Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler has said that he was prepared to walk back to the changing room with his players after they were victims of alleged racist abuse at Hartlepool United.

An incident followed the celebrations for Dover’s first goal with alleged racist abuse being aimed at Ricky Modeste and Inih Effiong from a section of the home support at Victoria Park.

“I spoke to Craig [Hignett, Hartlepool manager] and a one stage I wanted to come off the pitch and Craig agreed with me.

“But the players didn’t want to do that. They wanted to stay on the pitch and carry on playing, and credit to them.

“It’s a sad day for football”

Following the incident, a number of fans were removed from the ground as tensions continued to rise.

“I’ve been in the game for a long time now and I’ve never seen anything like that before” added the Dover gaffer.

Hignett, speaking to the club after the match, agreed with Hessenthaler, saying: “it’s got no place here. We don’t condone anything like that.

Racism has no place in football and no place in life and those people will be dealt with severely because that’s not us as a Football Club.”

Hartlepool United also released a statement following the game.