Page 8 - Keynsham Town Ladies v Swindon town 160323

KEYNSHAM TOWN LADIES 8
Has a ref ever been se
View from the dugoutnt off?

"I was once involved in a game where both sides became so exasperated with the
referee that we had to ask him to leave," recalls Paul Vale. "Which got me
wondering – has a referee ever actually been sent off in a game of football?"

At least two have, Paul, and on both occasions they showed themselves the red
card. First up is Andy Wain, who was officiating a Sunday League game between
Peterborough North End and Royal Mail AYL in 2005 when he lost his rag after
hearing one too many complaints from the players.

When North End's keeper Richard McGaffin began protesting that his team had
been denied a free kick in the build-up to a goal, Wain threw off his whistle, rushed
over and eyeballed the keeper.

In the end no blows were exchanged, but Wain sent himself off and the game had
to be abandoned because there was nobody else available to fill in.

"With hindsight I should never have officiated," said Wain, who acknowledged
having had some personal problems in the days before the match in question. "It
was totally unprofessional.

“If a player did that I would send him off, so I had to go. I heard the keeper say
'It's always the bloody same with you, ref - we never get anything'. It was the last
straw, but fortunately I came to my senses."

Melvin Sylvester, meanwhile, went one step further, physically attacking a player
during a fixture between Southampton Arms and Hurstbourne Tarrant British Legion
in the Andover and District Sunday League.

"I was sorely provoked," explained Sylvester afterwards. "I punched him several
times after he had pushed me from behind. He then swore. I couldn't take any
more. I blew my top."

This time the the game was able to continue, as a spectator took charge of the
remainder of the game, but the story didn't end there for Sylvester. He was
subsequently fined £20 and banned for six weeks by the Hampshire Football
Association.

"I'm furious," he added after the verdict. "The disciplinary committee have got their
priorities all wrong. They've convicted me of assault but the circumstances have not
been shown. They've taken the side of the player."