An amateur footballer who launched an attack on a north-east referee has been fined more than £300 and banned from playing for 10 years.
Andrew Ritchie saw red after a penalty was awarded against his side Buchanhaven in a match with rivals Glenugie United on July 17.
Unable to keep his cool, the dad-of-two told referee Scott McKenzie that he would find him after the game before firing a punch to the side of his head.
The 32-year-old from Boddam appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday where he rebuffed the offer of a solicitor’s help and instead issued an apology for his actions against the official.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAllister said Mr McKenzie was left “stunned” by the incident and sent Ritchie off for violent conduct.
“The accused was playing at the time for Buchanhaven,” he added, in the North East Scotland Football Association league.
“He told the complainer: ‘I’ll see you after the game’.
“The referee then asked him what he meant by this. The accused punched him on the side of the head.”
The referee suffered minor reddening to his face as a result of the attack.
Ritchie, of Claymore Crescent in the village, was banned from playing football in the league for 10 years.
He told Sheriff Richard McFarlane that he had no excuses for his behaviour.
Ritchie pleaded guilty by letter last month but sentencing was deferred until yesterday for his personal appearance.
“I shouldn’t have done it,” he said.
“When the police came to interview me I told them that I apologised for what I’d done. There’s no excuses.
“I’ve been given a 10-year ban for this.
“I’ve been playing amateur football since 2003 – about 15 years. I wasn’t happy that a penalty had been given.”
Asked by Sheriff McFarlane if being banned from playing football was “life-changing”, Ritchie replied: “It is.”
Sheriff McFarlane said his attack was an “extreme reaction” and fined him £350.
“The situation in which this offence occurred is aggravation in itself,” he added.
“I do hope that we won’t see you again.”
Documentation made available by the North East Scotland Football Association states Ritchie was also fined £150 by the league itself for his actions.
