A Sunday League footballer floored an opponent with a flying two-footed karate kick at shoulder height during a bad-tempered match in Letchworth at the weekend – and the Herts FA has launched an investigation.
The kick – filmed by football fan Spencer Hume, who happened to be passing Baldock Road playing fields – was made by a player from Stevenage-based Dun Cow during their Hitchin Sunday Football League Third Division match against Almond Tree, from Hitchin, on Sunday.
Dun Cow, wearing sky blue and white in the video, were winning 2-1 at the time of the incident, late in the game – and they held on to win the match, in which both sides had two players sent off.
Richard Stewart, player-secretary of Almond Tree – wearing dark blue – witnessed the kick from the side of the pitch.
“You do that on the street, you’re looking at a prison sentence,” he told the Comet.
“I’ve never seen worse before.”
It all started when Almond Tree had a man sent off for bringing down a Dun Cow player on the edge of the penalty area.
“There was a little bit of handbags after that, before the free kick was even taken,” said Richard.
“Then, as one of their side was coming off the pitch, he decided to throw a punch at one of our subs.
“There was more of a scuffle and then one of their guys came in with a two-footed kick on one of our team, at shoulder-height.
“It just happened all so quickly, got out of hand for no reason. It was a bit of a nightmare to be honest.
“At the end of the game everybody just said it’s one of those things.”
Dun Cow’s secretary Mick Clements said the match had not previously been violent.
“It was toing and froing,” said Mick. “It hadn’t been a violent match at all.
“One of our guys was brought down on the edge of the box. He came back and took revenge out on their centre-half.
“He reacted – and then some fella from the sidelines came on and attacked our boys. Play got a little bit niggly and it was a bit of a skirmish, but nothing too serious.
“We managed to finish the game, which was a relief, with two sent off from each team.”
Asked specifically about the flying kick, Mick said: “I’ll have to plead the fifth on that one.”
The Hertfordshire FA is aware of the incident and has told the Comet it is investigating.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here