The Haringey Borough chairman, Aki Achillea, has said he fears for the future of football after members of the club’s coaching and playing staff were reduced to tears after the goalkeeper Valery Pajetat and the defender Coby Rowe were subjected to alleged racial abuse in an abandoned FA Cup tie against Yeovil Town.
Achillea said he hoped the actions of his players, who walked off on Saturday after Pajetat and Rowe were allegedly abused, and the Football Association and police investigations, would prevent others from being targeted.
Police have confirmed they are investigating alleged racism and reports that missiles were thrown on to the pitch. Achillea said stones were thrown at Pajetat before Yeovil scored a second-half penalty and that the Cameroonian goalkeeper was spat at on the head. The referee allegedly confirmed to Haringey staff that a water bottle hit Pajetat, and a plastic beer bottle was also thrown in the player’s direction. After the penalty was scored, Rowe was allegedly racially abused.
“If the stand we have taken helps other clubs and stops other people from being abused, then it’s all been worth it, whatever the personal cost to all of us,” Achillea told the Guardian. “I hope it makes people sit up and take notice. It will be worthless if nothing comes of this that changes people’s perceptions and attitudes.
“If we are responsible for playing our part in identifying the problem, in helping people address the problem and people recognising that they cannot do this at football matches or anywhere in society, then I’ll be very proud that we contributed to that, regardless of the massive impact on us.
“These mindless idiots who think you can display that sort of attitude at a football match and get away with it will hopefully as a consequence of this realise that you can’t, and that there are consequences.
“It [walking off] made a very, very bold statement. It was incredible to see because there was a lot of support from our fans. There was a big round of applause but it’s reached the stage where people have realised somewhere something has to be done but unfortunately it happened to us in the most prestigious cup competition in the world. It upsets and worries me immensely about the future.”
Achillea said he sympathised with Yeovil’s “exceptional” players and staff, and that they agreed the game should not have continued, and reiterated that “a small minority have tarnished” the National League club’s reputation. “I don’t know if we’re going to be thrown out of the competition, I don’t know if Yeovil are going to be thrown out of the competition or if the FA are going to order a replay,” Achillea said of the fourth qualifying round tie. “It’s never happened before, so all I can do is leave in the hands of the FA to do what they think is right.”
The Metropolitan police are leading the investigation but liaising with Avon and Somerset police, who are in contact with Yeovil and passing on any required information or intelligence. The FA said it was “deeply concerned” by events and the governing body’s on-field regulation team continue to work with the match officials, both clubs and the relevant authorities to determine appropriate action as a matter of priority.
Yeovil said in a statement that they would cooperate “with the authorities and our friends at Haringey Borough”, adding: “We are aware that there are allegations that racist comments were made in the crowd and this allegation will be a key part of any investigation. Irrespective of the outcome of any investigations, we would like to make it clear that the club will not accept racism or discrimination in any form.”