REF JUSTICE
MATCH OFFICIAL IS SUSPENDED FOR PLAYING ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS TO DECIDE KICK-OFF... BECAUSE HE FORGOT HIS COIN
A REF who used a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide the kick-off of a Manchester City Women’s Super League match has been suspended.
David McNamara left his coin in the dressing room before City’s home game against Reading on October 26.
So he got the two captains – City’s Steph Houghton and Reading’s Kirsty Pierce – to play a round of the popular kids’ game.
The incident left the 1,015 in attendance at the City’s Academy Stadium baffled.
The Football Association has now suspended McNamara, who last weekend was fourth official at the FA Cup first round clash between Chorley and Doncaster Rovers, for three weeks. He has the right to appeal the decision. The FA said McNamara ‘accepted a charge of ‘not acting in the best interests of the game.’
A coin-toss to decide kick-offs was a requirement under the laws of the game.
FA women’s refereeing manager Joanna Stimpson told a national newspaper that the McNamara’s mistake was ‘a moment of madness.’
She added: “The referee forgot his coin and in that moment, in a TV game, he was really pushed for time, it was a moment of madness.
“He obviously thought it was the right thing to do, he probably walked away, or the second afterwards, thought it wasn’t the right thing to do.
“It’s not defendable. He should have been more prepared, he should have had a coin but he didn’t. It was disappointing, it’s not appropriate, it’s very unprofessional.”
McNamara’s ban will last from Monday, November 26, to Sunday, December 16.