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Haringey Borough's FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash with Yeovil was abandoned after the home side walked off the pitch amid reports their goalkeeper was racially abused.

Rhys Murphy was preparing to take a penalty for the visitors in the 64th minute when Yeovil fans appeared to throw objects at home goalkeeper Valery Douglas Pajetat.

Murphy converted the spot-kick but tempers flared and the home side opted to walk off the pitch, with Pajetat said to be "visibly upset" as he alleged he was the subject of racist taunts and spat at by away fans.

Team-mate Coby Rowe amongst those to react angrily and be restrained by security as players from both sides left the pitch.

Yeovil's captain went over to speak to his own supporters, as did the referee, before players from the home side opted to leave the pitch.

(Image: James Fearn/PPAUK)

Security attempted to escort a number of supporters out of the stadium but they resisted and refused to leave.

The game, with a place in the first round proper up for grabs, was held up for more than 20 minutes with players back in the changing rooms as officials considered how to deal with the incident.

The game was eventually abandoned and players from both sides returned to the pitch together in a show of solidarity.

The Football Association said it was "deeply concerned" about the allegation of discrimination at the FA Cup tie and had launched an investigation into the incident.

In a statement, the FA said: "We are deeply concerned about the allegation of discrimination from an area of the crowd towards a player during the FA Cup fourth round qualifying match between Haringey Borough and Yeovil Town, which resulted in the fixture being abandoned.

"There is no room for discrimination in our game and we are working with the match officials and the relevant authorities, as a matter of urgency, to fully establish the facts and take the appropriate steps."

Haringey boss Tom Loizou labelled the scenes "very distressing" and claimed he doesn't care if they get thrown out of the competition.

Loizou told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's very distressing. The abuse a few of my players got was disgusting.

(Image: James Fearn/PPAUK)

"We've worked hard all week, had a great experience in the FA Cup last season and a silly two minutes has taken everything away from us.

"It wasn't consistent throughout the game. They got a penalty and as they were lining up to take it, my goalkeeper got spat at and had a bottle thrown at him.

"The referee managed to calm things down, they took the penalty and then my number six - Coby Rowe - got called names. He got racially abused and there was no way I could let him continue.

"The FA Cup's not worth that much to us. We are never going to win it. Good luck to Yeovil Town if we get punished and thrown out, all be it, I don't care."

Yeovil boss Darren Sarll also backed the actions taken by their opponents, stating his side "fully support" Haringey and they "stand together".

He told BBC Somerset: "On behalf of Yeovil Town, we fully support Haringey and we stand together.

"The players and I decided we'd support [Haringey] and make a stand together, and be stronger with togetherness.

(Image: James Fearn/PPAUK)

"I want Haringey and our football club to know we don't condone anything of that nature, if there was anything of that nature.

"We, footballers and managers, get a lot of abuse but nobody should feel discriminated against when they come to play football.

"I'd do anything to win but there are certain levels and lines I'd never go over. There was no way I'd support racial discrimination.

"I feel we've done the right thing. I'm not going to feel anything other than proud for the way the players conducted themselves.

"Now the authorities will take care of what they need to take care of."

The football anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out praised the "swift and decisive action" taken by Loizou and his players, comparing their response to that of the England team in last week's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria.

(Image: Twitter)

Kick It Out said in a statement on Twitter: "The reports relating to events at Haringey Borough FC this afternoon, in The FA Cup tie with Yeovil Town, are of alleged racist abuse aimed at their goalkeeper, (Valery) Douglas Pajetat, and yet again means players are continuing to receive discriminatory abuse while doing their job.

"The Haringey manager and players took swift and decisive action as a result of the abuse, similar to that taken by the England team out in Bulgaria just five days ago.

"Kick It Out has informed The FA and will support the club in identifying the offender(s) to ensure appropriate action is taken and strong punishment issued.

"We would also like to offer our full support to Douglas and all at Haringey Borough FC."

Cameroonian goalkeeper Pajetat, at the centre of the incident, played in Portugal for a number of years before joining Margate in 2016.

He joined Haringey Borough, who play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, in 2017 and has established himself as their first-choice goalkeeper.

(Image: James Fearn/PPAUK)

The alleged incident comes just days after England's game with Bulgaria was twice halted in the first half with players threatening to walk off over racial abuse.

After the sickening scenes in Sofia, FA chief Greg Clarke noted that racism remained an issue in the English game.

He said: "I think at UEFA we need to really address that, but to be perfectly frank we also still need to address racism in England.

"We still have it, we have it throughout the pyramid, we see examples of it every week from the professional game down to the grassroots game.

"We shouldn't take the moral high ground, we should join a movement to drive racism out of our game and have zero tolerance for it."