Woking have took to condemn alleged racist abuse and a fight between one fan and player at Southend United on Tuesday night.
Police are investigating a complaint by the Surrey outfit of racist abuse aimed at one of their footballers with the club saying the incident happened in the closing minutes at Roots Hall, where the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The police said in a statement: “We are investigating reports of racial abuse aimed at a Woking player following Southend United’s home game with Woking yesterday (Tuesday October 4).
“We are also investigating reports of an assault and encroachment onto the pitch.
“Our enquiries are ongoing.”
WOKING STATEMENT:
The club said: “Woking Football Club is aware of disturbing incidents that occurred in the closing minutes of our match at Roots Hall this evening, including but not limited to racial abuse directed at one of the Club’s players.
“The Club has been in contact with the relevant authorities and will provide an update in due course.
“Woking Football Club stands united against racism and discrimination of all kinds – both on and off the pitch.”
A Southend statement said: “The club are aware of a complaint of racism which has been made against one of our supporters.
“We take issues such as this very seriously and we are assisting the police with their enquiries into the allegation.
“Racism is abhorrent and we will take firm action against anyone who is identified as using racist language.”
Following the game, Woking manager Darren Sarll told BBC Surrey there had been an attempted assault on a player by a spectator and the abuse occurred as the team were leaving the pitch at the end of the match.
“I have spoken to the police about both instances,” he said.
Three Woking players and two from Southend were shown yellow cards during added time in a heated finish to the game.
Woking remain 7th in the National League standings, while the result saw Southend fall to 13th.
Stan Collymore said on a forum: “Two or three Woking players were walking from their supporters post match and got level with their dugout. One of our supporters shouted “get back in your cage”.
“This is verbatim and was heard by stewards, our cameraman and Woking director who was following me down the Directors stairs towards the pitch.
“One white, one black Woking player stopped, pointed at our supporter and had to be moved from the scene by several of us as the potential for an inflamed situation ( our supporters were exiting past the dugouts towards two very animated players who felt one was racially abused by those comments ) was growing by the second.
“Emotions were running high so I wanted the players and staff back in the tunnel as I’d already told them that several people, me included, heard the comments clearly and staying where they were had the potential for the situation to accelerate quickly.
“A Woking player asked if something would be done, and I responded that the Police had been informed and everyone who heard the comments had passed this on to the Police.
“I then asked the Police if they wanted to chat to the player as he felt he was racially abused ( supporter protested that there were no racial motivations) , and the player, his manager and I listened to Essex Police ask “would you like to make a racially aggravated complaint “. He responded “yes”.
This is how social media reacted as Woking condemn alleged racist abuse and a fight between one fan and player at Southend…
@AndrewStyles5: Ridiculous scenes at the end. The people involved are old enough to know better.
@YeattsMatthew: All started by their guy taking our throw and chucking the ball down the pitch to waste time ( they all do it here ) Ref, for once, got it right, booking 5 players, but what happened afterwards spoilt what was an excellent game.He needs to be banned if found guilty. Well done Stan
@Raycrud: This needs urgent investigation. There will be enough good fans in that part of the East Stand to report what happened and who was involved.
@Deathstarstalkr: I was standing directly behind the old guy that has been accused and know exactly what he said. I did try and talk to the steward but as Stan had got involved was ushered away.
@tommyharris57: There is no excuse for racial abuse & if the fan should be banned.However for once I thought the referee & officials were spot on for this incident. They had 3 players booked to our one, with Husins shirt ripped off his back. All due to them time wasting at the end! End of!
@manlyspenny: Completely unacceptable. If this is true then the supporter must be banned
@SUFCcode: If it’s true I hope that person is banned forever no place for it in football
@AlecHitchSUFC: If true, the fan should be banned. No place for this at all.
@SamjCarey: Fan was trying to pull their player of husin, and their player turner around and started on him. Total tinpot football
Things got lively towards the end of the game pic.twitter.com/snhLjK4IZ2
— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) October 4, 2022
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