KNOCKED OUT
Southside Comets star indefinitely sidelined after big clash
A TEENAGER who was knocked out by a vicious swinging arm will not return to the FNQ Football Premier League in the foreseeable future as he recovers from a serious concussion.
Matthew Brookes was playing for Southside Comets in the team’s FFA Cup tie against a dominant Edge Hill United at Walker Road Sporting Precinct when the incident occurred.
It was late in the second half of Edge Hill United’s 4-1 win when Brookes, 16, challenged Tigers player Liam Cashmere for possession. The clash, captured on video by media and aired earlier this week, left Brookes out cold.
Teammates and supporters flocked to the fallen Brookes, who lay on the sideline for up to 10 minutes after the incident.
Southside captain Dylan Soares took umbrage at the incident and immediately questioned the referee as to why Cashmere was not cautioned. The referee instead issued the Portuguese midfielder with a yellow card.
Soares’ further questions were met with a second yellow card, and he was sent from the field for the rest of the Cup tie.
Soares is expected to receive the mandatory one-week suspension for being sent off, but Cashmere was not penalised during the game for the incident, infuriating Southside fans and officials.
The Comets are privately furious at FNQ Football’s match officials for their lack of action during the game, and are frustrated at the lack of action. Cashmere is yet to be cited for the incident, but FNQ Football general manager Matt Kelso said the governing body was investigating.
Should he be cited, Cashmere would front a judiciary within the next week, but is free to play until such time.
The FFA Cup loss could be the last time Brookes plays in the region’s highest-level competition this season.
Comets coach Dion Readman said the former youth star had suffered constant headaches since Saturday, but he was unsure as to if he would play Brookes in the Premier League again this year.
“He’s had a CT scan – he’s had headaches ever since the event,” Readman said. “He won’t play this week and we’ll assess whether or not he plays Premier League again.”