A NON-LEAGUE clash was branded a “farce” and “one of the weirdest evenings in football” after it was abandoned for two bizarre reasons.
Havant & Waterlooville were due to kick-off against Farnham Town in the Southern League Premier Division South – the seventh tier of English football – at 7:45pm.
However, the start of the game was delayed when it was discovered there was a “kit clash” between the teams.
Farnham were set to play in their green and white zigzag away strip for the clash at Westleigh Park, near Portsmouth.
But this was deemed to be a clash with the hosts’ white and gold home kit, which delayed kick-off to 8:15pm.
The FA’s Handbook on club colours under section 7.2 states: “When playing away from home, clubs must play in colours (shirts, shorts and socks) which are clearly distinguishable from those of their opponents and the match officials, in particular the goalkeeper must play in kit clearly distinguishable from the colours of the shirts worn by all other Players in the match and the match officials.
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“Neck and cuff rim colours on shirts are not regarded as basic colours for the purpose of this Rule.
“Subject to the foregoing a club may, if it wishes, wear colours not registered with the competition for away matches. It is the responsibility of the visiting club to check that their colours will not clash.”
Section 7.3 adds: “No club shall be permitted to register or play in shirts the colour of which is likely to cause confusion with the outfits worn by the match officials (i.e. black or dark blue).”
However, the match was then completely abandoned moments before the rescheduled kick off after a “large tear” was discovered in the playing surface.
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A statement from Farnham said: “After all that, the pitch has a large tear in it and the playing surface is deemed unfit to play.
“We are sorry to all of our travelling fans and the re-arranged date will be announced in due course.”
Reacting on social media, one fan said: “What a farce – and you thought those days of the combined counties were over.”
A second said: “What a shambles. Feel for all fans who’ve made the journey out this evening.”
Another said: “From kit to pitch problem?! All of them into half an hour?”
Farnham chairman Harry Hugo posted more details on his own social media page, calling it “one of the weirdest evenings of my football involvement”.
He said: “Ref adamant there was a kit clash (there wasn’t).
“Send kitman on a 90 minute round trip to get home kit.
“Large tear found on the pitch by the penalty area in the waiting time.
“Told they can glue it but then no glue…
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“Shouted at by senior members of opposition committee because their pitch is unplayable and apparently that’s our fault.
“I look forward to travelling back to Havant. Lovely ground. Lovely boardroom hospitality. Torn pitch. Hot heads.”
