A FOOTBALLER who punched a referee to the ground has been given a 12-month community punishment order.

Allan Deegan, 36, from Black Carr Road in Baguley, Wythenshawe, punched ref Peter Spencer in the face as he reached in his pocket to give the player a red card.

It is thought to be the first time in 25 years that a player from the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League has ended up in court for assaulting a match official.

Manchester magistrates heard that Deegan, who played for the Old Chorltonians second team, was among a group of players who surrounded the ref when he allowed a last-minute goal.

The goal gave the opposing Cheadle Hulme team a 4-3 win at Hough End on March 25.

Deegan verbally abused Mr Spencer, who works as sports editor of the Manchester Evening News, and knocked his notebook out of his hand.

He then punched Mr Spencer as he tried to show him a red card after the match finished.

Assaults

The case came after the FA revealed a 260 per cent rise in assaults on match officials in Greater Manchester.

Following the assault, Deegan was arrested by police and later pleaded guilty to common assault in court.

Bill Donnelly, prosecuting, said Deegan had called the ref a cheat and used foul and insulting language towards him before the end of the game, which continued after the final whistle.

The court was told that the player had a previous conviction for assault and battery, dating to September 2001.

Deegan's defence lawyer, Philip Lythgoe, said that Deegan was truly sorry for what he had done.

He also said there was no risk of a repeat offence because the soon-to- be-married player was to have reconstructive surgery on his knee and expected to be banned from the game by the Football Association as a result of the assault. He has also been banned by his team.

As part of the community punishment, magistrates ordered Deegan, who is a service engineer by trade, to do 220 hours unpaid work for the community and attend an anger management course.

He was also ordered to pay é200 compensation and é50 court costs.

John Howard, honorary secretary of the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League, said:

"The majority of players offer no threat to referees and are grateful for their involvement, as without them grass-roots football would die.

"The courts have come down heavily on the side of decency and fair play.

"The offence could have carried a custodial sentence, from which the player has escaped, but he will not escape a lifetime ban from his club, the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League, and an eventual ban from the Manchester FA.

"His footballing days are over. I hope this has sent a message to all footballers of what they can expect if they assault a referee."

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