A TEENAGE referee was assaulted by a player's dad in a bad tempered under-12s match in which two players were sent off.

The incident happened on Sunday at playing fields near Orpington Drive in Bury where ref Gareth Jamieson (16) was overseeing the game between Westbury and Clarence in the Bury and Radcliffe Junior Football League.

Gareth's dad Ian, (51), also a referee, said: "Gareth sent a player off for punching an opponent and another for foul and abusive language.

"Then while Gareth was not looking one player butted another. The father of the player who had been butted ran on and shook Gareth by the arm and then grabbed his chin and threw his head back, saying something like 'you are a bad referee and I'll see you again'.

"And this is not the first time. Last season a grown man and manager ran on and confronted Gareth.

"He is still learning the game and it is an absolute disgrace for adults to carry on in this way.

"The game needs young referees but if this sort of thing goes on then they are going to quit or their parents are going to persuade them to."

Elton High School pupil Gareth, of Trimingham Drive in Brandlesholme, kept his cool and decided to abandon the game - in which another player was also cautioned - with only a few minutes to play.

He will carry on with his promising refereeing career in spite of the incident.

Ian added: "Gareth is sending a report to the Lancashire Football Association and I will be forwarding one of my own. "Most of the time the players are great.

"It is up to managers and parents to set a good example to cut out swearing and physical confrontation."

Two other referees also suffered verbal abuse during and after games on Sunday.

In an under-14s match between Whitefield and Little Lever, another referee aged 16 was threatened with physical violence by a parent.

The referee had to be escorted from the ground by the home team manager who was said to be disgusted by the incident.

And in an under-13s game between Marauders and Haslingden, an adult referee was harassed by a woman spectator.

Secretary of the Bury branch of the Referees' Association, Mr Tim Crompton, said: "We will find out what has happened, contact the referees concerned and offer them support and encouragement.

"We will back them up and do anything they ask us to do for them."

Bury and Radcliffe Junior Football League referees' secretary, Mr Rob Evans, said: "This seems to be an ongoing thing.

"It wouldn't be so bad if the players turned up without their parents."

League chairman Mr John Maher called for the clubs to be punished but stressed: "Although one incident is too many, this sort of thing is not the norm.

"The league and the football associations will back the referees all the way."

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