- An assistant referee was hit by an object during Millwall’s game against QPR
- An FA investigation is expected to take place following the incident
- Ian Ladyman reveals the most BORING manager he’s dealt with during his career – It’s All Kicking Off
An assistant referee was hit on the head by an object thrown from the crowd during Millwall’s 2-0 win against QPR in the Championship on Boxing Day.
Wilkes informed referee Thomas Bramall that he had been struck 10 minutes into the second half of the clash at The Den, with the object coming from a section of the ground containing home supporters.
The FA are expected to probe the incident to determine whether further action is necessary
The Lions took home three points to move further clear of the bottom three, but the afternoon was soured by the assistant referee being hit, and Millwall manager Joe Edwards claimed afterwards that his goalkeeper Matija Sarkic was also targeted by objects.
‘We don’t want to see that behaviour,’ Edwards said.
Assistant referee Matthew Gilkes (pictured) was hit on the head by an object on Boxing Day
‘Matija Sarkic had objects thrown at him as well. So there are issues that the club will have to look into. These things can’t happen.’
Tuesday’s incident raises further concerns about behaviour towards referees in football, with abuse on the rise across the game.
Mail Sport launched a ‘Stop Abusing Referees’ campaign last month in a bid to support officials and highlight bad behaviour at all levels.
This followed research that confirmed 10,000 referees have walked away from the sport over the last five years.
Mail Sport also spoke to two former grassroots referees who revealed their harrowing experiences which forced them to hang up their whistles.
The two young referees explained how they had been on the receiving end of death threats, with one stating he had a knife pulled on him.
Mail Sport’s Chris Sutton has called for a better example to be set from the very top of the game after an increase in yellow cards for players and managers for dissent in the Premier League this season.
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