Stadium erupts in brawl

TOM BIDDINGTON | April 10th, 2011

AN UGLY all-in brawl marred last night's Habitat Premier League match between Darwin Olympic and Uni Azzurri, with police called to in to Darwin Football Stadium.

Tensions rose during the match and exploded when the referee called the game over with five minutes left. With heavy rain for the last 20 minutes, the pitch had become unplayable as members of both teams flew in for dangerous tackles.

Olympic's Matt Goodwin was sent off just a couple of minutes before time was called and baited the crowd and Azzurri players as he left the ground. The ref called time but the Olympic player responded by pushing his Azzurri opponent.

Players from both teams jumped in and while most of it was a bit of push and shove, heated words were exchanged between players, officials and spectators.

One spectator, who is likely to face a hefty suspension if identified, threw a water bottle at the referees, who feared for their safety.

"It was a disgraceful situation inflamed by people who can't control their emotions," a witness said.

Your Say
"For those who say it's ongoing u may be the people who watch a game once every year. I have been playing and watching Darwin league soccer since I was 6 and I have only seen 3 major brawls. Where not all influenced by alcohol like u damn rednecks who in this day and age always always use as the reason."

"It's the sort of behaviour that gives soccer a bad reputation."

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/04/10/223801_ntnews.html

Meers pledges zero tolerance on ref abuse
TOM BIDDINGTON | April 11th, 2011

FOOTBALL Federation NT chief executive John Meers will dish out severe punishment to anyone who abuses referees as the fallout continues from an ugly all-in brawl between Darwin Olympic and Uni Azzurri on Saturday night.

A bottle was thrown at the referees as they were leaving the field, while another spectator came down and abused them from underneath the Darwin Football Stadium grandstand.

Police were called to diffuse the situation as tensions simmered between both clubs. Meers said he would back his refs to the hilt and wants to rid that sort of behaviour from the sport.


"Any abuse of the referee, whether that's physical or verbal is totally out of the question," Meers said.

"I have the authority to deal with any referee abuse and, if it's proven and correct, I will be coming down very strongly on them.

"There is zero tolerance for that, the referees have my 100 per cent support."

Referee abuse is one part of the situation, with players and officials from both clubs set to face disciplinary action for their part of the nasty melee.

What had been a cheerful contest exploded straight after the final whistle, with everyone on the pitch getting involved.

The NorZone judiciary will handle the matter in terms of punishment for players and the clubs once a report is completed.

Meers will be demanding the sport lift its standards.

"I'm not going to sit around and let our juniors watch this sort of behaviour and think it's acceptable," he said. "There's no room for it and no need for it. We want people playing hard within the rules and leaving everything they've got on the field.

"That's what makes it a contest and that's what everyone wants to see, but as soon as the final whistle goes they've got to shake hands and move on.

"This sort of behaviour is unacceptable and if we have to enforce severe punishment to make sure it doesn't happen again, we will."

http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/04/11/224041_ntsport.html