Alleged Racism at Woking game

[Mad Cyril]

The ones who like cricket are.

Maybe it is time for a change.

I have little doubt male cricket fans can be just as boorish and tedious as male football fans.

 

[Texas Eslan]

Woking players were initially focused on a punch up with our players. I would say initially there were 3 aggressors. 2 Woking and 1 Southend. Wilkinson was pushed against the barrier and the confrontation between him and the Southend player continued. At this point, a fan tried to grab no 6 Wilkinson and then landed a punch, allbeit not a very good one but still not acceptable. This led to more players and the Woking management team piling in. That's when the abuse towards the fans occurred, namely number 6 who was angry at being punched and used the word c###s, and number 10 who was more so provoking the fans and by far the worst offender, after he was grabbed by another Southend fan. He was then intent on causing trouble and targeting Southend fans. I certainly heard the words "come on" at least twice come from his mouth.

Following that, the number 10 increased the incitement, joined by the goalkeeper. This is clear on Liams video. At no point did any Woking players touch fans. In fact they were quite clever.... they stired up trouble but didn't touch anyone. The manager was very aggressive and saying he wanted the police to arrest the fan.


There was a lot of heat of the moment comments and high tensions. From an experienced martial arts instructor, my observation is that in heat of the moment, players do ruck sometimes but rarely throw punches, even when angry. But the fan who hit the player, never shouted once, was calm and just smiled which wound up the Woking players. He moved away so it didn't look like police got involved despite the Woking request.

The game continued and full time blew up 1 minute later. At this time, Woking players were still wound up and one player was clearly looking for a fan to pick on in the stands, which as it turned out, was towards an elderly gentleman who made the cage comment which I didn't hear, as it was the other side of the dugout. Personally, I believe the Woking player (Daly) wanted to target anyone and picked up on a comment of a fan who felt we had been unjustly treated an made an alledged comment which I am sure had no racist intention. On the young Woking players part, I believe it was just a pure revenge opportunity. If the word 'animal' was used, again its about context towards behaviour not race. I would describe their behaviour more specifically compared to wolves, hunting down individuals to attack in packs. However, only the gentleman arrested (if he was) knows the context of his comments so we can only speculate.

Woking certainly played their part, but so did the officials. After the punch up, it was ridiculous to restart the game for one minute. They were poor all night and totally lost control of the game and players.

It all started when we tried to take a throw that was awarded and a Woking player (Daly) snatched the ball of us. The 4th should have dealt with it but was completely useless all night. The worst 4th I have ever seen in any fixture and time and time again neglected his duties.
If he had dealt with it, there would be no aftermath that occurred.


The league if anything should look at the behaviour of the both teams for failing to control themselves, the Woking players, reminding them of their professional responsibility to avoid fan clashes . 2 perhaps 3 Southend fans in the East, the Woking management team, and the officials, specifically for lack of control and competence throughout the game. And finally, separately, the 4th for continually neglecting his duties.
The league also takes responsibility for appointing an inexperienced ref and 4th in the same game.


One common denominator - James Daly (Woking).

Started the brawl and then stayed looking for fans after his team had gone down the tunnel, claiming a racist comment. Nasty piece of work.

Good summary, thanks Phil!

Interesting you mention after the game. I was down in the East blues waiting to leave. The Woking players were taking a long time to leave the pitch and once they started heading back I think a few ironic claps were heard as people wanted to depart via the pitch. Goalkeeper clearly said something to a couple of fans to which they responded asking him to come back and say again etc so was obviously provoking them. A number also shushed the remaining fans and held hands to ears etc. Reminded me of the Torquay striker who did exactly that as well.

I thought players got in trouble for inciting a crowd?

 

[Target man]

Good summary, thanks Phil!

Interesting you mention after the game. I was down in the East blues waiting to leave. The Woking players were taking a long time to leave the pitch and once they started heading back I think a few ironic claps were heard as people wanted to depart via the pitch. Goalkeeper clearly said something to a couple of fans to which they responded asking him to come back and say again etc so was obviously provoking them. A number also shushed the remaining fans and held hands to ears etc. Reminded me of the Torquay striker who did exactly that as well.

I thought players got in trouble for inciting a crowd?

Clearly not....

Andrews did it for Aldershot here last season and he did it again with Torquay this season. Nothing done on both occasions ...

Woking were next level though

 

[Seedy Nigel]

Good summary, thanks Phil!

Phil…?

 

[Target man]

Phil…?

???

 

[Mick]

I posted about this in the thread about Wealdstone being charged:

If six or more players are cautioned or sent off in a single match at National League level, there’s a standard punishment of a £750 fine (clubs can submit mitigation to an FA regulatory commission if they don’t accept this automatic sanction).

