A high school rugby player is facing criminal charges after he knocked a referee unconscious during a tournament in Pretoria, according to a report on Monday.
Chris de Beer (37) from the Blue Bulls Referee Union was sworn at and hit over the head by the boy after he sent him off with a red card for hitting another player last week, the Beeld reported.
“After the game I walked over to the player to confirm his number because I had to write a report … The boy took me by the throat, and said I was talking lekker kak,” he said.
The boy from Hans Strijdom High School in Mookgophong, Limpopo, then hit him and rendered him unconscious.
De Beer said he had opened a case of assault at the Mookgophong police station and would meet with a legal representative from the union on Tuesday to discuss a civil claim for damages.
Development officer of the union Charlie Horn said it was a constant struggle to recruit new referees because of the verbal abuse from parents, players and teachers.
The boy has banned from playing rugby for the rest of the year. — Sapa