- A young female referee suffered a concussion
- She was accidentally hit on the head by a soccer ball
- Sandon Page was reported after the incident
A footballer has been accused of accidentally kicking a ball at a teenage referee’s head last weekend.
East Perth forward Sandon Page, left goalkeeper referee Muneerah Foster suffered a concussion during the club’s reserves match against the Demons on Saturday.
Video footage of the match showed the 22-year-old heading towards an unguarded goal after being awarded a 50-metre penalty before firing the ball at Foster’s head.
She was able to get up and leave the floor after the episode. Page was visibly apologetic and helped her.
However, he was given a reprimand after an investigation by a match review committee and an official warning.
Page’s club said they accepted and understood the league’s decision.
“We wish Muneerah all the best and a speedy recovery,” a club spokesperson said.
“The incident was truly bizarre, but we understand that referees must be protected at all times. Incidental contact with referees often leads to MRP consequences.
Footballer Sandon Page, 22, has been charged with concussing a female referee
Muneerah Foster was accidentally hit in the head by a ball on Saturday
Although Sandon did not intend to touch the ball, the referee was seriously injured in the incident.
“He’s a very good person and kept asking her very carefully after the match how she was doing.”
East Perth won the match by nine points and are now fifth on the reserves list.
Page joined from Subiaco in 2022 and has made eight league appearances for the club, contributing 12 disposals and seven marks on Saturday.
Football fans will remember 18-year-old Foster after she made headlines in 2021 when she became a goal referee at the age of 15.
Foster, who is Muslim, has ambitions to judge at the highest level and was proud to represent women in the industry.
“I definitely liked the atmosphere. It was nice and inviting,” Foster said in 2021.
‘I didn’t want to play football, but this was something I could do on the weekends to earn money.’