Parents arrested after clash at children's soccer match

Parents arrested after clash at children's soccer match

TWO fathers and a coach have been charged with assault and face expulsion from the sport over a violent clash after a children's soccer match in Liverpool.

One of the men was also charged with using a pair of scissors as a weapon and another with using a chair during the fight.

Two of those arrested were fathers of players in the Mount Pritchard under-11s Mounties team, and the other was the team coach. The violence occurred after the team played against Liverpool Olympic at Hoxton Park on Saturday.

The fight was believed to be about the amount of time players spent onfield.

A ground marshal, Joe Pacchiarotta, was at a game nearby when he heard screams for him to help. He said the confrontation involved a folded armchair and a set of car keys, and bystanders tried to break up the action.


Mr Pacchiarotta said of one of the men: ''His hands were battered and bruised, he had cuts and abrasions, his shirt was torn, there were cuts on his face, neck and back.''

Parents called police, who took all three away and charged each with affray and common assault. Two were charged with carrying an offensive implement [a chair and scissors].

Children of both teams witnessed the altercation, including those whose parents were involved. The father of one of the Liverpool Olympic players said his 10-year-old son was ''frightened and upset by what had happened'' and said there was a lot of swearing. He said the son of one of the men involved was begging his father ''please don't'' and trying to get him to stop.

Police have asked for anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward.

The Mounties chief executive, Greg Pickering, said all those involved would be suspended from activities with the club subject to an investigation into the allegations.

He said the club had a disciplinary committee and punishment could include suspension or expulsion.

Administrators in all football codes say there are strict protocols to manage violence among parents and spectators. Players sign a code of conduct and parents are encouraged to become members of the club, which helps the organisation to act if there is an incident.

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