COVENTRY Sphinx’s Northern Premier League Midlands Division home match with AFC Rushden & Diamonds was abandoned at half-time on Saturday.
Both clubs later issued statement confirming that a ‘sexist comment’ was allegedly made towards the female match official by a spectator.
That happened towards the end of the first half, but the game was then called off after the it was reported that the offender could not be identified.
An AFC Rushden & Diamonds statement said: “AFC Rushden & Diamonds can confirm that today’s fixture at Coventry Sphinx was postponed at half-time.
“A comment of a sexist nature was allegedly directed toward the female match official towards the end of the first half.
“Attempts to identify the individual were unsuccessful. We are deeply concerned and disappointed that such behaviour has occurred at one of our matches.
“Discriminatory language or actions of any kind have absolutely no place within our community club or the wider football community.
“As a club, we are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all players, officials, volunteers, and supporters, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs.
“The matter has been reported to the relevant authorities, and we will fully support and cooperate with any investigations that follow.
“If it is established that the individual responsible is connected with AFC Rushden & Diamonds, we will take the strongest possible action in line with our club policies and values.
“We would encourage any supporters who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist, to contact the club as soon as possible via secretary@afc-diamonds.com.
“Any comments will be treated confidentially. We thank both sets of supporters for their patience and understanding and will communicate further updates when appropriate.”
Sphinx also released a statement, which said: “Towards the end of the first half of this afternoon’s game versus AFC Rushden & Diamonds, the referee alerted both clubs that a spectator had made a derogatory comment towards her.
“Following the incident, the game was abandoned. We will undertake an investigation into the incident and will respond to any queries received from the league and the FA.
“We are deeply concerned that comments of such a nature have been reported. Discriminatory language or actions have no place at Coventry Sphinx, nor should they in any walk of life.”
However, Diamonds manager Elliot Sandy later told the club’s X account that the referee did not feel she could continue refereeing the game.
He said: “The referee made us aware that somebody in the crowd had personally abused her, verbally.
“So she came over initially to say that the person needed to be removed, otherwise she’d abandon the game. So, that person was removed, we’ve carried on, but then she called us in at half-time and just said she didn’t feel that her head was 100 per cent in it, and she didn’t want to referee the rest of the game if she felt she wasn’t completely right.
“So first and foremost, I obviously condemn what’s happened. There’s no place for it in football. And I feel really sorry for her that it’s actually happened.
“I don’t know personally who they were. There was a big group of fans there. So I obviously said what the referee had said to us. As far as I’m aware, that person was removed.
“But the referee felt that she wasn’t in a place to continue. So we’ve just got to accept that really, which is a real shame.
“There’s there’s a bigger thing here. bigger things in football when people should come to work and feel safe and not have to be abused. So whoever it was, they should hang their head in shame.”
