ANENDRA SINGH
A courageous player had to come to the rescue of a Hawke's Bay referee who bore the brunt of player and spectator abuse in a tempestuous soccer match at the weekend.
Referee Matt Stoneman abandoned the game in the 27th minute after Western Rangers walked off the field in protest against a disputed goal from Signature Homes Port Hill in the premier men's encounter at Marewa Park, Napier, on Saturday.
Port Hill substitute Mitch O'Brien had to put himself between Stoneman and abusive Rangers spectators during the Pacific Premiership match and in the process copped a headbutt from a spectator.
``I was walking up to meet my teammates on the field when I heard the Rangers spectators in the referee's face and mouthing off at him,' the Hawke's Bay United goalkeeper who plays in the midfield in winter told SportToday.
``They were swearing at him [referee] and he's only a young fellow and he seemed to be quite intimidated by that so I told them to get lost,' O'Brien said.
``One of them gave me a headbutt so I gave them one back. You know he [the referee] doesn't have to be scared of that sort of nonsense, mate,' he said.
Central Soccer boss Phil Holt yesterday confirmed the match had been abandoned with Port Hill leading 1-0 but declined to comment on the case until he had received reports from the teams by Wednesday.
``No, the game will not be replayed,' Holt said. According to Port Hill coach Tim Claudatos, the trouble started when Stoneman, without the help of assistants on the sidelines, flagged on play after Rangers defenders' pleas for an offside in the 25th minute.
Port Hill's Swedish striker, Magnus Hansson, went on to score.
From the time the ball was brought back to the middle of the pitch Rangers player/coach Jeremy Birss and skipper Owen West were given their marching orders.
Birss, who declined to comment on the matter until Holt receives the reports, confirmed that Stoneman gave him a red card straight up while West left because of two yellow cards within the space of a minute.
``All I can say is that we had the bare 11 players, ' he said.
Claudatos said he commanded his players and the ref too to stay on the field after the pushing and shoving of the official and the attack on O'Brien.
``Owen initiated the walk-off and for a captain to do that is simply disgraceful.
``He should have tried to settle things down rather than get everyone worked up. I feel the remaining nine players should all get yellow cards for leaving the pitch without permission.
``I wouldn't like to see the ref chuck the game in for something as silly as that,' said Claudatos, who also hoped the game would be replayed because his Port Hill side was ``hitting their straps'.
Central Soccer rules prohibit referees from talking to the media after a game.
Sport Hawke's Bay has raised concerns about the recent increase in abuse of sport officials.
Sport HB community development officer Amanda Feast this month suggested docking points from the competition table as a possible way to prevent players, officials or fans abusing referees and their assistants.
A major initiative is under way to launch a campaign next season to curb such undesirable behaviour.
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