Today’s London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Trophy final between Clapton CFC Women’s First Team and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves was abandoned with Clapton leading 2-0.

We were told the management at the venue, Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium, objected to the presence of a Palestine flag among Clapton’s support and an anti-genocide banner among the Dulwich Hamlet support.

Both sets of supporters, in a crowd of around 300, indicated they did not wish to remove their flag/banner and the venue and league and match officials decided the game could not continue.

There was an offer to play the game to a conclusion behind closed doors but our players felt that football without fans is nothing. Clapton CFC is a members-owned, members-run football club.

Pictured: Clapton players in a huddle before the cup final

A statement from our players said: “Today, 32 women were denied the opportunity to play the L&SERWFL Trophy final.

“About 20 minutes into the match, both Clapton and Dulwich supporters were approached by a representative of of Maidstone United, Gallagher Stadium owners. He demanded that our supporters must stop waving the Palestinian flag, and the Dulwich supporters must take down their banner which read ‘Show genocide the red card.’

“After both groups of supporters refused, a league official walked on to the field of play to stop the game. In a discussion with the match officials, players and coaches, he communicated that we could not use the ground while both the Palestinian flag and the banner were displayed.

“Our given options were to 1) play the game behind closed doors or 2) to abandon the game. Clapton’s players chose to abandon the game. Both sets of fans then came together in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and holding up our banners in support of trans women and the Palestine people, respectively.

“Our players and fans are united in their support and concern for Palestinians who are being bombed daily. Showing that support with a flag or banner is no reason to abandon a cup final.”

Pictured: Both sets of fans came together after the abandonment and displayed their banners together

The L&SERWFL Trophy is one of two cup competitions for teams in the fifth and sixth tier of women’s football across the league’s three divisions. Both CCFC and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves play in the sixth tier L&SERWFL Division One North.

The L&SERWFL have said the cup final is void and will not be replayed or awarded to either finalist. There is no word yet on whether refunds will be issued. Both clubs will also now face an FA disciplinary process.

There has been no comment yet from Maidstone United or the L&SERWFL.

Dulwich Hamlet have made their own statement, whilet the Dulwich fan group Pepper Army posted a statement too.