3 hours ago
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Salford City have expressed their “extreme disappointment” at North Yorkshire police’s decision not to charge a person with the racial abuse of Adebola Oluwo during the abandoned pre-season game at York City.
Salford are to exercise the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme to consider the police’s decision.
On 11 July at the LNER Stadium, Salford’s manager Karl Robinson said he heard “monkey sounds” directed at the defender . Both teams and match officials walked off in protest 84 minutes into the match and the friendly was not resumed.
A 23-year-old man was arrested by North Yorkshire police at the ground and an investigation launched. However, Salford have responded after last week’s joint-statement with York City in which North Yorkshire police said no charges would be brought as there was no evidence of a hate crime.
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The club said in a statement: “Salford City is extremely disappointed with the findings of the investigation by North Yorkshire Police. It is particularly concerning how the investigation concludes that there is no evidence to corroborate the report of abuse, despite a number of first-hand accounts of the abuse from those present at the fixture.
“This includes from the match officials who we know, through discussions with the Professional Game Match Officials, gave verbal statements on the night and provided their details for the investigating team to follow up, but have not been contacted.
“Having spoken with Adebola and sought further advice on the matter, including legal, we will be exercising the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme to request an independent review to reconsider this outcome.”
North Yorkshire police and York City’s joint-statement had said: “North Yorkshire Police can confirm that following a thorough and detailed investigation relating to an alleged racist incident which occurred at the LNER Community Stadium on Friday, 11 July 2025, there is no evidence to corroborate the report which was made. York City would like to reiterate that the LNER Community Stadium will always be a place for everyone.”
Five days after the incident, Oluwo said: “I don’t really expect things like that nowadays. The gaffer [Robinson] handled it very well. Told everyone to come in and everyone stuck together. I think that togetherness is very important. All I can do is bring attention to it.”
Robinson said: “As he [Oluwo] walked past me, we heard multiple noises that replicated monkey noises. I turned around and looked up and we could see it happening.”
North Yorkshire police and York City declined to comment beyond the statement issued last Friday.
