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Soccer authorities and police are investigating a brawl involving players and spectators during a Chatham Cup match in Queenstown that led to three arrests.
Two Queenstown Rovers players and a supporter were arrested and charged with assault after a bruising match against Invercargill team Queens Park on Saturday.
Several Queens Park players had been cautioned after a number of nasty incidents before a brawl erupted early in the second half involving about 50 players and spectators.
Soccersouth, which administers the sport in the southern half of the South Island, is investigating the incident in conjunction with governing body New Zealand Football and the police.
Soccersouth general manager Wilson James said after a "serious incident" involving two or three players a number of other players and spectators had rushed on to the field to try to calm the situation.
"They probably should have left that to the referee," he said today.
Mr James said match officials had to separate the teams and spectators, but the referee allowed the match to continue after consulting captains and coaches.
Five Queens Park players received yellow cards and two were sent off for repeat offending, with one Queenstown Rovers player sent off for violence and two others yellow-carded.
"We're taking this incident very seriously," Mr James said. "We don't condone any violence in our soccer games at all."
Soccersouth is working with the clubs, referee and match officials to set up a "judicial process" to thoroughly investigate the incident.
"This behaviour doesn't belong in soccer. It doesn't belong in any sport and we want to make sure this is a total aberration and it does not occur again in the future," Mr James said.
It was hoped Soccersouth's judiciary committee would meet this week to discuss the incident.
Mr James said one of the Queens Park players had attended a meeting in Invercargill yesterday, but the committee was awaiting a written report.
"We want to make sure we have all the information and reports available to us before we have the initial meeting," he said.
Queens Park and Queenstown Rovers play in different soccer leagues and Mr James said he knew of no historical animosities between the teams.
Queenstown police confirmed three people had been charged with assault. Two were remanded at Queenstown District Court yesterday and a third person has been offered police diversion.
- NZPA
