Parish probe football match flare-up
Hamilton Parish have launched a probe into the circumstances that led to their First Division match with Devonshire Colts being abandoned.Parish secretary Nigel Burgess confirmed that his club are currently conducting interviews with witnesses to an ugly incident that resulted with the September 30 match at Police Field being abandoned near the end.“We are currently doing interviews and have already interviewed a number of individuals regarding this matter,” Burgess told The Royal Gazette. “And once we have completed these interviews we will submit a report to the BFA and then take whatever action is deemed necessary.”Burgess, who plays goalkeeper for the Hot Peppers, said his club did not tolerate bad behaviour and wouldn’t hesitate to impose sanctions if any members were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute.“We do not condone negative behaviour at Parish and if any of our members are found to have acted in a negative manner then we will take the same disciplinary action as the BFA would,” he added.When contacted by this newspaper, a BFA spokesperson said: “We have no comment to such time as the disciplinary committee adjudicates on the matter.”Bermuda Football Referee’s Association president Kuhn Evans also declined to comment.Last month’s match was abandoned after female referee’s assistant Wendy Woodley was allegedly threatened and abused.According to reports, a Parish player was attempting to take a corner and asked Woodley for more space to kick the ball. But it is alleged that the lineswoman refused to move which sparked an argument with the Parish player that escalated with fans and other players becoming involved.It is alleged that Woodley, who hung up the phone when approached by this newspaper, was physically assaulted during the clash that marred what had otherwise been an exciting and evenly-contested battle.It is understood that Woodley’s daughter, who was the other referee’s assistant on the opposite side of the pitch, attempted to defend her mother during the incident.“The whole situation was really out of control,” said one observer, speaking under condition of anonymity. “The corner was being taken and the player was asking for some more space to take the corner and an argument ensued between the player and the lineswomen which resulted in players and spectators getting involved.“The daughter (Woodley’s) was involved as well and was using her flag as a weapon to hit players.”Another observer said: “The referee was called over to ask her (Woodley) to move but she said ‘no’. Then her daughter, who was a lineswomen on the other side, ran over and got into it and some accusations were made and so forth and it escalated. From there all hell broke loose and the game had to be abandoned due to the threats.“The player wanted to take the corner and there was an argument which led to pushing and shoving which led to her being abused, and I think she got kicked with the ball.”It is also alleged that a match official verbally threatened a player during incident.The match was called off by referee Robert Hudson with Parish and Colts deadlocked at 3-3.