Auckland referee Colin Smith got more than he bargained for when he came to Whangarei last week on a football refereeing exchange.
He had to call off the Stafford-Choat Cup game between Bream Bay Flyers and the Kamo Reserve team when a fight broke out among the players and then handed
out nine red cards. It was an experience he'd probably never forget, Northern Football's competition manager Terry Hobin said.
"He was certainly very surprised at what happened, both teams' players just lost the plot and I think they were all a bit regretful about it afterward," he said.
He added there was nothing to suggest the referee had over-reacted to the second-half fight.
Both teams faced the judiciary on Wednesday evening and while the result was bad news for both teams, at least there was a silver lining for Kamo.
The two teams were both kicked out of the tournament for 2011 as a punishment for their ill discipline and players from both teams were handed out multiple game bans.
The good news for Kamo is that their premier team - who were drawn to play the winners of the second-round tie - will now get a bye through to the semifinal of the competition.
The decision will be hard on the Bream Bay senior team in the premier competition, and comes just as the newly-promoted side were beginning to get some traction in the Northland premier league.
Five Bream Bay players were suspended, three of them for four playing days and two of them for three playing days.
One Kamo player received a four-day suspension and three others were suspended for three days each.
Both teams were also placed on a good behaviour bond, meaning any further incidents involving fighting could cost them up to $1000 and loss of competition points.
The Stafford Choat Cup quarter-final draw was made in Kaitaia earlier in the week.
July 23 Draw: Marist v Kerikeri, Kaitaia United v Central Brown, Madhatters Black v Tikipunga, Kamo bye.
