Dutch linesman dies after attack

[Joey Jones]

Just seen this on the news, shocking story. He died after being kicked and punched during a youth game on Sunday.

[Exiled_red]

Awful

RIP

[Nicey]

Shocking stuff, worlds full of assbags many of them are football supporters, its a game .. a beautiful game, but only a game at the end of the day

[Roboklopp]

Sickening (soz for source):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2242422/Dutch-linesman-beaten-death-shocking-attack.html

[Norbs]

I ran the line for my son's team for a three seasons when they were 16-18. The brief is clear, parent's and team stand the other side of the half way line to the official, and if they insist on standing in the half you're patrolling then they must leave 1m for you to run along, unchallenged. Yeah right.

Not saying that the following bears any comparisons to this event but I have witnessed things that shouldn't go on. Every single game I was impeded and there were a few scrotes who thought it was funny to stick out a leg, this was a constant thing and something you can laugh off. The irony is that it's ****ing hard keeping an eye on the game whilst trying to negotiate these things. One game against a good side from Lewisham called Elite, their full back was substituted to continually abusing me while he was on the pitch. The second half was disgusting. His manager had told him to go home but he came back on a bmx. Every time I ran near him he pushed the bike in to my path, once it knocked me to the ground. He spat at me a number of times, swore and threatened constantly and boasted he had a knife. In the end the manager got wind and kicked him out of the club, as well as apologizing to me. Turns out afterwards that our striker was fed up with being hacked that he booted the kid in the balls during a challenge but claimed it was an accident. I hadn't spotted it at the time. This kid, the one with the bike, had the front to circle us on his bike as we walked back to our cars and waved a knife around. He was wearing a hoody and scarf over his face, really fancied himself

The thing is, as an adult in a 'kids' world you are totally powerless to do anything. I could've flattened the **** but would've absolutely been done for assault of a minor. There's no protection for officials at youth levels, and officials are usually a parent who is unqualified. You call the opponents' offsides and not your own team's, and aren't allowed to coach from the line. In the majority the other team stays in check but every decision is met with abuse, mimicking fans at professional games. It's not for feint hearted at all

[kingfunk]

Downing is lucky he doesn't play over there.