Although three Woking players were cautioned during the incident at the end of Tuesday's match, that incident in itself may be determined to be worthy of a separate club charge for failing to control players (potentially for both clubs). That will largely be dependent on whether it is included in the referee's report.

FA Disciplinary Regulations

It would be a very poor referee who failed to report that incident in his match report

............... so, there's a chance!

 

[in the know]

He probably missed it !like most other things on Tuesday

 

[kentblues]

Good summary, thanks Phil!

Interesting you mention after the game. I was down in the East blues waiting to leave. The Woking players were taking a long time to leave the pitch and once they started heading back I think a few ironic claps were heard as people wanted to depart via the pitch. Goalkeeper clearly said something to a couple of fans to which they responded asking him to come back and say again etc so was obviously provoking them. A number also shushed the remaining fans and held hands to ears etc. Reminded me of the Torquay striker who did exactly that as well.

I thought players got in trouble for inciting a crowd?

They do if people bother to report it..which they don't bother to generally

 

[Swiss Tony]

Maybe it is time for a change.

I have little doubt male cricket fans can be just as boorish and tedious as male football fans.

Oh Gawd Cyril.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Maybe it is time for a change.

I have little doubt male cricket fans can be just as boorish and tedious as male football fans.

 

[Shrimper]

Phil…?

That's Mr.Gilbert to you, Mackenzie

 

[Texas Eslan]

Phil…?

Should I call him Mr Miyagi instead?!

 

[Target man]

Should I call him Mr Miyagi instead?!

Texas Son ......

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Should I call him Mr Miyagi instead?!

Racks on, racks off!

 

[Target man]

Should I call him Mr Miyagi instead?!

I was actually called that once upon a time on the mat funnily ...

30 black belts all on the mat during a summer training session and a fly started annoying us. As it past us I knife hand striked it (karate chop) and caught it (total luck - no skill on my part!) ... fly hit the floor and that was it. I was Miyagi for weeks! True story

 

[rigsby]

Rather than turning this into a spitting match, can we keep on topic please? We don't want to have to close the thread because a few people can't behave.

Actually the mods have done the right thing by keeping it open. We have had first hand accounts and a clearer picture that there is fact nothing clear about this allegation.

No one is claiming we are perfect but even going back to the 70's we have always been a lot better than most other clubs. How many clubs had a muslim as one of their top boys back then? For those that know him he is still a top lad.

Some clubs wouldn't sign black players or the fans wouldn't clap their own black player if he scored. Pick an all time Southend best 11 and many slots are up for debate. Apart from Chris Powell and Stan. They start in anyones 11. If you never see them play ask your parents or grandparents.

I remember Ian Benjamin rocking up in the stand for an away game a few years back. The genuine warmth and smiles on peoples faces was a joy to witness.

Did Woking p*** me off...Absolutely but like 99% of you lot my target was the Woking shirt not the colour of anyones skin. Equally we aren't triggered by the words cage, ponce or pink. We know who and what we are and we don't feel the need to virtue signal at every opportunity.

 

[united we stand]

Phil…?

I like that , I thought the same when I read it

( assuming the reference is Inbetweeners, if not I’m lost)

 

[united we stand]

Ok
From reading this thread I have now learnt I can’t say “ladies and gentlemen “ and “Batesman”
And that I am even “older and lazier” than I thought I was for not knowing that.

Never thought of SZ as an education tool

 

[Shrimptastic]

I was actually called that once upon a time on the mat funnily ...

30 black belts all on the mat during a summer training session and a fly started annoying us. As it past us I knife hand striked it (karate chop) and caught it (total luck - no skill on my part!) ... fly hit the floor and that was it. I was Miyagi for weeks! True story

The fly probably lost the will to live reading this thread

Good work tho !

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Actually the mods have done the right thing by keeping it open. We have had first hand accounts and a clearer picture that there is fact nothing clear about this allegation.

No one is claiming we are perfect but even going back to the 70's we have always been a lot better than most other clubs. How many clubs had a muslim as one of their top boys back then? For those that know him he is still a top lad.

Some clubs wouldn't sign black players or the fans wouldn't clap their own black player if he scored. Pick an all time Southend best 11 and many slots are up for debate. Apart from Chris Powell and Stan. They start in anyones 11. If you never see them play ask your parents or grandparents.

I remember Ian Benjamin rocking up in the stand for an away game a few years back. The genuine warmth and smiles on peoples faces was a joy to witness.

You make some very valid points to contextualise it from a Southend perspective. But we should also remember that Woking won’t be aware of this context. They are far more likely to be aware (given how players will all know current players at other clubs) of the more recent racist abuse you’ve described being dished out to our own players and how their families wouldn’t attend any longer. The trouble with this sort of thing is once you get a reputation it’s hard to shift it.