Earls Colne: FA bans team after game abandoned

9:58am Thursday 8th May 2008

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An under-13s football coach is furious that Essex County Football Association excluded his team from a cup competition.

Peter Lewis, Earls Colne's U13 team coach, took his side off the pitch during a match after he claims they were intimidated and assaulted by other players.

Mr Lewis, 49, said two of his 12-year-olds were kicked and punched during the Colchester and District Youth League Cup game.

He said he stepped in by ordering his players to march off the field, ten minutes into the second half, as the referee had failed to take any action.

Mr Lewis's son Christian, 13, is in the team, and the concerned dad said he wanted to protect all the boys' safety.

He said: "I am looking after them, they are in my care, and the parents of the boys would not be best pleased if I let them get beaten up."

Colchester FA disqualified the team for stopping a game, and when building project manager Mr Lewis appealed, Essex FA upheld Colchester's decision.

Mr Lewis said: "There's a big thing nationally at the moment about the premiership players talking back to referees, and they are trying to stamp it out.

"The top brass of the FA are saying we need to stop this at grass-roots level. At 12-years-old, they need to be taught and that's exactly what we do, we teach them.

"The decision that Essex FA has taken is not supporting that at all. My boys have been penalised. I am just outraged."

Chris Evans, Essex County FA spokesman, said the decision was final and binding.

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