Days after the Chairman on the Surrey Youth league made claims of violence getting of control at Junior football matches we have been made aware of an alleged incident from Leicester on Sunday. The Leicester Mercury are reporting as follows….
A junior football match was abandoned when one team’s players allegedly launched an attack on the referee, opposing players and supporters
Two men were reportedly taken to hospital with stud marks to their heads after violence broke out at the under-15s match between Leicester Nirvana Juniors FC and Thurmaston Magpies JFC at Hamilton Park, in Sandhills Avenue, Hamilton, Leicester on Sunday.
Thurmaston chairman and team manager James Harley said his side’s supporters and players had “been laid into”.
Nirvana officials, however, said some of their 14 and 15-year-old players were assaulted by adult supporters of Magpies. Its statement is published in full below.
It is claimed that 10 minutes before the end of the Leicester and District Sunday Juniors’ League game, which Thurmaston were winning 4-0, the Nirvana manager allegedly walked onto the pitch to speak to the referee, who had changed a decision after speaking to his linesman.
Thurmaston chairman and team manager James Harley said an elderly Thurmaston supporter, there to watch her grandson play, told the manager to get off the pitch, and was shouted at.
Mr Harley said the woman’s grandson ran over to intervene, when a Nirvana player started chasing him.
“The next thing, our supporters and players were laid into,” said Mr Harley. “They were fly-kicked, and one man was kicked to the floor.
“One of our supporters had to be taken to hospital with his son after six or eight of them got him, kicking and punching him.
“The ref was fly-kicked in the ribs and put on the floor.”
Magpies’ coach Elfyn Thomas said: “I’d gone onto the pitch to tend to our goalkeeper who’d got a cut in a collision with one of our own players.
“When I turned round to look back up the pitch, all hell had broken loose. About six or seven of their players, not the whole team, just flew at our players and supporters feet first.
“I was stood about five yards away from the ref when one of their players launched at him feet first and caught him in the ribs, winding him ad knocking him to the floor.
“The ref had done nothing to provoke it and there had been no problem until this happened. The police were called. They took statements and one parent handed over some video.”
Referee Nigel Garner, who is also the league secretary, said he had been asked not to speak about the incident by the county FA while an investigation is under way.
A Leicester referee, Stewart Walker, who spoke out in the Mercury on Saturday about violence at children’s football games, said: “I hope Nigel is okay, he is a great ref and person and I am just shocked to hear it has happened to him and I hope he gets better soon.
“All I know is he was assaulted and the police were called. I’m surprised it has happened to him, but as I know myself, things are getting worse.”
A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: “We are investigating reports of an affray at about 11.45am on Sunday involving a number of people.
“It is unclear what injuries were suffered. Inquiries are in their early stages. There have been no arrests and the investigation continues.”
Keith Murdoch, chief executive officer at Leicestershire and Rutland County FA, said: “We are aware of incidents reported at the game which we are investigating.
“Until such time as we are able to conclude that, we are not able to say anything which may prejudice the investigation.”
Statement from Leicester Nirvana
In a statement, Leicester Nirvana said: “For the second time in four years, youth from Nirvana Football Club had to witness adults become physically aggressive and assault 14 – 15-year-old boys at a game.
“The alleged offence occurred at an Under 15’s football game between Leicester Nirvana and Thurmaston Magpies FC on Sunday at Hamilton Park.
“Nirvana feel compelled to share their shock and disappointment at the events that many had to witness.
“The incident was further inflamed after 14 -15 year old boys from Nirvana were attacked by two middle aged adults (from the opposing spectators) that attended the fixture, resulting in further melees.
“The Leicestershire County FA, the league and the police have all been notified and are all commencing investigations. We will work with all mentioned and any others necessary to ensure this matter is dealt with and resolved in a swift and satisfactory manner.”
The statement added: “The club takes its safeguarding duty with the utmost seriousness and will not under any circumstances put the safety of our players or any others at risk.
“We will work with all parties to ensure this matter is dealt with and resolved. We are sure members from the opposing club, as are we, disappointed to have been put in this position.
“All names of those involved in the fixture have been provided by the club. Our hope is that the opposing club also does the same, especially forwarding the names of the two male adults who physically assaulted and attacked minors on a football pitch.
“The continuing catalogue of incidents by adults against children/ youths demonstrates there is a real need for solutions and a constructive and informed debate with the police and those who govern football.”
Reporter Alan Thompson
Courtesy Leicestermercury.co.uk
