Millwall head coach Alex Neil was criticised after saying a pause in his side’s match against Swansea City had “killed the momentum,” following an allegation of racist abuse directed at Swansea player Ji-sung Eom. Neil also said the alleged abuse was unacceptable and should be dealt with by the authorities.
The match at The Den on Tuesday, October 13, ended in a 1–0 win for Swansea, with Ronald scoring late. Play was stopped in the second half after Swansea reported the alleged incident involving Eom, who reports said was warming up as a substitute.
A pause during the second half
Referee Edward Duckworth stopped play in the 65th minute, and the delay lasted around seven minutes, according to reports. The available accounts describe an allegation, not an established finding: they do not identify who was responsible or report an outcome from the investigation.
Neil questioned the decision to stop the match, saying he did not see the point of the pause and that it disrupted the game’s momentum. His remarks drew criticism from anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, which said player welfare should take priority over match momentum and called on managers and other leaders to “set the tone.”
Sky Sports also reported Neil’s criticism of the stoppage. The accounts distinguish that criticism from his position on the alleged abuse itself: Neil acknowledged that the conduct described was unacceptable and should be addressed by the authorities.
Investigation remained ongoing
Millwall said it had a zero-tolerance policy toward discriminatory abuse and was working with the relevant authorities. The club said it could not comment further because the alleged incident was subject to an ongoing police investigation.
Swansea said it had reported the alleged abuse aimed at Eom and would assist the investigation. AP also reported that Millwall supported the inquiry. As of October 14, reports had not established the identity of anyone responsible or said that any person had been sanctioned.
The investigation’s status is central to how the incident can be described. The reports support saying that an allegation was made, that play was paused and that authorities were investigating. They do not establish that the alleged abuse occurred as described or resolve responsibility.
Earlier disciplinary action provides context
Millwall had faced separate disciplinary action before the October match. The BBC reported in March 2026 that the Football Association fined the club £45,000 over discriminatory chanting at a match in 2025, describing it as Millwall’s third breach in three years.
The BBC also reported that Millwall’s action plan had been extended through the end of the 2026–27 season. That history offers institutional context for the discussion around the latest allegation, but it does not establish who was responsible for the reported incident involving Eom.