Soccer match abandoned after parent kicked underage player

Latest shocking incident as league warns violence is risking a fatality

A PARENT caused an underage soccer match to be abandoned after kicking a young player to the ground.

The shocking incident happened after the boy “shooshed” the spectator while celebrating a goal.

And it happened as the Dublin District Schoolboy League warned lives are at risk if violence isn’t stamped out.

The man had allegedly been shouting throughout the game between St Mary’s, Sandyford, and Celbridge.

A St Mary’s coach said the referee and others “had a few words with him” before one of his players scored the winning goal. Emmett told 98FM: “The game was grand, there wasn’t even a card. There was no maliciousness between the players.

“It was one of the other children’s fathers. He was mouthing at his own son in the final [the week before] and then he was at it all game up at our pitch.

“So one of my players, he’s a bit hotheaded, I told him to keep it cool and shut him up by scoring a goal. Then of course he goes in the last minute of the game and scores and runs up the sideline with his finger on his lip to shoosh.

“The man gave him a boot then and the young man was lying on the ground.

“There were a few punches thrown and then the game got abandoned.”

The coaches threatened to call gardai before the man left the grounds.

Emmett said both he and the Celbridge happened.

The game was one of seven abandoned in the past six weeks.

In a statement, the league said: “On more and more occasions adults now become involved in these incidents, ending with them verbally or physically striking out at young players.

“It is inevitable that failure to eradicate the number of violent incidents on the pitch that lead to or end in brawls will result in serious injury or fatality before too long.

“We cannot allow within our game.” coach condemned this what to happen