ACCRINGTON STANLEY goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov had another incident with the Blackpool fans involving beer bottles during Saturday afternoon’s dramatic 1-1 draw. The 26-year-old conceded in the 92nd minute at the Wham Stadium as Matty Virtue sent the travelling support into delirium to keep the Seasiders in the play-off spots. But Evtimov – who has been […]
ACCRINGTON STANLEY goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov had another incident with the Blackpool fans involving beer bottles during Saturday afternoon’s dramatic 1-1 draw.
The 26-year-old conceded in the 92nd minute at the Wham Stadium as Matty Virtue sent the travelling support into delirium to keep the Seasiders in the play-off spots.
But Evtimov – who has been capped by Bulgaria at youth team level – was left fuming after beer bottles were thrown at him from the away end.
He complained to referee John Brooks about being targeted, but no action was taken.
The incident is almost identical to what happened when the two teams faced each other last season in March.
Jay Spearing banged in a 81st minute penalty to put Blackpool 2-1 up at Accrington – much to the delight of the 1,800 fans in attendance, one of whom launched a plastic bottle at the keeper.
Evtimov then reacted by throwing the bottle back into the crowd – with ref Ross Joyce immediately showing the ex-Nottingham Forest man a straight red card.
Tempers then boiled over on the sidelines as Stanley boss John Coleman and Blackpool assistant Gary Brabin were shown a yellow card for arguing on the touchline.
An enraged Coleman said after the match: “To throw a bottle on to the pitch is a criminal offence but it’s our keeper who is punished. It’s wrong and something the FA needs to look at.
“He looped it back, he didn’t throw it violently and yet it’s him who is sent off.
“I think the ref should have used some common sense, our keeper wasn’t trying to endanger anyone, it was a human reaction and other fans could use it to benefit from it. There is no place for it in football.”
Evtimov would receive the second red card of his Stanley career just a month later when he gave away two penalties in the clash against Luton.
