Witnesses: Soccer brawl a knock-out

UNCONSCIOUS, concussed teens, blood-spattered faces, a loose tooth, a parent screaming threats to kill, police investigating ... how did an under-15s soccer match come to this?

The truly shocking nature of the violence which marred the July 10 fixture between Mudgeeraba and Ormeau can be revealed in witness accounts shared to the Bulletin.

Parents from both sides agree it was a game full of niggle prior to the secondhalf brawl with players and parents which saw the rest of the match being abandoned.

Gold Coast parent Paul McVay, who was on the sideline watching his son play for Mudgeeraba, said what unfolded shocked him to the

point that he wondered if he would allow his son to continue playing the sport.

Mr McVay said the brawl was sparked when a spectator in jeans and a hoodie ran on and coward-punched a Mudgeeraba player.

“Just smashed him, knocked him out. He was in la la land. At that point the Mudgeeraba boy’s father ran to his aid,” Mr McVay said.

The boy’s father who was also the assistant coach has admitted — via his lawyer Campbell MacCallum — to “striking” the spectator.

But Mr MacCallum added his client thought his son’s attacker was a lot older than the 13 years he later turned out to be: “He used what he believed to be enough force to stop any further assault against his son who was lying defenceless on the ground”.

The coach’s retaliation has attracted plenty of understanding — one parent said if it had been his kid struck, he would have put the teenage sideline attacker in hospital: “It was so cowardly what he did”.

Mr McVay said he also understood the father and coach’s reaction: “We just saw someone from the sideline who was bigger than the kids playing, punch this kid. We didn’t know who it was, it could have been some lunatic.

“It then disintegrated into a melee with other spectators from Ormeau attacking the boys’ father.”

Witnesses say 15-20 people were involved in either the ensuing brawl or trying to break it up.

Meanwhile, the Mudgeeraba player who was decked first was concussed with a loose tooth and deep cut to his mouth later requiring seven stitches in hospital.

His sideline attacker was also allegedly knocked out.

Another parent was “out of control” shouting threats to kill whoever hit his son.

Mr McVay has called for more communication from Football Gold Coast and the Football Federation of Australia in the aftermath so parents are assured things are being done to guard against it happening again.

“My son was next to the (first) boy when he was struck and it has affected him and teammates deeply. It was pure mindless violence and has no place on any sporting field, let alone at kids’ soccer.

“We as parents have a right to know when we put our kids on the field they’ll be safe from this kind of thing.”