A match in the lower league of English football, Bedford Town versus Fleet Town, had to be postponed just 10 minutes before kick-off on Saturday.
This was after the Bedford players, who were at home, refused to play.
The club later issued a statement, blaming “unforeseen circumstances’’ for the incident.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match, an Evo-Stik League South East game, was to be played at The New Eyrie.
The distance between the two towns is approximately 81 miles.
“[Events] will be subject to a League disciplinary investigation,” Bedford chairman David Howell told the media.
“I am not therefore at liberty to comment at this stage.”
Fans were issued with refunds.
However, Howell has sought to play down the issues involved.
He said the report that Bedford players had issued the club with an ultimatum before the weekend over “unfulfilled promises’’ was a “total fabrication’’.
“I knew nothing about the players’ intention to refuse to play until 14:15 GMT. The reasons behind their actions are still unclear,’’ the club chairman had said.
Fans of Fleet FC who had made the journey were frustrated by the postponement, with one Ash Lloyd writing on Twitter:
“Five-hour journey round trip for us and you walk out 10 minutes before kick off. Whatever your problem with your club… have some respect for us! Wasted Saturday for us still travelling home!’’
Another one, Andrew Hazelden, who is a photographer, said: “Nice three-and-a-half hour drive to Bedford Town today only for the home team to walk out just before start. Not impressed, Southern League. Very poor.’’
Fleet’s Twitter account said: “We would like to thank any (of our) supporters who made the long trip for their amazing continued support.”
Scotland had a similar experience to Fleet Town when they travelled to Estonia for a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1996, a game in which UEFA declared the floodlights unfit.
The European football governing body had switched the kick-off to the afternoon, a decision which infuriated the Estonians, and they did not turn up, in protest.
Scotland did, kicked off and the game was instantly abandoned.
They later replayed the match in Monaco, with the result a 0-0 draw.(NAN)
