John Mousinho from Portsmouth reports that the Millwall fans claimed “discriminatory language” during the championship game on Saturday.
The head coach of Pompey was reportedly “outraged” after hearing discriminatory language of Millwall fans behind the shelter during his team’s 2-2 loss in the cave.
He reported the problem to the referee Ben Toner and the fourth official Alan Dale during the championship game and led to a brief interruption in the game.
Mousinho criticized the behavior publicly and was dissatisfied with Millwall’s answer, how the comments exist.
He asked the FA to take more measures against such incidents instead of only offering empty promises.
#Pompey Chef John Mousinho asked for action after accusing Millwall fans of using “discriminatory language” in the cave today. https://t.co/gg0o3rb5kr
– Neil Allen (@pn_nil_allen) April 5, 2025
Mousinho said after the game about the news: “The reason why I spoke to the referee was that discriminatory language came from behind.
“The second time that I reported it to the fourth official and it always happens. I don’t know whether we want to take discrimination seriously or not, the answer there was not serious, it was a joke.
“By the way, they did not do their job from the officials. I think we only pay lip service and do nice videos and that was it.
“I rarely came across it in football. What is the point, nobody does anything against it. So what is the point? I saw it with my own eyes today, I reported it, nobody did anything about it, it happened, happened again and again.
“It’s as easy as I can do.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmlfnjhjc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0aezkjzux8
The result left Pompey 17th place in the championship and four points above the drop zone with six remaining games. Millwall are now 9th and 6 points from the playoff locations.
Mousinho said to BBC Radio Solent:
“I am incredibly frustrated. It feels like Deja Vu from three weeks ago at Preston and that is the most frustrating.
“After we set a goal, we clicked and started playing very well, which is a frustration anyway. We were far too predictable in the first half.
“I can accept that we lose goals in a certain way, but the way we gave this second goal-we defended the set play well until the second phase and left four against one on the back post.
“I can’t understand how we play so well in certain moments and then really lose the focus at the back of the game.”
Mousinho, via Sky Sports:
“It feels like a little deja vu from a few weeks ago to be honest.
“The performance at Preston was better, we didn’t play very well in the first half today – I thought we were a little too predictable.
“We went long too early without trying to get the additional passport, and we started a bit slow.
“It only got until we scored a goal when we started playing.
“We started playing with a little confidence, we brought the ball forward and put Millwall under pressure.
“We should have scored a goal before we got the equalizer, and then it was a case to come back into the game and throw it away again.”
Millwalls Alex Neil:
“Every 20-year-old who leads the line in the championship and can almost (10 goals) score, and he (Ivanovic) will receive double-digit numbers before the end of the season.
“If you do that, that’s an incredible season and it won’t surprise me when people talk about him.
“I have already seen something recently when I talked about the top 10 young talents in Europe – he is one of them.
“He is 20 years old, there are very few strikers at this age who lead the line at this level and also score goals. Therefore he deserves all the praise he gets.
“It was a particularly close game today and I think physicality was the agenda, so the reason why I did not make any changes in the past because the players I brought with me were all smaller.
“I didn’t want to take this risk, but I thought when they arrived, they influenced the game very well.”
EFL statement:
In its determination, English football is united to tackle racism and to remove all forms of discrimination against our game. In October and beyond, the FA, the Premier League, the English Football League and the kick -out will reinforce the message that hate and discrimination will not be tolerated on any football level and measures are taken against perpetrators.
In addition to PGMOL, Professional Footballers ‘Association, League Managers Association and the Football Supporters’ Association, the football organizations ask the fans and participants to report discrimination wherever they see or hear it to make football a safer place for everyone.
All organizations actively work with clubs and authorities and are still obliged to continue working with each other to ensure that those who have found themselves guilty for racist or discriminatory behavior have strong consequences for their actions.
The sanctions include stadium bans, legal law enforcement measures and custody for those who were found guilty in the stadium or online due to discriminatory behavior, with additional potential points for clubs in the basic game. Initiatives for education and restorative justice may also be implemented.
This is based on ongoing work in order to treat unacceptable, discriminatory and illegal behaviors throughout the game as part of football. Protect the game initiative that should ensure that the actions of the minority do not spoil the game for everyone.
In recent years, the football authorities have worked as a group for online abuse, and finally we have used the British government in detail in the development of the online security law. We will continue to put pressure on social media companies to do more to tackle hatred on their platforms.
But we realize that we can do more. Overall, we are deeply obliged to ensure that our game is representative of modern society by offering equal opportunities throughout football.
Together we will continue our work to make football safer, inviting and more pleasant space for everyone.
