The club deliberately refrained from making any immediate public comment until it had the opportunity to review footage and information relating to the incident. We considered it important that any statement issued was based on the information and evidence available, rather than made in haste or as part of an immediate defensive response.

Having reviewed the footage and information available to us at this stage, the club has not identified evidence that enables it to reach a finding of racist intent. We will therefore await the full findings of the relevant authorities before any final conclusions are drawn on that aspect of the matter.

Whitstable Town Football Club’s position remains unequivocal: racism has no place at our club, in football, or in society. We have a zero-tolerance approach to racist, abusive, violent, or discriminatory behaviour of any kind, and we will not excuse or defend the actions of a very small minority of individuals, whether provoked or otherwise.

Any person found to have engaged in such behaviour will face the strongest possible action from the club and will not be welcome at Whitstable Town Football Club in the future.

While serious allegations have been made in Punjab United’s public statement, Whitstable Town Football Club does not accept that statement as a full and accurate reflection of the events that unfolded. Having reviewed footage received from a number of sources, it is clear that there was an altercation involving a very small number of individuals connected to both clubs’ supporters, which was then further intensified by the involvement of additional individuals from the pitch side.

It is important to stress that the incident concerned only a very small minority of those in attendance and should not overshadow the conduct of the overwhelming majority who supported the occasion appropriately. The club does not intend to engage in a public exchange over competing versions of events, and will instead continue to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities so that the matter can be addressed properly and on the basis of evidence.

We wish to commend our own players and management for the professionalism and restraint they showed throughout. They conducted themselves appropriately and did not become involved in the disorder.

We also place on record our thanks to the relevant authorities and those responsible for dealing with the incident at the time, and to the overwhelming majority of Whitstable Town supporters who, as they so often do, supported the club and team with passion, respect and pride.

Whitstable Town Football Club will continue to cooperate fully with any investigation and will take firm and appropriate action against anyone found responsible for unacceptable conduct.

Whitstable Town Football Club remains proud of its values, its community, and the overwhelming majority of its supporters. We remain fully committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all involved in the game.