About a dozen police were called out to a high school soccer game Thursday night after a referee was allegedly assaulted by players and fans from Gordon Bell High School.
According to witnesses, some of those who chased after the referee were armed with weapons, including knives and a billiard ball wrapped in a sock.
A city police officer calls "time out" after a scuffle involving a referee at Tec Voc's soccer field Thursday.
The mayhem occurred during the final minutes of a high school soccer game between Gordon Bell and Churchill High School at a pitch behind Tec Voc School.
“It’s just appalling,” said Andy Blicq, whose son, Graham, plays on the Churchill team. “This is a beautiful game and that was truly ugly but you could see it coming.”
Blicq and others said the game was marred by rough play on the part of the Gordon Bell players, particularly after they fell behind 2-1.
The referee, 19-year-old Graham Forsyth, issued several red cards to Gordon Bell players, which witnesses said seemed to further anger the team.
Diogo Costa, who had just finished refereeing a game on an adjacent field, said he saw Forsyth issue a red card and then get pushed by a Gordon Bell player. When another took a swing at the referee, Costa said Forsyth called the game.
“All of sudden they just started chasing after him,” said Costa. He said the coach for Gordon Bell didn’t make any attempt to try and stop his players or the fans.
Some witnesses said as many as 40 players and fans went after the referee, who ran over to Churchill’s side of the field.
The coach of the Gordon Bell team refused to comment on the matter as both sides left the field.
The young referee did not appear to be injured. Duty Insp. Bruce Foster said there were no serious injuries in the melee. He said it’s possible charges could be laid once their investigation is completed.
Ú david.kuxhaus@freepress.mb.ca
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