Two men arrested by police after reports of racist abuse led to players walking off the pitch and match being abandoned in Haringey Borough’s FA Cup qualifying tie against Yeovil
- Haringey Borough’s FA Cup match against Yeovil was abandoned on Saturday
- Haringey’s manager took his players off the pitch after reports of racist abuse
- Police confirmed on Monday that two men in their 20s have now been arrested
- Both men – aged 23 and 26 – are in custody at a police station in Somerset
Two men in their 20s have been arrested by police following reports of racist abuse during Saturday’s FA Cup qualifier between Haringey Borough and Yeovil Town.
The tie was abandoned midway through the second half after Haringey’s manager took his team off the field following alleged abuse of his players.
And now police have confirmed that two men – aged 23 and 26 – were arrested in Chard and Yeovil on Monday morning on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault.
Haringey star Coby Rowe is restrained by security staff following an alleged racist incident
Both are currently in custody at a police station in Somerset as officers continue their investigation into the unsavoury scenes in London.
The Metropolitan Police are leading the investigation, given the alleged abuse happened in Tottenham, with assistance from the Avon and Somerset force.
Haringey’s goalkeeper Valery Douglas Pajetat was reportedly spat at and hit by an object thrown from the Yeovil Town section of supporters.
The fourth qualifying round match of the FA Cup was then abandoned when Haringey boss Tom Loizou walked his players off the pitch.
A Haringey defender also says he was called a ‘black c***’ by a spectator during the match.
Coby Rowe told Sportsmail the comment was hurled at him after his side’s Cameroonian goalkeeper Pajetat was allegedly spat at and had stones and a bottle launched at him.
Haringey goalkeeper Valery Pajetat points towards Yeovil supporters at Coles Park
Both clubs will go into Monday’s televised first-round draw as the probes continue, with anti-racism campaigners Kick It Out due to hold talks with the FA on Monday.
Rowe explained: ‘Valery definitely was abused. People were spitting at him and stuff like that.
‘I went to get the ball out of the goal after they scored the penalty and then a Yeovil player was telling their fans to calm down because the game might get called off, which obviously nobody wanted.
Haringey players confront the travelling supporters during the FA Cup qualifying clash
‘I was with him, just telling them to calm down and that’s when they started getting more aggressive and throwing stuff, swearing and all sorts and when I heard the racist comment, that’s when I got upset and it all kicked off. The fan said “black c” word.’
The FA’s on-field regulation team launched an investigation moments after the abandonment. The priority will be to establish the facts before any decision is made on the status of the match.
They have sought observations from the officials and both clubs and are in regular contact with the police.