- Tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch by Blackburn fans at Ewood Park
- The game was temporarily halted while players cleared the balls away
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Blackburn’s fifth-round FA Cup clash against Newcastle was temporarily halted for several minutes as home fans threw tennis balls on to the pitch.
Ewood Park was packed with supporters for the cup clash that pitted the Championship side against Premier League opposition and supporters vented their frustration at the club’s ownership.
An estimated 15 to 20 tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch in the 15th-minute and the game was quickly paused by Australian referee Jarred Gillett.
Players and ground staff began picking up some balls while others were kicked back into the stands so that the match could get back underway.
Home fans used the gesture to protest 14-years of ownership under the Venky’s who originally purchased the club under the name of Venky’s London Limited for £23 million.
Blackburn’s fifth-round FA Cup clash against Newcastle was temporarily halted for several minutes as home fans threw tennis balls on to the pitch
Players from both teams and staff cleared the balls of the pitch at Ewood Park on Tuesday
Blackburn supporters were protesting against the club’s 14-year ownership under the Venky’s
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The Indian company has overseen a decade of disappointment during their tenure that has coincided with the club dropping out of the Premier League and subsequently being relegated to League One.
Blackburn won promotion back to the second-tier in 2018 and have remained there ever since.
The club recently appointed former Birmingham City manager John Eustace on a two-year contract and has been immediately tasked with steering them away from relegation.
The interference in Tuesday’s FA Cup clash saw players from both sides help clear the pitch as quick as possible
The interference in Tuesday’s FA Cup clash saw players from both sides help clear the pitch as quick as possible before play got back underway.
Chants of ‘we want Venky’s out’ were made by Blackburn fans inside the ground as per the BBC.
The first half delay followed the match originally being moved back 15 minutes from its original start time due to fans struggling to get into the ground.
Travelling Newcastle supporters encountered difficulties trying to get into Ewood Park for the scheduled 7.45pm kick off and it was eventually pushed back.
