On Saturday, Roy Kavanagh was refereeing an U15 match between St. Pauls Artane and Sacred Heart in Tallaght, when he was attacked by a member of the St. Paul's management team.
Kavanagh says he was kicked repeatedly in the stomach during the encounter and didn't once retaliate.
I never once hit or tried to hit back and still he kept kicking me.
Here is his status update on facebook following the incident.
St. Paul's have moved quickly, and last night announced they were banning the culprit for life.
The executive committee of St. Pauls Artane FC has decided to issue St. Pauls Artane assistant manager with a lifetime ban from all activities at St. Pauls Artane FC with immediate effect...
His misdemeanours are unacceptable to St. Pauls Artane FC and go against all the beliefs and values of St. Pauls Artane FC.
We as a club strongly and sincerely condemn his actions and we unreservedly apologise to referee Roy Kavanagh.
While unable to say too much about the specific nature of the assault, Kavanagh spoke to the Coach Diary about the aftermath and his decision to get up and referee a match the following day. (see at the Coach Diary).
I don't want to be seen as a hero at all ha, I got up the next day to referee because I don't believe any one person should stop you doing what you love, I had a game and I would never miss a game, I love doing this. The real hero's are people like the people at Broadford Rovers and Leixlip United football club who I refereed that morning (day after assault) and the people who came to my aid during the incident on Saturday (unable to name club or make comment), there are plenty like them in football!...
Speaking to the Independent, a spokesman for the Irish Soccer Referees Society said that they hear of 'extreme physical assaults' once or twice a year 'but this was one of the worst we've come across.
