Friday, May 9, 2008
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FOOTBALLERS` FURY OVER PLAYING BANS

By Lorraine Parker - Friday, March 28, 2008
Sport/Football
FOUR Red Star Spartans’ players involved in the abandoned Hampshire Cup match, in which referee Chris Beech was allegedly assaulted, have been given lengthy bans, which could hit the rest of the team’s season.
The ban comes just days after Red Star were defeated in the final of the IW Challenge Cup and the team is yet to learn its fate in the Hampshire Cup.
The Hampshire Cup semi-final against Liphook at the beginning of the month, was abandoned on 53 minutes after midfielder Leon Day allegedly pushed the referee when he was red-carded for a second bookable offence.
The abandonment followed of a series of incidents, including the sending off of Red Star’s player/manager Danny Case. Off the pitch, four more players were red carded for being abusive to the referee.
Three of the four, Michael Hayward, Brendan O’Brien and Sean Tiltman, were banned for 35 days from Monday until May 4 for being abusive to match officials. They will also each pay a £25 fine.
Case received a 21-day suspension from the Hampshire FA, for serious foul play, plus a £15 fine.
The team denies there was any assault on the referee.
Kevin Suitor was also involved in the off-the-pitch incident but has not yet heard about a suspension.
Appeals could be in the offing.
Case said: “Some are arguing the bans should be more lenient and others are appealing but as much as we want justice, some of us cannot afford to appeal.
“I would like to appeal because it shouldn’t have been a sending off but I just can’t afford it.
“This could have an impact on us for the rest of the season. If the suspensions stand we will have to take players from the reserve team. Then we will be fined £20 a week because we cannot raise a team.
“We haven’t even been told if we’re still in the competition.”
Leon Day was due to be dealt with by the Hampshire FA yesterday (Thursday), along with Oakfield’s John Taylor, who allegedly assaulted the referee in his game against East Cowes Vics Reserves on the same day.