The match in England was halted due to racist remarks: what happened.

According to The Sun: The League One match between Exeter and Reading was suspended due to reports of racist outbursts from the stands.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw: Jack Marriott opened the scoring for the visitors, while Jayden Wareham equalized.

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In the 74th minute, referee James Durkin decided to temporarily halt the match after a racist comment was directed at Exeter's player from the visiting fans.

Durkin consulted with both coaches and team captains, as well as one of the stewards, before stopping the game.

The stadium announced that discriminatory abuse had been recorded, and the match would be stopped in case of further incidents.

Second incident in the last three games

This is already the second time in three matches that Exeter's home game has been suspended due to racist chants from the visiting stands.

The match for the Vertu Trophy between Exeter and Cardiff was also stopped due to similar reports.

The 'Grecians' coach Gary Caldwell expressed his displeasure with the situation after the match and emphasized the need for more serious measures.

“Racism from Reading fans towards our player is an issue that needs to be addressed by the referee, and they are currently dealing with it,”

“But too many matches are being stopped due to unacceptable chants and behavior, I hope we can eradicate this.”

“It's not just a football problem, it's a societal problem in general. Such incidents happen in other sports, in other places, and it's strange that this is still ongoing in 2025.”

Increasing discussion about racism in football

“I hope that football governing bodies take action to change the situation.”

“There are many people, and if we can identify the perpetrators, they have no place in football stadiums.”

“We must ensure that the punishment fits the crime, and in my opinion, there should be zero tolerance towards this.”

The issue of racist chants at football matches has become an increasingly discussed topic in recent years.

The Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth was also halted in August due to reports of racist abuse directed at Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Last month, England captain Harry Kane stated that players are ready to leave the field during a World Cup qualifying match in Serbia if they hear racist chants.

Serbia was forced to call on its fans for proper behavior before the game after receiving a fine of over £600,000 due to instances of discrimination.

The Serbian Football Federation also faced a fine of over £75,000 for reports of discriminatory behavior, including laser displays and inappropriate gestures.

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The situation with racist manifestations at football matches requires urgent intervention not only from federations but from society as a whole. Players and coaches are increasingly emphasizing the need for change so that football remains a place where everyone can feel comfortable and safe. This is an issue that concerns not only sport but also human values and proper conduct in society.