Players and spectators pay for assaults, abuse and spitting
The number of bad sports in basketball, football, soccer, tennis and netball being prohibited from grassroots competitions has prompted calls for tougher penalties for those guilty of dangerous, dishonest or violent behaviour.
A Sunday Herald Sun investigation has found 19 people banned for life in suburban and country footy, basketball and soccer leagues across the state.
Hundreds more have been wiped out by reprimands, suspensions and warnings for bringing their game into disrepute.
The study of disciplinary action against players and officials has revealed disturbing levels of white-line fever including:
A BASKETBALL player handed two life sentences plus four years for striking, invoking fear, unsportsmanlike behaviour, attempting to strike, misconduct and offensive language;
A ST ALBANS Saints soccer player and two club officials banned for life by Football Federation Victoria for verbally abusing and assaulting a match official at an under-18 boys’ game;
A SPECTATOR banned from Bendigo basketball games for six years for endangering with blood, fighting, attempting to strike, spitting, threatening, unsportsmanlike behaviour and damage;
AN entire basketball team suspended for 12 months for striking, fighting, threatening, instilling fear and unsportsmanlike behaviour;
A JUNIOR footballer banned for 10 years for assaulting an umpire in an under-16s’ match at Mt Eliza.
Youth worker Les Twentyman said tougher fines, punishments and education were needed.
“In some cases games should be played parent-free, when there has been a history of problems from the sidelines,” he said.
Of the sports probed, basketball dished out the harshest penalties. Basketball Victoria banned nine people for life, including players who assaulted referees, used abusive language and threatening behaviour.
Forty spectators were punished for offences including spitting, elbowing, contempt, offensive language and disputing referees’ calls.
AFL Victoria banned six players for life, deregistered 68 players with suspensions of 16 weeks and more, and rubbed out 10 coaches and officials for four months or more in the past eight years.
“There is no room in our game for those who cannot behave appropriately,” AFL Victoria spokesman Anthony Stanguts said.
Football Federation Victoria rubbed out four people for life last year and penalised 102 for misconduct, including players handed red cards during matches.
Federation spokesman Callan McDuff said there was a “zero tolerance approach” to anti-social behaviour.
A tennis player was last year disqualified for 10 weeks for a code violation.
Another player got a 15 per cent loss of Australian ranking points and a one-month ban, suspended for 12 months.
Netball Victoria said it also had rules, regulations and training about discipline and behavioural issues.
From
www.couriermail.com.au