A Wessex League fixture had to be abandoned at the weekend after players from the visiting team allegedly directed obscene ‘racial’ abuse towards Island players and supporters.
The match between East Cowes Vics and Alton FC at Beatrice Avenue had been largely free of unpleasant incidents until the closing stages of the game.
In the 87th minute, Alton scored to give the away side a 1-3 lead. One of the Alton players is alleged to have shouted “inbred c***ts” at the home supporters in the stand during the goal celebrations. The incident was reported to the referee by the East Cowes Vics management, but no action was taken against the alleged offender.
A minute later, an Alton player fell to the ground on the far side of the pitch. On being told to get to his feet by an East Cowes Vics official, the Alton player allegedly repeated the obscene insult and advanced towards the official in an aggressive and threatening manner.
An East Cowes player intervened in an attempt to protect the official, which led to an altercation between the 2 sets of players and a red card for Vics captain, Ryan Gregory. In the confusion caused by a mass brawl and the subsequent abandonment of the game, it is unclear as to whether any Alton players were also red-carded.
The entire Alton bench (management and substitutes) rushed across the pitch to join in the confrontation, whereas the Vics management team remained stoically on the sidelines.
Following the altercation, the Vics players walked off the pitch, a decision supported by Vics manager, Richie Woodburn, who believed that his players “had had enough”.
The match was then abandoned. As three-quarters of the game had already been played at the point of abandonment, the result will stand as a 1-3 victory for the away side.
Most of the incidents described were witnessed by Wessex League results secretary, Lee Bray, who was present in the stand throughout the game.
It is believed that a report has been sent to the appropriate authorities with regard to what may be regarded as racially aggravated language directed towards Islanders allegedly used by members of the Alton team.
Haven’t we become weak these days
whatever happened to “names will never hurt me”
perhaps the players needed a good cry, as they had been called names.
both sides need to grow up – alton for calling names and east cowes for crying about it
I fully concur with your comment. Too many times these days when someone says something that another (allegedly) finds offensive do they run off to tell ‘teacher’.
for goodness sake, GROW UP!
Plus I.E., why the reference to ‘racial’ abuse? Obscene language yes, but RACIAL abuse…Give me a break!
One assumed that this kind of incident was only used by those whom know they are lower than nature has provided for others, and so have to shout their weakness loudly in an attempt to try to hide that fact.
Yet not one to be seen on the pitch. Perhaps, the ‘squeakiest wheel getting the most oil’ ploy they use is in itself most contagious.
I agree with you, but it also seems like the players need to remember to have fun whilst playing football and not to take the game as serious as they do and that goes for both sides in this instance why is there a need to be shouting abuse at players and officials.
Just have fun playing any sport.
Remember: “Just because YOU are offended, that doesn’t necessarily mean what I said was ‘wrong’.”
This is a most apt saying in many cases, as some snow flakes aren’t really offended, but by overly ‘pretending’ that they are, then use such, to gain, sympathy to counteract the truth being spoken.
NOT the case here, but it is in many situations, whereby the most aggressive, nasty and guilty, ‘use’ the new crime of being ‘offended’ or ‘bullied’ as a means to try to ‘justify’ their naturally endemic vile behaviour.
As it ‘works’ well for ‘them’ now other groups have jumped upon the ‘bandwagon’ to use such to ‘their’ advantage, which to me, does then fit this situation.
I am sure most of the players would have preferred traditional means of dispute settling, but, M onkey see, M onkey do comes into play.
I am sure that when most of us were kids, our parents advice to us, when we went to them sobbing, at about the age of six, when we had been called a name we didn’t like, was to ignore it and remember that names, never hurt you, but sticks and stones can.
This type of advice is the most basic of teaching by parents, when ensuring that their kids have the right emotional defences instilled at an early age, to be able to brush off verbal insults later in life.
clearly a lot of these players never had those life lessons during childhood, as it appears that “toughening up” your kids is not PC these days.
