Ref knocked out by keeper

Referee Ken Knight was attacked by a goalkeeper during a match, and his assailant was taken to court charged with assault.

Mr Knight, who referees Saturday and Sunday games, was knocked out in the attack.

The 61-year-old, from Quinton, said: “The trouble came in the last five minutes of the match.

“The goalkeeper thought he had been fouled and didn’t agree with my decision.

“He ran towards me and, with two clenched fists, punched me in the chest.

“I was knocked out for about 30 seconds, and subsequently abandoned the game.

“The player was suspended for five years but I was given no support from the powers that be, and no-one contacted me in an official capacity to help me out.”Mr Knight, who hurt his back when he fell and was left with a 4in-square bruise on his chest, reported the assault to the police, and the player was subsequently charged and taken to court, where he was fined £300.

He stressed the need for action to be taken to stop referees falling victim to violent players.

He added: “Send a player off, and you have to run the gauntlet at the end of the game.

“You literally don’t know if you’ll get to your car in one piece.”

Mr Knight said he took the matter to court as players need to realise that an assault on the pitch is no different to one off it.

He admitted that although he returned to refereeing, the attack did have a profound impact on him.

He said: “I had a couple of weeks off due to my injuries but thought it best that I go back to it.

“It hasn’t put me off entirely but I am different when I referee a game.

“Not easier on the players, but I deal with situations differently - I am more wary.”