Bolton manager hits out at alleged racist abuse and police investigate after Morecambe clash is stopped for 10 minutes

Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt hit out at alleged racist abuse from Morecambe fans that stopped his side's Saturday afternoon clash for over 10 minutes in disgraceful Football League scenes down south.

With Stephen Robinson's Shrimpers leading 1-0, the game was halted by referee Ross Joyce at the Mazuma Stadium in the 80th minute and players were taken off.

Bolton fans behind one of the goals had also thrown objects at Morecambe keeper Adam Smith – while Evatt reacted angrily to comments from home supporters behind the dugouts.

Evatt said: "From minute one we were getting abuse from fans and that is not acceptable.

"I would have taken the players off myself if the referee hadn't because if one of us gets abused we all get abused and we stand together.

"We are sportsmen and we are professional people but for whatever reason people think it gives them a divine right to say whatever they want through social media or in person and there has to be accountability.

"It's disgusting and there is no place for it in football or life in general and we have to do the utmost to stamp it out and as an industry we have to come as one."

Morecambe manager and former Motherwell boss Robinson said: "There are lots of accusations going about and I'm sure the authorities will deal with it but the stoppage didn't help us because we were on top at that stage but we didn't manage the game out and we got punished for bad decisions.

"I'm really frustrated because we should have won the game and picked up three important points which we deserved. We played some really good stuff in horrendous conditions against an in-form side."

Bolton equalised after the stoppage in the 14th minute of added time, which led to more crowd chaos.

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