Rushden & Diamonds match was abandoned after ‘sexual’ abuse of the referee

A football club announced that a non-league match was canceled after a referee was targeted for sexual abuse.

AFC Rushden & Diamonds said their match at the Coventry Sphinx was called off at half-time after hearing a comment from the crowd “of a sexual nature” directed at it.

The Northamptonshire club said it was “deeply concerned and disappointed”.

A club spokesman said it would “take the strongest possible action” if the person responsible was proven to be linked to the club.

“A comment of a sexual nature was directed towards the match referee at the end of the first half,” an AFC spokesperson said in a statement published on the X website.

“Discriminatory language or behavior of any kind has absolutely no place within our community club or the wider football community.”

The club said that attempts to identify the person failed and the matter was reported to the “relevant authorities.”

The BBC has contacted the Football Association and Coventry Sevens for comment.

Speaking to the club’s internal media after the match, Diamonds first team manager Elliot Sandy said the referee stopped the game while the offender was removed from the ground.

He said the match resumed, but she told the team at halftime that she did not feel comfortable continuing.

Sandy said: “Obviously I condemn what happened today. It has no place in football and I feel very sorry for it because it actually happened.”

The two teams play in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.

Diamonds said any fans who witnessed the incident or have information should contact them.