Referee banned for violent conduct (From Daily Echo)

Hampshire FA ref gets a 35-day suspension

10:02am Saturday 7th March 2009 in News

A WESSEX league official has been banned from playing football after being sent off for assaulting a fellow whistler - during a five-a-side tournament played between teams of referees!

Teenager Rory Magrath, who was playing for Bournemouth Referees Society, was shown a red card, after reacting angrily to a challenge from a player from Eastleigh Refrees Society.

The 19 year-old was on the receiving end of a “waist high” challenge and reacted furiously and instantly by “very seriously pushing” the player who made the tackle.

Magrath received a 35-day suspension and was also fined £25 after his dismissal in the competition at Eastleigh’s five-aside complex next to their Silverlake Stadium home.

Southampton Referees Society hosted this year’s version of the annual tournament, which featured teams of match officials from referees societies across the county.

Society press officer Greg Dickson hadn’t arrived at the venue when the incident happened but was quickly informed of it.

He said that from his experiences the inter-referee society tournaments can be lively affairs and he also had sympathy with Magrath.

“It just shows that referees are human at the end of the day,” he said.