Two EFL matches were halted as referees talks to managers with fans warned over incidents which had taken place mid-game.
In Exeter’s draw against Reading, play stopped in the 74th minute after a racist comment from an away fan, with referee James Durkin addressing both teams as well as a steward and an announcement was made via the tannoy about discriminatory abuse.
In Wigan’s loss to Wycombe, the game paused in the 30th minute after a “highly offensive word” was heard from a home fan, as reported by Neil Mellor on social media.
Two EFL matches had play stopped by the referee on Saturday:
🔴 Exeter-Reading paused after racist comment from an away fan at St James Park
🔴 Wigan-Wycombe halted after “highly offensive word” heard
Read more ⬇️https://t.co/AWY3PHoRuu pic.twitter.com/rQqJaWjjcR
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) October 11, 2025
Exeter City game halted after racist comment from Reading end #ecfc https://t.co/2YOBr4wHPY
— DevonLive ECFC (@ExEchoSport) October 12, 2025
Exeter manager Gary Caldwell condemned the incidents, with it the second incident in three home games from the visiting fans after the EFL Trophy tie with Cardiff was stopped because of discriminatory chanting from the Cardiff fans.
Caldwell confirmed post-match that it was because of a comment had come from the away end. It is the second incident in three home games from visiting fans after the Vertu Trophy tie with Cardiff City was halted because of discriminatory chanting from the Cardiff fans.
He said: “Racism from the Reading end towards a player on our team,” he said of the incident. “It’s going to be dealt with by the referee and they’re sorting all that out now.
“But too many games are getting stopped for unacceptable chanting, unacceptable behaviour and hopefully we can kick it out.
“It’s not a problem in football, it’s a problem in society. It happens in other sports, it happens in other places and it’s incredible that it still happening in 2025. Hopefully the authorities in football can try to do something to change it.”
He added: “There’s thousands of people but for me if we can identify who it is then they shouldn’t be allowed in a football stadium again. We have to try and make the punishment fit the crime and there needs to be a zero tolerance to it in my opinion.”
Kick It Out encouraged fans to report discrimination via their website, app, social media, or email (report@kickitout.org).
Brent Pilnick (BBC Sport at St James Park): We have a break in play here as the referee talks to a steward having had a chat with both managers. An announcement has just come on over the tannoy saying there has been a report of discriminatory chanting – we think from the away end. Fans have been warned that if there are any more instances “the game will be halted”.
And in the same division, Wigan’s defeat by Wycombe was halted after a “highly offensive word” was heard.
“Game was stopped in 1st half by ref cos of a ‘Highly offensive word by a fan sat in home end,” Neil Mellor said, working as a reporter for Sky Sports.
Wycombe, continued their improved form under new manager Michael Duff with a 1-0 victory against Wigan Athletic, moving clear of the League One relegation zone.
Sam Bell scored the only goal in a swift counter-attack before half time. Despite Wigan’s possession dominance, they failed to threaten Wycombe’s goal until stoppage time, Will Norris producing a crucial save ensured a clean sheet.
Meanwhile, Exeter and Reading played out a 1-1 draw. The Royals took an early lead through Marriott’s sixth-minute goal, but Exeter levelled with a powerful strike from Jayden Wareham.
Exeter’s Gary Caldwell said: “Frustration is my overriding emotion. We could have won the game, especially in that first half.
“I thought we reacted extremely well to giving a poor goal away, we could have been leading at half-time and should have done more with the opportunities we allowed to pass us by.
“Reading had chances in the second half but the game kind of petered out and it feels like two points dropped right now. In 24-48 hours, it might feel more like a point gained but that’s two games unbeaten now.
“I really liked the reaction of everyone from the disappointment of conceding that early goal – the players, the supporters, everyone. Johnly (Yfeko) made a big mistake (that led to the Reading goal) and his reaction was first class.
“That’s the mentality we need. We just keep going and after reacting positively, we should have been leading at half-time.
“We scored a brilliant goal but we need consistency to our attacking play and we need to smell blood in those moments.”
Reading’s Noel Hunt: “I thought we were a bit better than last week with our structure – in the second half especially – and we created enough chances to have won the game,” he said.
“We created two or three very good chances in the second half and we could have put the game to bed but we didn’t and obviously we have to finish with a draw.
“The pitch was a wee bit tricky, it was a bit bobbly and lively and we were unable to get the ball under control.
“Jack had a great chance with that opportunity in the second half but the ball just got stuck under his feet and it was just one of those things – he isn’t going to score every week.
“What we know is that if Jack keeps getting in there, he will keep scoring goals.
“It was good to get a first start for Paddy (O’Connor), he’s done enough training now and we have to get him on the pitch. He’s a warrior and I thought he was great.”
Wycombe’s Michael Duff said: “We were terrible with the ball, there’s no getting away with that.
“We couldn’t pass it from five yards to a blue shirt, but we found a way – and that’s new territory for us.
“We haven’t been winning many games this season… it’s a new group, and our best football has come when we’ve been one or two goals down.
“It’s easy to play like that, because it doesn’t matter, you’ve already lost the game.
“We’ve got the worst record in the league in the first 30 minutes of games, which is evidence that we’re used to going 1-0 down.
“Obviously we needed Will at the end, but I think that’s the only thing he’s had to do in the game.
“Without taking anything away from him, that is his job, it is a big moment, but that is what you want him to do.
“It’s not like he’s had to keep us in the game, and the only real bit of quality in the game was our goal.
“It was always going to come from a counter attack, because we couldn’t pass the ball, and we couldn’t build our way up the pitch.
“But it’s a young group, including players making their Football League debuts, and they will have learned so much from this, when we’ve had to be dogged and rigid.
“Seeing the game out the way we did was really pleasing, and we’ll be better for it.
“Where we are in the league, I don’t think anyone will be too precious about whether it was a good win or a bad win… it was a win.”
Wigan’s Ryan Lowe: “I’m disappointed…raging to be fair with the goal, because it’s not something we should be doing, conceding from a counter attack like that.
“We read the riot act to the lads and they gave it a go in the past 20 minutes, we huffed and puffed a lot, but we weren’t clinical with the chances we had.
“There were three good chances there and we should score at least one, but it’s another loss, and we’re all disappointed with that.
“We’ll get to the bottom of it, we’ll do whatever it takes to win games of football.”
