FANS have been left fuming after two League Two sides decided to stop playing in the closing stages of their clash with the score tied at 1-1 .
Crewe players passed the ball around unchallenged while Colchester United were happy to watch on and play out a draw after conceding late on.
The U's led for much of the game and knew anything other than a heavy defeat would see them avoid relegation.
Rivals Sutton drew 4-4 at MK Dons to seal their place in the bottom two, leaving Colchester content to see out the match at 1-1.
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Crewe were also happy for the contest to end in a draw after levelling in stoppage time through Elliott Nevitt.
They only needed a point to finish above Crawley so even a Barrow last-gasp winner against Mansfield - which did not come - would not have seen them drop out of the play-off places.
But fans fumed after watching the two sides play out the remaining minutes uncontested.
One reacted saying: "Iâll be cheering every other team except pathetic Crewe in the play-offs then. Should be docked points! Literally against the rules!"
Another added: "Embarrassing."
A third wrote: "Personally I say relegate Colchester instead of Sutton ð¥±"
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And another commented: "I have to say this is poor sportsmanship isnât it? I get both teams are happy with the result but whereâs the integrity in it all?
"And yeah I know I probably would be overjoyed if my team was in the play-offs or safe but if youâre a Sutton United fan seeing this...not great is it."
Another fan compared the incident to a famous Simpsons clip where football players are shown on TV passing the ball back and forth to one another repeatedly.
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