- Sydney referee intimidated by angry footballer
- He is shown in the film kicking the referee’s door after the red card
- Later charged with assault, hearing date in September
An amateur footballer will appear in court in September after being charged with common assault over an alleged incident involving a match-day referee.
The 34-year-old man allegedly chased the complainant off the field and then allegedly attempted to kick down a gate after being sent off earlier during an all-ages division three match between Harrington United and Narellan Rangers at Nott Oval in Sydney’s south-west.
Numerous stunned witnesses filmed the alleged shocking incident, in which the player in question was from Harrington United.
‘At approximately 1.15pm on Sunday 25 August, officers from Camden Police Area Command responded to reports that a match official had been threatened following a football match between two adult male teams at a sports oval in Elyard Street, Narellan,’ a NSW Police spokesperson confirmed in a statement.
‘Officers escorted a match official from the venue and dispersed the crowd that had gathered. There were no reports of injuries.
‘At approximately 10pm on Monday 26 August, a 34-year-old man was charged with common assault and issued with a court summons to appear at Picton Local Court on Thursday 26 September.’
Man filmed chasing referee from pitch after football match in Narellan
The man then attacked a door and was charged with common assault.
Macarthur Football Association general manager Paul Bertolissio said advice had since been offered to the referee and his two assistants.
Daily Mail Australia understands one of the terrified linesmen was just 14 years old and reportedly expressed fear of getting involved in the sport again.
A Macarthur Football spokesperson said News Corporation The association planned to launch a detailed investigation into the incident.
“Both teams have been suspended pending an investigation through our judicial system,” he said.
‘We are awaiting incident reports and referee reports and the guilty parties will receive their share… any incident that comes to us we treat seriously and resolve quickly.
“There is no excuse for this… when we see something like this happening we are not happy and we want to eradicate it.”
Harrington United chairman Ray Zammit also indicated the club will take strong action against the alleged perpetrator.
“We are taking very tough measures,” he said. “We are going through a process and once it is finished, we will know how to approach it as a club… (and) we will do it very toughly.”