BRAWL IN A DAY’S WORK
Lang boss McColl plays down incident
Cambuslang Rangers manager Paul McColl branded the referee’s decision to abandon Saturday’s match for an alleged mass fight as “ridiculous” .
The Somervell Park boss was left raging when Connor Ashwood called a halt to The Lang’s league encounter at Largs Thistle during half-time on January 13.
Players and coaching staff of both sides clashed as they made their way up a ramp to the changing rooms at Barrfields Park.
The referee was heard repeatedly blowing his whistle as the incident occurred before baffling all in attendance by blowing his whistle three sharp times, signalling the match had been abandoned.
The Reformer contacted head chiefs at the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) on Monday who had received Mr Ashwood’s report which claimed a “mass fight” had taken place.
Lang gaffer McColl, however, reckoned the referee’s decision was an overreaction.
He said: “At Largs there is a ramp and as the players have went up there was some pushing and shoving but no punches thrown. It was a ridiculous decision.
“He had a nightmare of a game. He missed a sending off for them and sent Craig Molloy off, I think he saw that [the abandonment] as a way out.
“I don’t know why he’s abandoned it. He’s young but he’s been about for a few years so it wasn’t about his inexperience.
“I have been involved in football for over 40 years and that was absolutely nothing. I have seen riots and they’ve carried on with the game. There was about 10 or 15 people and it dispersed in about 15 seconds.”
Largs had taken the lead through an early Scott Adam effort before Molloy was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge.
However, the action was cut short by the referee after only 45 minutes leaving a healthy crowd, including
dozens of Cambuslang travelling fans, sent home disappointed.
McColl added: “I’m raging that he’s done it, we had friends and fans down there. It’s an hour’s drive and even longer on the train. Are they going to be reimbursed? No. It’s unfair.”
An SJFA spokesman would not comment on whether either side would receive any repercussions following the incident.
He said:“The referee abandoned it because there was a mass fight, that is the official reasoning behind it. That is according to the referee’s report.
“We have written to both teams and will see what materialises from there.”