Raith Rovers v Dunfermline: Cause of abandonment probed

The game, which had already been delayed five minutes due to a power cut affecting the floodlights before kick-off, was called off less than 15 minutes in after the outage impacted stand and concourse lighting and the wifi system that controls ticketed entry to Stark's Park.

In addition, Raith said that fire and smoke alarms were affected, with Police Scotland's match commander deeming that the game could not continue in the interest of public safety.

Around 15 minutes prior to kick-off, as both sets of players made their way back to the changing rooms after completing their warm-up, the floodlights went out as the power supply within the ground went down.

The lights went out at Stark's Park ahead of kick-off. Photos: Craig Brown.

The match, which was being broadcast live on the BBC Scotland channel, had been scheduled to kick-off at 7.45pm.

By the time of the scheduled start, the teams emerged as the floodlights came back on, and the game got underway at 7.50pm.

Dunfermline had made a bright start but, with 10 minutes on the clock, the fourth official was asked to go to the Stark's Park control box, after which he consulted with referee, Gavin Duncan.

Duncan then went over to consult with both managers - John McGlynn and Peter Grant - who then called over their players to tell them that the game was off.

John McGlynn and Peter Grant consult with referee Gavin Duncan.

Rovers director, Bill Clark, told the media afterwards that it was a "huge disappointment" and "embarrassing" for his club, whilst offering his "huge apologies" to the 3,000 plus fans in attendance.

That was further emphasised in a statement released by Rovers later last night, which read: "The club would like to apologise to everyone impacted by the abandonment of tonight’s fixture.

"This was due to an electrical issue which, as of yet, is unresolved.

"Electrical engineers are still looking to identify the root cause of why the power failure affected certain areas of the stadium.

"It was due to this power issue that floodlights, fire alarms, smoke alarms, stand and concourse lighting as well as electrical supply into parts of the ground failed.

"The Police Scotland Match Commander decided that in the interest of Public Safety that the game could not continue.

"A full investigation between the SFA, SPFL, football club, stewarding company and Police Scotland is ongoing.

"Further information including rescheduling of the fixture will be provided in due course."

Mr Clark (pictured second left above) said that, during the close season, a new floodlight system - one which is used by Manchester United - was installed at a cost of £180,000, and had been tested.

He also commented that there were large numbers of supporters - particularly at the home end - waiting to gain entry but, due to the power outage, were unable to do so.

"The first problem we had was with the floodlights, as everybody saw, but we managed to fix that," Mr Clark explained.

"We also, however, have got a problem with the wifi system, and that controls our electronic ticketing, so we had hundreds of fans outside queuing. They were very angry, obviously, as they should be. So we couldn't let anybody through the gates on the advice of police.

"The other problem that we've got is that we can't get the concourse lights on in the two main stands (the Penman and McDermid stands, the latter of which housed the Pars fans), so there's a health and safety issue. As the night wears on, you can't have hundreds and hundreds of fans going out in darkness. So it really was a health and safety issue at the end of the day.

" I don't know if they consulted with the match commander - I assume there was some kind of communication - but it was was the referee who eventually decided to abandon the match.

"It's a massive disappointment. Huge apologies to everyone here - the supporters, all the people watching on TV and everyone else who assembled here for what should have been a cracking match.

"It's embarrassing for the club, but until we get to the bottom of it, and find out exactly what went wrong, I can't give any further explanation. We'll have to get electronics experts to have a look at the whole thing again. It's so unfortunate because this is the first night we've used these floodlights.

"They were tested. They were installed during the summer and tested to destruction, I would've said, and then tonight - somehow - all the office lights went out as well as the concourse. There's been a power surge or something, or an overload of some kind. We'll need to investigate it.

"It cost around £180,000 to install. It is the most modern system - it's the same system as Manchester United have.

"I suspect there might be repercussions for the club, but until we get to the bottom of what is actually the problem, I really don't know whether there will be repercussions or not, or it will just simply be that it will be replayed at a later date. That's about all I can tell you."

The two managers were disappointed with the abrupt end to the evening, but both were keen to emphasise that people's safety had to come first.

Pars gaffer Grant said: "We’re disappointed for everyone, it was a fantastic night for football, a brilliant atmosphere, our fans behind the goal were right up for it and as a team we’d started pretty well, but then it was over.

"People are just getting back into games and this was a perfect chance to entertain them, so it’s a big blow.

"When we were in the dressing room before the game we knew the lights had gone out, but then we got the nod that we were good to know and thought everything was ok, game on, perfect.

"But then we saw the safety office talking to the fourth official, who called over the ref, who brought us in and explained situation. Once he did that, you just had to accept that safety came first – we’ve seen tragedies before at football grounds and we don’t want to see it again."

McGlynn added: "Everyone was here, the atmosphere, both stands raging, the noise - you get ten minutes and it’s pulled away from you.

"We did the warm-up, went inside, everything is hunky dory and then the lights went out everywhere and we thought at that point there was doubts in the game. But they got them back on and we got the game going. The linesman comes down and gives us the nod to get going, we didn’t start the best but there was a long way to go and I’m sure we would have got back into the game.

"Then you see the steward getting involved with the fourth official, then the fourth official pulling over the referee. I thought, had someone said something in the dugout. You’re thinking, ‘it’s a bit early for that’.

"Then they pulled us across and said there is no electricity in either of the two stands behind the goal, there is no CCTV working and there is 500 fans outside trying to get in and it’s a safety issue.

"The players weren’t happy and we can only apologise, it was something that was unforeseen.

"As a football club we’ll need to see what the issue was and how we can fix that issue then from the SPFL point of view getting the game on at a different time."

Some Rovers fans tried to improvise with their own lighting.

As yet, no information in relation to a rescheduled date for the game has been confirmed.

Meanwhile, in some positive news, Grant revealed that defender Aaron Comrie missed last night's match after his partner gave birth.