{"id":118602,"date":"2023-09-09T19:40:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T19:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=118602"},"modified":"2023-09-09T19:40:36","modified_gmt":"2023-09-09T19:40:36","slug":"ref-punched-by-spectator-in-wild-footage-as-under-7s-match-descends-into-chaos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/world-news\/ref-punched-by-spectator-in-wild-footage-as-under-7s-match-descends-into-chaos\/","title":{"rendered":"Ref punched by spectator in wild footage as Under-7s match descends into chaos"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    A man who punched a referee during an Under-7s football game has been told he should be "nowhere near a football match".<\/p>\n

    Adam Sears was a spectator at the January 7 match at Lord Derby Pavilion in Knowsley Lane in Merseyside, home of AFC Knowsley, when he aimed several blows at the amateur ref.<\/p>\n

    Following the attack Sears, 29, was found guilty of assault by beating and of using threatening, abusive or insulting language or behaviour against another younger referee, reports Liverpool Echo.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Police rush to 'ritual mass murder' in sleepy UK town \u2013 turns out to be hilarious mix-up<\/b><\/p>\n

    Appearing at South Sefton Magistrates Court, Sears was sentenced on Tuesday (September 5) and handed a 12-month community order, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay hundreds of pounds in compensation and costs.<\/p>\n

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    He was also slapped with a restraining order stopping him from having contact with the victims and given a five-year suspension from all football activity.<\/p>\n

    The adult victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, shared a video of the attack and slammed Sears' behaviour as he spoke out about the stress the assault had caused him.<\/p>\n

    "This man should be nowhere near a football match," he said.<\/p>\n

    "I am concerned that this will happen to someone else who is refereeing a match. People should not be abused just because they are wearing the black uniform."<\/p>\n

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