Salford City FC pre-season friendly abandoned after players racially abused in 'deeply distressing evening'

Salford City FC pre-season friendly abandoned after players racially abused in 'deeply distressing evening'

Police are investigating and a man has been arrested

Salford City FC (Image: Manchester Evening News )

A pre-season football friendly was abandoned after racial abuse was directed from the crowd towards a club's players.

Police are investigating after the incident towards the end of York City's game with Salford City FC at York's LNER Stadium on Friday night.

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Both clubs, and the match officials, decided to take both teams off the pitch with the score at 3-3, statements from York and Salford said. North Yorkshire Police said a 23 year-old man from York was arrested and the incident happened after a Salford player left the pitch.

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York City said it was 'horrified to learn of allegations of racial abuse aimed at Salford City players' and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Salford City - owned by former Manchester United stars David Beckham and Gary Neville as part of a consortium - confirmed both York City and 'local police' were now investigating. Both teams were taken off the pitch in the 84th minute.

A Salford FC game in March (Image: Getty Images )

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In a statement on Friday night, Salford City FC said: "Salford City players were subjected to racial abuse during this evening's friendly against York City.

"The matter was swiftly reported to authorities and Salford’s team was taken off the pitch by manager, Karl Robinson. The incident is now being investigated by both York City and local police.

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"Salford City condemns racism in all forms, will always protect and defend its players and staff from any form of behaviour of this kind, and condemns this evening’s behaviour in the strongest possible terms. We would like to thank York City for its swift response to this incident."

The Ammies have issued a statement (Image: PA )

York City, meanwhile, said: "York City Football Club are horrified to learn of allegations of racial abuse aimed at Salford City players in this evening’s pre-season match. Both clubs, alongside the match officials, decided to take both teams off the pitch at that time.

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"York City condemns racism in all forms. We stand with Salford in condemning this behaviour in the strongest possible terms. The club is now working with North Yorkshire Police to investigate the allegations.

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"Any spectators who may have witnessed tonight’s events should contact North Yorkshire Police or York City Football Club as soon as possible. Any supporter found guilty of racial abuse will face the strongest possible sanctions from the club.

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"We would like to thank Salford City for their cooperation in what has been a deeply distressing evening."

No further details have been revealed.

In a statement on Friday night, North Yorkshire Police said: "We are appealing for witnesses after alleged racial abuse was reported as a Salford player left the pitch. A 23-year-old York man was arrested in connection with the allegation and is in police custody at the time of writing.

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"Please contact us if you were at the match and witnessed the incident that happened towards the end of the match and followed a disturbance on the pitch."

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