Geelong Advertiser |
FOOTBALL Geelong will investigate a player who allegedly knocked over a 13-year-old boy as he attempted to punch an opposition spectator during a game yesterday.
Police are also looking into the incident which allegedly occurred during a match between Lorne and Forrest at Irrewarra.
The accident began when Forrest player Simon Hay was taken off the field after a 50m penalty was paid against him and a
Lorne spectator allegedly started yelling abuse.
Football Geelong chief executive Lee Hartman said he had been made aware of the alleged incident and a decision was yet to be made if Hay would face the tribunal or be sanctioned.
"This sort of behaviour won't be tolerated," Mr Hartman said.
"(Hay) has been taken off the ground and someone in the crowd was shouting something and a young spectator was knocked over as he went to (allegedly) punch (the yelling spectator)."
The boy's father Rick Rosenstengel told the Geelong Advertiser last night his son Luke received minor injuries from the scuffle. "My son was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Rosenstengel said.
"One of the Lorne supporters was having a go at him (Hay) and he got got a bit upset and my son got knocked to the ground as he went after him (the supporter).
"It's just unfortunate these kinds of things happen in the heat of the moment. It was an over reaction."
Mr Rosenstengel said at no stage did Hay swing a punch at his son.
Forrest coach David McKiernan said he didn't see what happened in the crowd but was aware that Hay was involved in an altercation.
He said while he did not condone Hay's actions, spectators also needed to be held accountable for their behaviour.
"It's not a good situation for players or spectators," he said.
"There are no winners in this.
"I think there is a lot of bad behaviour and language in the crowd that does not get recognised."
Mr McKiernan said players had to be mindful of their behaviour and language on and off the field or they faced heavy penalties but the same rules did not apply to the crowd.