Millwall manager Alex Neil has sparked backlash after complaining about the decision to suspend his team's loss to Swansea following allegations of racist abuse directed at visiting winger Jisung Eom. The match was interrupted when Eom, who was amongst the Swansea substitutes, had allegedly been subjected to abuse while warming up alongside the pitch.
Match halted after allegation
Referee Edward Duckworth brought proceedings to a standstill before holding extended discussions with both sets of coaching staff, with play suspended for around seven minutes in total. A tannoy announcement was subsequently made confirming there had been an allegation of racism.
Swansea secured victory thanks to a last-minute winner from substitute Ronald, with Neil seemingly suggesting that the interruption contributed to his team's loss.
Neil's comments condemned
"I understand there's been an incident," he told the BBC. "It's not something I'm going to get involved in. That'll be for the authorities to deal with."
"But the fact that it stops the game for 15 minutes. I just don't see the point. It needs to get dealt with, absolutely, but stopping the game doesn't deal with anything."
"All it does is kill the momentum... Listen, if we score I probably don't feel this way, but that's how I feel just now."
His remarks have triggered widespread condemnation across social media. "Alex Neil not exactly doing Millwall's reputation (or his own for that matter) any good with such a flippant response to an allegation of racist abuse," remarked one supporter.
"Surely Alex should be calling out racism, not moaning about loss of momentum," another stated.
Another wrote: "Poor from Alex Neil. For a start it wasn't 15 minutes. Stopping the game is also a deterrent for others doing the same thing in the future, as a light gets shone on them. Some things are bigger than a game of football."
Club statements
Millwall were stronger in their response as a club. In a statement, they confirmed they were working with authorities to examine the incident, emphasising their "zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discriminatory abuse".
"Millwall Football Club is aware of an alleged, individual incident of discriminatory abuse towards a Swansea City player during the second-half of Tuesday evening's Sky Bet Championship match."
"The club operates a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discriminatory abuse. Any individual found to have engaged in such behaviour will face the strongest possible action."
Swansea condemned the incident and thanked the opposition for their swift action. A statement read: "During the second half of this evening's Championship fixture at Millwall, Swansea City reported an alleged incident of racist abuse aimed at Jisung Eom."
"As a club we condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, and there is no place for such behaviour in football or in society."
"The club wants to place on record its thanks for the swift and decisive manner in which the match officials, Millwall Football Club and the police dealt with the incident."
"We will now follow all protocols and processes and provide whatever assistance we can to all parties as the incident is investigated."
"We stand with Jisung, and he has our unstinting love and support."
