FOOT AND MOUTH DIS-EASE
The Norwegian Cup Final was between Tromsø in the far north of the country and Kristiansand in the extreme south. Due to the long-standing and often bitter rivalry between the teams, it was decided to bring in a neutral FIFA referee, and the choice fell on a highly experienced Englishman.
Despite some hard tackling requiring several yellow cards it was an exciting game and with just five minutes to go the score was 1-1, when a Tromsø defender put in a really vicious challenge. With a yellow card already to his name, the referee had no choice but to send him off. The furious player had to be restrained by his teammates, but eventually they got him off the field.
With Tromsø down to 10 men, Kristiansand scored the winning goal with a minute to go and at the whistle the celebrations began. Suddenly the enraged Tromsø defender burst onto the field and attacked the referee, who took several hard blows before police dragged his assailant away, leaving the Englishman bleeding and missing a couple of front teeth.
At the post-match debrief, officials asked the referee if charges should be brought against the player and his team.
"No," said the Englishman. "It's really my fault - I should have known better. Never book a miffed Norse in the south."
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