Hartlepool United chief executive Mark Maguire thanks fans for information regarding allegations of racist abuse against Ebbsfleet United as club awaits FA response

Ayo Obileye of Ebbsfleet United is restrained by Jermaine McGlashan and Hartlepool United mascot H'angus after the Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Ebbsfleet United at Victoria Park, Hartlepool on Saturday 7th March 2020. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News) | Other 3rd Party

The National League season may be over but Hartlepool United are still waiting on an FA response to last month’s incidents against Ebbsfleet United at Victoria Park.

The 1-0 defeat to the relegation-threatened Fleet was further marred by allegations of racist and xenophobic abuse directed at the visiting players in what would prove to be Pools’ final home match of the 2019-20 National League campaign.

Manager Dave Challinor and Ebbsfleet’s Ayo Obileye were sent off for a confrontation following the full-time whistle.

A 44-year-old Hartlepool man was also charged by police for invading the pitch to confront the Fleet players during the heated affair at Victoria Park.

Before the National League season was suspended and subsequently cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak, Pools submitted their observations of the aforementioned incidents to the Football Association.

The club requested eye-witness accounts from supporters in the vicinity of the incidents in question as chief executive Mark Maguire and director Ian Scobie compiled a robust report in response to the allegations.

This was submitted the week following Hartlepool’s final game of the season at Sutton United on March 15.

But as of April 24, they are yet to receive a response from the FA.

Minutes from the Hartlepool United Fans’ Forum read: “[Mark Maguire and Ian Scobie] have submitted a strong rebuttal to the FA regarding the alleged racist and xenophobic incidents during the home match vs. Ebbsfleet and are yet to receive any response.

“[Mark Maguire] thanked the many fans who submitted information in response to the call for evidence which did not provide any evidence that either incident had occurred.”

The contents of Pools’ rebuttal are believed to be supported by ‘consistent and detailed’ eye-witness accounts which strongly denied the allegations that were made by Ebbsfleet players Jermaine McGlashan and Jordan Holmes.

The report recognised that foul language that could be considered offensive was used but remained adamant that it was not racist or xenophobic in nature.

Earlier in the season, Hartlepool were fined £7,500 and charged by the FA for being in breach of rule E20 following allegations of racist abuse during the home defeat against Dover Athletic in September 2019.