Scotland : Forfar Athletic - Peterhead - 06/11/2010
Source : Dailyrecord.co.uk
Referee hit by 11-year-old boy during Forfar v Peterhead shame game
A REFEREE was slapped on the head by an 11-year-old schoolboy during an SFL clash on Saturday.
Forfar Athletic fans were furious after whistler Steven Nicholls red-carded brothers Iain and Ross Campbell, the sons of boss Dick Campbell.
As Nicholls walked off at half-time in the Division 2 match against Peterhead, a boy among a baying mob of Forfar fans whacked him on the back of the head.
Yesterday, Scottish Football Association chiefs confirmed an investigation would be carried out after the referee included the incident in his match report.
Nicholls enraged supporters at Forfar's Station Park when he booked Iain Campbell, 25, for foul play.
A fracas ensued and Iain and his younger brother Ross, 22, were both red-carded.
Forfar officials ordered all supporters to stand back from the touchline for the remainder of the game.
They also appealed to fans, who quickly identified the supporter responsible.
Nicholls, from Motherwell, didn't involve the police as the age of the boy meant he was highly unlikely to receive any significant punishment.
Forfar secretary David McGregor said the club had contacted Nicholls and were waiting for the SFA to handle the case.
He said they had not contacted police and had no intention of banning the boy. McGregor added: "In light of everything that is happening in Scottish football, I wouldn't view this as a major incident.
"It was just a case of an over-zealous young fan slapping the referee on the back of the head. He's upset about it."
But an SFA spokeswoman said: "An incident was mentioned in the referee's report but, at the time of writing, he was not aware the boy had been identified.
"The club will now be asked for their comments and the matter will be referred to the disciplinary committee."
A late equaliser gave nine-man Forfar a 1-1 draw in the match.
Boss Campbell said his side's comeback was overshadowed by the discipline issues. He added that he would be "speaking to" both players who had been sent off.