Not ‘crying’ about it. Nor ‘weak’ We are just using the weakness of P.C liberalisation to your our advantage which is sensible. The b lack people use it to great effect all the time, and many of them are hardly the most delicate, fragile, sensitive easily ‘upset’ of people, and so what is sauce for the goose..
chirpy – all we are doing is promoting fragility – which leads to a weak and pathetic populace, that cannot handle anything thrown at them.
we should discard the pathetic ramblings of others, refrain from pretending to be offended and continue with a strong, confident and stoic attitude, which ensures we are elevated above the inane crying of weak individuals.
Totally disagree
If racial abuse is a crime
So is calling islanders inbred
Shouldn’t be over here spreading there coronavirus anyway
For a stupid game of football
hahahahaha Lorraine you clown! Imagine comparing this too racial abuse haha. Just a bit of chirping which is whyso many people love football. it is just a shame now there are too many snowflakes about who cry instead of giving it back to them
To those of us who aren’t into football, this type of anger and abuse just increases our dislike of the game. People here saying it’s ok and just banter are condoning it. Quite worrying.
Lorraine – have you ever wondered what your friends and relatives actually say about you behind your back – it most definitely will not all be nice.
it is just a name, if you cannot handle a verbal assault, then there is no hope for you
That’s how all fights start, I’m not bothered about name calling myself, but in this day and age you cant do this shit as it upsets the snowflakes! The main lander should of been shot for calling us islanders names boohoo.
Water and ducks back come to mind!
chris, Fight fire with fire, also comes to mind.
One time just a stream of abuse back, or a punch would have ‘sorted’ it, now, like countries do, instead of physical ‘attack’ they use cyber crime, and the people of the UK now use ‘offended, or bullied’ to attack the aggressors stance.
This is a far better report and a more accurate story of events than what the County press reported
Bunch of cry babies! Don’t think there isn’t a game where the opposition call islanders inbred.
How pathetic abandoning the game. I have lived in Wroxall for 10 years and every day
at work i get the banter of how i have got three legs, four hands and children with two heads.
Do i care no i do not get a life East Cowes Vics
Ron, take in a phone or small recording device and then tape the insults, do this for several months, and then claim tens of K compo.
Fight fire with fire. Rules and laws should apply to ALL not just the ‘new comers’ to the UK who started all this nonsense, YET, as it is here, we just as well ‘cash in’ on such.
I have kept Birthday cards Xmas cards with ‘insults’ from boss and work colleges in, and will ‘use’ such as evidence ‘should’ they try getting rid of me or if I am miffed.
I suggest all do the same now.
Where there’s a blame there’s a claim now.
IF we all ‘do such’ then sanity might once again prevail.
AS atm the ear is mightier than the tongue
Yes and you are one of those people fuelling the claim and compensation culture. All this does is drive up insurance costs and make everyone scared to do anything. Just carry on and don’t let these people concern you after all they are the ones with the problem.
You could play for the Vics with these excellent attributes! 🙂
Only sensible response was ‘Who are you calling inbred’ (That’s an ‘old’ joke)
Ham and cheese…… Thats proper inbread!
Alton calling people inbred …pot kettle black
As an ex Altonian. This is not the behaviour of most of the people in said town.
Got to chuckle reading this. I played football in the 60’s and 70’s when a rain soaked leather football with laces was a fearsome object. It was recognised as a mans game and tackling was hard and fair (most times)Name calling and questions about your sexuality was common and regarded as a wind up. Many a time the referee would call 2 warring players to one side and remind them they both have had a ‘hit’ on each other and the next one would be a booking. Modern footballers even professionals wouldn’t have lasted. Like someone said for Christ’s sake grow up and take insults that are there to unsettle you. Give it back and get on with it. Many a time when playing I’ve been threatened but after the game in the clubhouse you brought each other a drink and laughed about it.
You probably haven’t noticed but it’s no longer 1970, homophobic abuse is now a crime. I wonder how many of your opponents playing the ‘mans game’ have lived a lie their whole life because of the attitude of you and your contemporaries?
burglary is a crime hammond – doesn’t stop it happening.
A good Isle of Wight fist is worth 1000 words.
Who eat all the pies? No one likes us, we don’t care! Time to grow up, the answer should be to laugh, and wave a hand in a derogatory manner. babies!
Would the snowflakes from East cowes Vics have walked off pleading racial abuse on the 88th min if the score was reversed most definitely not. Grow up
Be interesting to see how many Cowes players are actually born n bred islanders