Police launch investigation after rugby league referee was kicked in the THROAT by an angry player after awarding a late penalty in a local footy match as calls for the team’s suspension grow
Police are investigating after a rugby league referee was allegedly kicked in the neck during a local football match last weekend.
Brian Roper was leading a game between Dayboro and South’s Inala Warriors when, with 50 seconds left in the game, he blew a penalty for Dayboro.
An enraged Warriors player lost his cool and then attacked the veteran official by kicking him in the throat. A teen touch judge was also alleged to have been physically assaulted.
Queensland Police and the Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association have each launched an investigation into the incident. A Souths Inala player has been sidelined while the investigation is carried out.
Play was halted before the final siren after Roper fell to his knees following the alleged attack. He spent two nights recovering in the hospital.
A rugby referee is said to have been kicked in the throat by a player
Brian Roper was hospitalized following an alleged assault during a game in Queensland
The 19-year-old referee suffered cuts and bruises to his larynx, which made it difficult for him to breathe, and underwent a CT brain scan.
“I didn’t see it coming and hit it in the neck,” the 54-year-old said via News Corp.
“When I was on the ground I saw the feet of the players coming towards me and I thought ‘holy s***, they’re going to kick me in the head’.
“Then two trainers from the Dayboro team came and got me and dragged me off the field as quickly as possible.
“It’s the only time I’ve really been scared at work.
“I don’t care who wins or loses a match – umpires can only judge the rules and what lies ahead.”
Roper added that he didn’t want the incident to deter young umpires from pursuing a career in the game.
Meanwhile Alan Reese, chairman of the Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association, said: ‘The last time a referee was attacked on a football ground in Brisbane was 23 years ago and the QRL, Rugby League Brisbane and the Referees Association are doing everything they can to ensure that make sure that kind of attack never happens again.
“I am aware of the rumored calls for Souths Inala to be taken out of the league, but any decision is up to the QRL and the RLB.
“The union doesn’t care about its referees and I don’t insist on anything except fair judgment.”