- Macclesfield and Sutton met at the Moss Rose Stadium on Saturday afternoon
- Danny Whitaker’s penalty gave Macclesfield a crucial 1-0 win on the weekend
- A game that was feisty throughout erupted into violence after the final whistle
- Sutton kitman Clive Baxter was punched in the face by a home supporter
A police investigation is expected to be launched after Macclesfield Town and Sutton United’s National League match descended into a post-match brawl in which the Sutton kitman Clive Baxter was punched in the face by a home supporter.
The top two sides in the division met at Macclesfield’s Moss Rose stadium on Saturday afternoon and a game that was feisty throughout erupted into violence after the final whistle.
Danny Whitaker’s first-half penalty gave Macclesfield a crucial 1-0 win to move his team six points clear at the summit.
Sutton kitman Clive Baxter (left) was punched in the face by a Macclesfield supporter
The kitman pictured receiving treatment following the top of the table National League clash
Frustrations boiled over following the final whistle of Macclesfield’s clash with Sutton
However, tensions simmered following Macclesfield goalkeeper Shwan Jalal’s second-half dismissal for a mistimed lunge and as the game entered six minutes of added time, emotions reached boiling point. First the home supporters had to be held back from entering the pitch after a ferocious Sutton challenge near the dugout area.
Then, on the final whistle, supporters appeared to hurl insults at the Sutton managerial team. One witness said a member of Sutton’s backroom staff also directed insults at the Macclesfield supporters. The Sutton kitman Clive Baxter was then struck by a supporter and after the game, manager Paul Doswell remonstrated with safety officers and stewards.
After a team of over ten stewards admitted they could not identify the culprit, Doswell demanded the police be called and the Macclesfield safety officers then informed the authorities. A Sutton director also claimed that coins were thrown towards fellow dignitaries in the directors’ box.
Supporters appeared to hurl insults at the Sutton managerial team following the end of game
Tensions simmered following Macclesfield goalkeeper Shwan Jalal’s second-half dismissal
Macclesfield Town have confirmed that the police were contacted and that all available video footage will be studied to identify the culprits.
Sportsmail has contacted Cheshire police for comment.
The Football Association will await the referee’s report before proceeding with their own investigation. The governing body are likely to ask both clubs for their observations
Danny Whitaker scored a first-half penalty to give Macclesfield a crucial 1-0 win over Sutton