Scottish SPFL club’s pre-season friendly ABANDONED due to crowd trouble as police race to scene
A pre-season friendly featuring an SPFL club was ABANDONED amid shocking scenes in the crowd.
Police were called to the clash between Broxburn Athletic and League Two outfit Edinburgh City before the plug was pulled on the game altogether.
Edinburgh City, relegated from League One last season, made the short trip to Broxburn to take on the Lowland League club on Wednesday night.
Edinburgh are gearing up for the start of their Premier Sports Cup campaign a week on Saturday, when they face Premiership opposition in the form of Motherwell.
The half-time whistle blew at Albyn Park with the score goalless.
As the second-half would’ve been due to commence, Edinburgh City posted on X: “There has been a delay to the restart due to an ongoing disturbance.”
Around about the same time, Broxburn announced that the matched had been ABANDONED altogether.
Neither club posted further after that announcement had been made.
Exactly what had happened was unclear but a number of people on social media claimed to be aware of what happened.
Spartans media chief Mark Brown posted on X: “Balaclava wearing ultras reportedly kicking off in the stands at Broxburn tonight, causing a pre-season ‘friendly’ v Edinburgh City to be abandoned at half time. Mental.”
Another person on the platform said Edinburgh City ultras had “managed to set off fireworks, flares at kick-off.”
They added that they then allegedly “ran at” the Broxburn support and said police had raced to the scene.
SunSport contacted Police Scotland for comment and they confirmed that they attended.
It’s understood no arrests were made.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 7.45pm on Wednesday, 3 July, 2024, we were made aware of youths causing a disturbance at Albyn Park, Broxburn.
“Officers attended and following discussions the game was abandoned and the crowd dispersed.”
SunSport have also contacted both clubs for comment.
Local radio station Forth 1 shared a video on X.
It shows Edinburgh City ultras setting off flares BEFORE the match kicked-off in Broxburn.
Smoke can be seen filling the air around the side of the pitch where the ultras could be seen singing.
Many of the individuals can be seen holding flares, while what appears to be some kind of pyrotechnic sparks away on the ground.
A pre-season friendly between Broxburn Athletic & Edinburgh City was abandoned due to crowd trouble.
— Forth 1 News (@Forth1News) July 4, 2024: Edinburgh City ultras set off flares before kick-off on Wednesday.
Police were called to Albyn Park, Broxburn at half-time and dispersed supporters. No arrests were made. pic.twitter.com/yTcPWef7YA