The fallout from the Kung Fu style assault on Louth Branch soccer referee Paddy White, at the game between Bay Celtic and Sporting BJD earlier this month, has seen a BJD player banned from football for five years and the leagues fixture planning disrupted as the Louth Branch have withdrawn all their officials from the NEFL until they can be assured of their safety.
In a letter which was unsigned by any individual but appears to have come from the branch executive, the branch blasts the NEFL’s handling of the whole affair, saying, ‘Members have been extremely underwhelmed by the support offered to the referee by various representative bodies and are also particularly concerned by the North Eastern Counties Football League response to dealing with all the protagonists surrounding this incident.’
The bombshell missive goes on to accuse the league of not caring about the safety of match officials, when it states, ‘The NEFL have a duty of care towards officials refereeing in their league. Unfortunately this duty of care is not being met and referees safety cannot be assured.’
The letter, which can be seen in full below, concludes, ‘the Louth Branch ISRS will not be accepting any appointments in the North Eastern Counties
Football League (NEFL) until such assurances are given.’
It is not clear from the correspondence whether the full membership of the branch was consulted or if the executive took the decision themselves,
One source told Meath Live, ‘What is puzzling is why the action was not taken immediately after the incident, the league will probably be able to cover all games but it makes organising things that more difficult for them.
‘Clubs won’t be happy with it as the other two branches refereeing in the league are from Cavan/Monaghan and Meath so if a ref from either of those branches has to take charge of games in Drogheda it will cost clubs more in the refs travel expenses.’
Meanwhile Sporting BJD player Dos Reis Junior Gledson has been banned for five years
In a letter outlining their decision the FAI disciplinary committee said, ‘The Disciplinary Committee having considered the referee’s report and written submissions furnished, sanctions your player under Section 7, Section 2, Regulation 5.1.D of the FAI Handbook.
The above named player is suspended from all football related activity for Five (5) Years.
‘The above-mentioned player is suspended from the effective date. The onus and responsibility is on
each club to ensure that they do not play a player under suspension. FAI Regulations provide if a
player takes part while under suspension his team shall be sanctioned by forfeiting the match and
paying a fine.’
The Louth branch ISRS has been contacted for comment
LOUTH BRANCH STATEMENT
Most people will be aware one of our colleagues was viciously assaulted while refereeing a game
between Bay Celtic and Sporting BJD last week in the NEFL Division 1 and received medical treatment
as a result of this assault. We would like to thank everyone within the sporting family for their support
to date.
While endeavouring to ensure that due process is followed, the Louth Branch ISRS members have been
extremely underwhelmed by the support offered to the referee by various representative bodies and are
also extremely concerned particularly by the North Eastern Counties Football League (NEFL) response
to dealing with all the protagonists surrounding this incident.
We have a moral responsibility to ensure that an incident such as this does not occur again and that the
Health, Safety and Wellbeing of all our referees is assured. At the present time we have not received
these assurances from the NEFL ether by action or words following this incident.
The NEFL have a duty of care towards officials refereeing in their league. Unfortunately, this duty of
care is not being met and Referees safety cannot be assured. Therefore, to ensure the safety of our
members, the Louth Branch ISRS will not be accepting any appointments in the North Eastern Counties
Football League (NEFL) until such assurances are given.
Signed
Louth Branch Executive
