A crucial EFL Championship fixture between Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth was dramatically abandoned on Saturday following a serious medical incident involving a supporter.
Match Halted in Early Stages
The game at Charlton's home ground, The Valley, was stopped by the referee after just 12 minutes of play. The emergency occurred in the lower tier of the Covered End, an area populated by home fans. Medical staff and first responders rushed to attend to the individual, prompting immediate action from match officials.
Players Sent to Dressing Rooms as Situation Unfolded
Initially, players from both sides remained on the pitch as the situation was assessed. However, approximately six minutes after the initial stoppage, the referee instructed all players to leave the field and return to their dressing rooms. After an hour-long delay, with the medical response ongoing, a definitive decision was made to abandon the contest entirely.
Charlton Athletic swiftly issued an official statement confirming the abandonment. 'Due to a medical emergency in the crowd, today’s match has been abandoned,' the club said. 'We thank you for your patience and understanding. Everyone at the club sends their best wishes to the supporter affected and thank our medical team and first responders.'
Clubs and League to Determine Next Steps
Portsmouth FC echoed Charlton's sentiments in their own statement, saying: 'Our thoughts and best wishes are with the individual involved.' Both clubs confirmed that information regarding a new date for the fixture and ticketing arrangements would be announced in due course.
The current condition of the supporter has not been publicly disclosed. According to the regulations of the English Football League (EFL), the EFL Board must now formally consider the circumstances of the abandonment and decide on the appropriate action. The strong expectation is that the match will be rescheduled and replayed in full at a later date this season.
