Huddersfield Town have called on the FA and Football League for a thorough investigation into the abandoned match at Blackpool.
The final Championship game of the season fell victim to a pitch invasion by Blackpool fans protesting at the running of their club by the Oyston family.
Directors from Huddersfield were locked in the Bloomfield Road boardroom to prevent attack by marauding Blackpool fans after the abandonment was announced over the tannoy.
The worrying moments came after a pitch invasion lasting one hour and 11 minutes, which had been started 47 minutes into the goalless game as home supporters ran to the centre of the pitch and players darted for the dressing rooms.
The League are looking into what action to take, but it seems unlikely the match will be replayed as both clubs have players heading into their summer break.
“We are really disappointed for our players, staff and supporters, including the 200 cyclists who were raising thousands for charity and wanted the season to end on a high,” said Town chief executive Nigel Clibbens.
“Instead, it has taken the focus away from a really positive end of the season for us.
“We were in contact with the Football League during the game and, at the end, I spoke personally with League chief executive Shaun Harvey and gave our initial observations on the events. Likewise, he briefed me on what the League intended to do.
“It’s clear a thorough investigation needs to be undertaken by the FA and Football League about what happened and how it was handled.
“A decision also needs to be taken about the match itself and the points. There are lots of questions that need answering.”
Police and stewards appeared to do little to encourage the pitch invaders to leave - at one point a Blackpool fan on a mobility scooter joined them – while Town’s 2,350 followers waited patiently.
In pictures: Blackpool A-A Huddersfield Town
There was sporadic chanting but only one announcement, 19 minutes after the players left the pitch, that referee Mike Russell from Hertfordshire, wanted to re-start the match if possible. No-one left the pitch and the match was abandoned for safety reasons.
“We are proud of our fans for their backing, their patience and how they behaved - they were a credit to the club,” added Mr Clibbens.
“It was quite extra-ordinary to hear one set of fans calling for their chairman to go and then invading the pitch while our fans were singing in praise of Dean Hoyle.
“Our fans have paid their hard-earned cash and have seen only half a game. They are rightly disgruntled and so are we on their behalf.
“It would be easy to dismiss the impact of the abandonment because it doesn’t affect relegation and promotion, but in my memory it’s unprecedented for a fan protest against owners to lead to the abandonment of a game – and the implications in the longer term need to be seriously considered.
“It’s crucial for the reputation and standing of the League that the integrity of the competition on the field is protected.”
Mr Clibbens said they’ve wanted to finish the season with a win but had been denied the opportunity by having only 47 minutes of play.
“It also stopped us potentially finishing in a higher League position – all through no fault of our own, That is not right,” he added.
“After what seemed a relatively good-natured protest, when the abandonment came we were ushered into the boardroom and locked in as a precaution as home supporters looked to storm towards the boardroom.
“This was disconcerting for all of us. Nobody would want to see a repeat of this in future.
“It’s public knowledge the Blackpool supporters are extremely upset following their relegation and everyone was on alert that there could be some demonstrations but, never the less, for it to lead to an abandonment is not something any of us would wish to see again.”
