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Ian Evatt predicts that Bolton Wanderers will be hit by sanctions by the Football Association after today’s crowd problems at the UniBol.
Referee Charles Breakspear was forced to delay the game against Wigan Athletic on three occasions in the second half after bottles and debris was thrown on to the pitch.
Advertising hoardings were also ripped down in the away end – and trouble continued outside the ground, including flare ups at Horwich Parkway rail station which required ambulance assistance.
Evatt admitted the performance had fallen way short of expectation but refused to condone the behaviour of troublemakers inside the stadium.
“The game itself, we’ve let our support and fanbase down and I must say, that incident aside, they didn’t boo us, they didn’t get on our backs and I thought they were excellent,” he said.
“But the minority always spoils it for everybody else and we can’t and shouldn’t have to see that on a football pitch. We understand that they’re annoyed. We understand they are frustrated, but when that happens, all you’re going to do is harm the football club and ourselves.
“There are probably going to be sanctions off the back of that. I hope we can identify who has done it. We take on board and really apologise for our own performance, but we can’t accept that on a football field either.”
Wanderers have also released a statement this evening to say they are working with local police to identify fans who threw items, including a smoke bomb, on to the pitch.
“Bolton Wanderers are investigating a number of incidents of crowd disorder at Saturday’s game against Wigan Athletic at the University of Bolton Stadium,” it read.
“A number of spectators from both clubs were ejected following incidents in the second half when objects – including pyrotechnics – were thrown onto the pitch.
“Wanderers will continue to work closely with Greater Manchester Police to identify offenders and take action.
“Wanderers, meanwhile, firmly condemn any form of crowd disorder at their games.
“Such behaviour at the University of Bolton Stadium will not be tolerated and the club will seek to take the appropriate action against any supporters found to have been involved in any of the incidents reported on Saturday or should they occur in the future.”
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