| An amateur league football match in Dundee had to be abandoned after a “mass brawl” between opposing players, officials and spectators. The referee was forced to end Saturday’s Alliance One League title decider between NCR and Carnoustie YM just a minute from the final whistle.
Cash required a point to complete a grand slam of trophies, but they were losing 4-1 to the Angus side when the East End Park match was brought to a premature halt.
League chiefs have now launched a probe, with the matter — the latest in a string of incidents at games in Tayside at various levels — expected to be discussed at a meeting on Thursday.
It is understood the brawl was sparked by a last-minute challenge, which led to a young Carnoustie player being struck in the face.
A number of nearby officials and spectators from NCR rushed on to the pitch, where they were then confronted by members of the Carnoustie camp.
One spectator said, “It was a good game until the last minute, when two players began fighting and a mass brawl broke out.
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, there were players, officials and spectators involved and it was shocking. It has certainly put me off going to a game again.”
The scenes have been described as unprecedented, but Midlands AFA match secretary Gordon Farmer would say only that the game had been abandoned near the end.
He continued, “An investigation will be carried out into what happened.
“It would be wrong of me to say too much because the matter has to go before the Executive. I hope that will happen on Thursday.”
NCR AFC club secretary James Lamb today declined to comment on what happened, saying he was waiting for the league committee to deal with it on Thursday.
His counterpart at Carnoustie YM, Brian McCulley, also declined to comment in advance of the Executive meeting.
Recent incidents in the local football scene have included an amateur footballer being charged with a breach of the peace in relation to an alleged incident during a cup final in Arbroath last month.
An alleged assault on a referee during a Dundee junior match in April led to a 45-year-old man being charged by police.
Another official abandoned a Sunday afternoon amateur game after being threatened by a player he had sent off three times. And police had to be called to an under-13 girls’ game in Perth, which was halted just before half time. One parent was fined. |
