SUNDAY LEAGUE REFS IN STRIKE THREAT
NUNEATON Sunday league referees could go on strike this weekend following an alleged attack on an official.
Reports suggest that some of those who officiate Nuneaton and District Sunday Football League could this Sunday refuse to referee games in solidarity for a colleague.
It follows an alleged attack on a referee following a game between Stockingford White Lion and Grendon at Paul’s Land last Sunday
Should it take place, it would not be the first time that referees have gone on strike and Martin Attwell, secretary of the Nuneaton branch of the Referees Association, said it would be down to the individuals.
“Nuneaton Referees Association deplores any form of violence against any of our members but stress we have an excellent working relationship with the NDSFL and as with the previous strike have issued no decree and any referee withdrawing their services will be an individual decision,” he said.
“We will not be commenting further.”
It is not the first time that referees have gone on strike, they did so back in November 2013 following an incident involving an official.
Marcus Jones, the town’s MP, has pledged to raise the issue with the Sports Minister
“Our referees deserve support and protection, we might not always agree with their decisions, but they are good people who have often have their own families, and jobs to go to on a Monday.
“I fully intend to contact the Sports Minister and the FA to raise this issue as I have done previously.”
A police investigation is underway into the alleged incident, which prompted a response from West Midlands Ambulance Service.
In a statement, Warwickshire Police Force confirmed: “Kieran Thomas Kimberley, aged 28, of Brackendale Drive, Nuneaton, has been charged with assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.
“He was bailed to appear at Leamington Magistrates’ Court on October 16. It follows an incident in Lutterworth Road, Nuneaton, on Sunday, October 1.”
Anyone with any information about the incident should call police on 101, quoting incident number 173 of October 1.