Non-league game suspended as fans invade pitch with flares protesting ownership

Scunthorpe United's National League clash against Woking was suspended after fans invaded the pitch in a furious protest against club owner Peter Swann who is looking to sell up

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

Non-league game suspended as fans invade pitch with flares protesting ownership
Scunthorpe fans invaded the pitch during the match - which had to be suspended

Scunthorpe United's National League clash against Woking was suspended after fans invaded the pitch in a furious protest against club owner Peter Swann who is looking to sell the club.

Scunthorpe fans ran onto the pitch and into the centre circle with their team losing 1-0 while sitting bottom of the table following four wins from their previous 27 fixtures.

Supporters lit flares and initially refused to be moved by stewards - with play eventually getting back underway as they returned to their seats following their unexpected display of discontent.

A large section of fans jumped the advertising boards in the 77th minute to reflect the years the club spent in the Football League before their relegation last year with back-to-back relegations looking likely.

The protests were called peaceful by BT Sport.

The announcer at Glanford Park told those on the playing surface that the game was on the brink of being abandoned, with the game restarting following the end of their protest.

Non-league game suspended as fans invade pitch with flares protesting ownership
Scunthorpe fans invaded the pitch to protest against their owner

Having left the pitch to allow the game to go on, Scunthorpe fans watched Woking grab a second Padraig Amond with their side rooted to the bottom of the table.

Pitch invasion stops play at Glanford Park as fans protest against Scunthorpe United owner Peter Swann.#BBCFootball #iron #uti pic.twitter.com/fSzJTHXorF
— Matt Dean (@mattdeanbbc) January 14, 2023

In relation to money owed to HM Revenue and Customs, Scunthorpe were given a winding-up petition on Wednesday with the future of the club in doubt.

Following that update, Notts County owner Alan Hardy is now leading a consortium interested in purchasing the club according to BBC Sport.

A takeover by a local consortium had thought to have been close in recent months, but that remains uncompleted with the threat of liquidation real.

Watch: Scunthorpe United fans running onto the pitch in the 70th minute to protest against owner Peter Swann. #Iron #UTI pic.twitter.com/UNqvS0kHWA
— Arif Ahmed (@ArifAhmedITV) January 14, 2023

With the club Twitter account simply saying that there was a break in play, one fan said in response: "There’s been break in play for the last two and a half years!"

At the end of the fixture there was 12 minutes of additional time added, with 2825 the total attendance despite the off-field issues and recent results.

Non-league game suspended as fans invade pitch with flares protesting ownership
Fans are not happy with owner Peter Swann

Having earned only 19 points from their opening 27 fixtures, sitting two points behind Maidstone and three points behind Torquay who have a game in hand.