Ultras” attached to your club. In reality theyre a pain in the arse group of school kids mostly intent on seeking attention in that entitled way of 2024 where they roam like feral cats and nobody has authority to challenge them.
@JohnLamont: “Edinburgh City Ultras” 🤦♂️ what fresh hell is football up to now? A Friendly…more like Apocalypse Now. Fine the clubs £5/fan that is being an idiot and they pay police costs not us.
@Brimcrob: Edinburgh City Ultras.. yes all half dozen of them – go full tonto.
@Samuel02Johnson: Welcome to Scottish football. No such thing as a friendly.
@Iversen83: ‘Ultras’ rocking to an Edinburgh City vs Broxburn friendly and getting the match abandoned is an incredible way to start the season.
@CalOnBundesliga: Scottish football 🙃 clubs call the police on there own fans for using pyro
@Ohnoitsewan: More flares than hairs on their chin
@dylannicol_97: Scottish football is back
@BC57MC66: Seeing this too often. Needs to be nipped in the bud
@LauraFMcConnell: We definitely need more things to occupy young folk during the school holidays.
@Nathan_Andy22: Hahahaha Scottish football is so back
@GregorMillarELC: Move over Euros, football’s back. But in all seriousness, what a shambles. Crowd trouble at a pre-season friendly… jeezo
@ToughersHopper: All for teams having ‘Young Ultras’ but for a group of neds walking about with balaclavas on causing a game to get abandoned isn’t the way forward.
@scottishchicp: Seriously, causing trouble at a friendly 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
@Cullen2110: Knew it would be a battle of the young teams in the stand 😂
@Simkin00: Animals
@WildRover1882: Seriously need to have a look at these “ultra” groups, if they are serious about supporting their team and bringing a bit of noise and colour then fair enough, but if they’re just wee guys that are looking to play at hooligans they can fuck off
@Donswanny: I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Ultras are a pain in the arse
@CbeveridColin: Must be the school holidays
@Mrb67322523: Looking forward to seeing your letter of apology to all fans who had their evening ruined as a result of a minority of your fan base being unable to behave themselves
@bhoyintheburgh: Edinburgh City Ultras 😂😂😂😂😂 you are luck if there’s 10 folk at any of their games
@Phoebep99174020: Edinburgh City twitter stating ongoing disturbance. Cityultras set of fire works and flares at kickoff. Smoke everywhere. Sharing same stand as Broxburn fans. Three police vehicles outside after 30 minutes. Edinburgh City young team hardly a day over 15 yrs numbering around 20-30. Leaders all black & white balaclavad up with loud halers and drums. Turned up at 6:30 trying to get into the ground. Hearing that City Ultras ran at the Broxburn support in the shed “tooled up”. Causing people to flee towards the social club pitch side this during half time.

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