Millwall boss Neil criticises decision to pause game after alleged racist chanting

Key points

• Millwall manager Alex Neil criticised the decision to pause Tuesday's game against Swansea over alleged racist chanting.
• Swansea won 1-0 after the match was halted for almost seven minutes in the 65th minute.
• Both clubs condemned the alleged abuse and said police are investigating.

Millwall manager Alex Neil criticised the decision to pause Tuesday night's game against Swansea due to alleged racist chanting. The Championship match, which leaders Swansea won 1-0, was held up for almost seven minutes after Swansea reported an allegation of racist abuse from the crowd towards their substitute Eom Ji-Sung.

Referee Edward Duckworth stopped the game in the 65th minute and walked to the dugouts to speak with Neil, Swansea counterpart Vitor Matos and fourth official Ruebyn Ricardo. A security guard was also present, with Duckworth appearing to point to an area in the stands behind the Swansea dugout.

Neil questions stoppage

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Neil said: "I don't see the point." He said the issue needs to be dealt with but that stopping the game only kills momentum. Sky Sports News understands his comments referred to the process following the racism allegation, not annoyance at the game being stopped.

Both Neil and Millwall condemned the alleged abuse after the match. His BBC comments are understood to concern the stoppage and its length, not the decision to act on the report. The delay is understood to have come from the referee waiting for security to come pitch side to take the report, whereas reports to security staff have previously been passed on in the tunnel, allowing a quicker restart.

I don't see the point.

— Alex Neil

Club statements and investigation

Millwall said it was aware of an alleged individual incident of discriminatory abuse towards a Swansea player in the second half. The club said it has a zero-tolerance policy and that anyone found to have engaged in such behaviour will face the strongest possible action. It said it is working with the relevant authorities and cannot comment further because the alleged incident is subject to an ongoing police investigation.

Swansea thanked the match officials, Millwall and the police for the swift and decisive manner in which they dealt with the incident. The club said it will follow all protocols and processes and provide whatever assistance it can as the incident is investigated, adding that it stands with Ji-Sung.