Having attended tonights friendly at Colchester, I was saddened by the conduct of a vast majority of Ipswich supporters. This when after the match having been "abandoned" due to what was then believed to be a very serious head injury, the Colchester player rose to his feet. That is when the "booing" started as the player made his way from the pitch towards the waiting ambulance, and then my own fellow supporters started chanting, "We want a refund".. .. That is just not acceptable.. .. And to think that we the Ipswich fans slated the Leeds Utd fans a few years ago when we relegated them from the Champioship.. .. The great man in the sky (Sir Bobby) would have been looking down upon you all tonight, and would have been totally disgusted by what he heard, as I was.. ..
I wasn't there, but to be fair, a bit of booing is not exactly all that went on at Elland Road. 15 quid a ticket and 6 quid for parking - a delayed kick off and then to watch a 0-0 draw and have the game abandoned - well I can understand why fans were frustrated. I find it a little bizarre that the match was abandoned, could it not have carried on when the ambulance had left? This is not to downplay the danger that he could've been in, even when he rose to his feet anything could've been wrong, but perhaps many took that as a sign that nothing very much was wrong. We have seen some very serious injuries where the game has continued, so why was this any different? It's a friendly, yes, but people still paid good money to see it.
Completely disagree with you tractorboy. The whole game was boring as hell yet for most of it the Ipswich fans were always singing. There were more Ipswich fans than colchester as well!!! Maybe booing at the player when he got up was wrong but the game was abandoned with 15 minutes too go and money time and effort were all put in but Ipswich fans to get to the game. Chanting for a refund is not aimed at the player so I dont see any problem there. The whole game was shocking and yet there was no trouble and a great atmosphere from the Ipswich boys. Complete overreaction from you Tractor boy....lighten up.
Hamps I may be wrong but I think there must be an ambulance in attendance including medical assistance at all times for a match to continue, but the only thing that really matters is that the boys ok surely.
fieldmarshall that sounds feasible actually Bringing a sub on and carrying on wouldn't have endangered his life fieldmarshall, that's the only point I'm making. And I think there is an overreaction, it's not like the fans were disrespectful to a dying man - they saw that he was on his feet. How many times have we heard 'dig a hole...' when a player is receiving treatment? Having said that I wasn't there though so I am merely speculating.
I didn't see him get up as I pretty much left when the anouncement was made, but I do beleive they could've carried on. Although it was wrong to boo, speaking to people...I dont think people were booing at the player as such, it was more to the decision. I feel sorry for one my mates though, was advised that they could easily get tickets at the gate...queued for ages to get one, then didnt get in to the ground until 8.15...so he's payed £15 to watch an hours football, I think it was generally frustrating for some fans. Paying £15 to watch a dull 0-0 draw, which was abandoned 15 minutes from time, I think the general frustration came out with the booing!
Ok the booing was a little OTT, but as suggested I think the majority of those booing was more at the decision rather than the player. Unfortunately it seems as though the ref did over react as almost as soon as the abandonment announcement was made, player in question was helped to his feet and then walked off toward the dressing room. At that point the Town fans started to make their feelings known, it was then he was ushered back towards the direction of waiting ambulance as previously announced. I do think the abandonment was not necessary, most clubs have at least one fairly serious injury every season but they still carry on after the first aid treatment is finished, no matter how long it may take.! Cr4p game though, I can see why PJ was more than happy with the premature end to the game. It would appear that he may have suffered a fractured cheekbone.....not nice.!
