Newport FA Cup tie halted — A Newport County FA Cup tie was halted for five minutes during the second half on Saturday after alleged homophobic chants were heard at Rodney Parade, with referee Robert Massey-Ellis taking the unusual step of stopping play in the first-round match against Walsall.
The official consulted both managers and captains before appearing to gesture toward the home supporters near the dugouts. The Football Association and South Wales Police could be asked to investigate the incident, and Newport could still face an FA charge, as homophobic and discriminatory chants breach FA rules and are also classified as a hate crime.
Mullins: Behaviour Has No Place in Football
Newport manager Hayden Mullins said after the game that he had not personally heard any discriminatory language, but he was clear that such behaviour is unacceptable in football.
He said the chants were reported to stewards and then to either the assistant referee or the fourth official, adding that the referee had followed the correct procedures. Mullins described the decision to stop the match as thorough and said it was important that the official made sure he had the right measures in place.
While Mullins did not hear the chants himself, he acknowledged that homophobic abuse was reportedly heard in the crowd and said it could not be condoned.
Referee's Decisive Action
The pause came after Massey-Ellis became aware of the alleged chanting. He spoke with the managers and captains of both teams and then gestured toward the home crowd close to the dugouts, indicating that the issue was being addressed.
The referee’s decision to halt the game rather than allow play to continue underlined the seriousness with which such allegations are treated under FA rules. Discriminatory chanting is not only a breach of football regulations but also a criminal matter, which is why police involvement remains a possibility.
Potential Consequences
Newport County could face an FA charge as a result of the alleged behaviour by supporters. The governing body has the authority to investigate and sanction clubs whose fans engage in homophobic or discriminatory chanting.
The FA and South Wales Police have not yet confirmed whether they will open formal investigations, but the incident has been reported through the appropriate channels. The club has not issued a further statement beyond Mullins’s post-match comments.
The match itself continued after the five-minute stoppage, but the focus afterwards was on the alleged abuse and the referee’s response. Mullins praised the official for handling the situation thoroughly and for ensuring that the correct procedures were followed.
