Football

A Leamington & District Sunday League referee may have set a new record after handing out NINE red cards to the same player in one game.

Andy Gellender first brandished a yellow card to Gary Holtom after the Long Compton captain disputed the award of a Southam Athletic goal.

Gellender produced his first red as Holtom applauded the decision, with the referee forced to show the red card three more times in order to remove the player from the pitch.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A further red was shown as Holtom returned pitch-side before the sending-off of a team-mate provoked a melee which led to him re-entering the field of play and receiving three more red cards.

With the game on the verge of being abandoned, Holtom was ushered back to the changing room only to return after the final whistle for one last spat with the official and a ninth red.

Opposition skipper Max Beard said Gellender was left with no alternative as he tried to uphold the laws of the game.

“We’ve had that ref before and never had any issues,” said Beard. “It ruined the game for both teams.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The ref’s there to do a job and you’ve got to respect him.”

Gellender, who has officiated more than 400 games, declined to comment other than to confirm a misconduct report had been filed with the Birmingham County FA, while Long Compton secretary Alan Prancks said he would seek out Holtom at training before responding to the claims.

Southam went on to win the match 7-1 with Robbie Flude scoring a hat-trick.

Gellender made headlines in 2009 after sending off five players from the same side and forcing a Dorset Premier League tie to be abandoned.

Related topics: