The harshest punishment soccer players can usually expect for berating a referee is a suspension or fine -- not 24 weeks in jail.
But then most players don't respond to the threat of a red card by driving a car on the field and at the official.
Amateur player Joseph Rimmer became incensed by a referee's refusal to award a free kick during a February game between Lonsdale and Harrington in northwest England. Rimmer thought he was about to be penalized by referee David Harkness, so he told him: "If you book me or send me off, you know what will happen."
Rimmer, who works as fitness instructor and nightclub doorman, stormed off, fetched his Range Rover and drove it across the grass. Harkness was not hurt.
"Before he could be shown the red card, the defendant stated, 'I'm going to run you down,' then walked off the pitch," prosecutor Derek Jones said. Rimmer was sentenced in Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.
Referees can be a big pain sometimes:) And if you cant beat him with your hands, why not drive a car. Not strange that some referees go to strike sometimes...
hehe, yes sometimes a referee can be a real pain.