Mum in wheelchair caught up in junior footy fight that hospitalised 20yo daughter

Police are investigating an incident of sideline violence at a junior rugby league match on the Gold Coast that left a 20-year-old woman in hospital. Here’s what we’ve learned.

Gold Coast Junior Rugby League spectators at a recent fixture - this is not a photo from the incident in which violence broke out on the sideline. Picture: Annette Dew

Police are investigating an incident of sideline violence at a junior rugby league match on the Gold Coast that left a 20-year-old woman in hospital on Saturday.

The victim was allegedly punched in the face coming to the aid of her mother, understood to be a wheelchair user, who had become involved in a “disturbance” on June 21.

“Around 11.20am a person allegedly assaulted a woman at a sports venue on Robert Dalley Drive,” a Queensland Police spokesperson saidd.

“Initial information indicates the incident occurred following a disturbance involving the victim’s mother, during which the victim was allegedly punched in the face as she attempted to intervene.

“The 20-year-old victim later sought treatment at Gold Coast University Hospital for minor injuries.

FILE PICTURE: The behaviour of spectators in Gold Coast junior rugby league has come increasingily under scrutiny. Pic Annette Dew

“Investigations are continuing.”

No charges have been laid.

The confrontation between spectators from the Burleigh Bears and Helensvale Hornets clubs was the flashpoint of a weekend of poor behaviour on the sidelines, prompting the district’s board to write to parents on Tuesday evening.

“After some reflection over the weekend, I feel it is imperative to address the concerning behaviours that have emerged during our recent games - not just incidents on the field, but more disturbingly, those off the field,” the letter read.

“We’ve witnessed coaches directing inappropriate comments at green sock (junior) referees, others abandoning their benches mid-game out of frustration over losing, and a range of other unacceptable behaviours including referee abuse and physical altercations among spectators.

“It’s disheartening to see our community, which should be a bastion of sportsmanship and camaraderie, devolve into such discord.”

One local official said she was told Burleigh had contacted Rugby League Gold Coast with concerns over sideline violence at an under-14 match on the weekend.

A mid-season player transfer between the clubs had heightened tensions between the groups.

“Burleigh went in knowing an incident would happen,” the official said.

“They contacted Rugby League Gold Coast with concerns an altercation would happen. They requested extra ground staff and were provided with extra crowd control, which didn’t help.”

On the same day an intoxicated spectator was removed from the sidelines of an under-14 division two match between Currumbin Eagles and Tugun Seahawks for verbally abusing other spectators within earshot of juniors.

FILE PICTURE: The Rugby League Gold Coast board has asked spectators to review their own behaviour over the weekend. Pic Annette Dew

Poor sideline behaviour in Gold Coast junior rugby league was called out by former Bulldogs premiership player Reni Maitua on his They Don’t Want It podcast after an under-13 game last season.

“This is one thing that’s turned me off about kids’ footy,” Maitua said after watching his nephew play.

“It was the women causing all the trouble on the sideline. I’m sitting there with my sister-in-law and there’s nearly a punch-on.

“All the dads are sat up there at the back so I went and sat with the dads while the mothers are arguing out the front.

“I’m not going to lie, the way the mothers were carrying on … I met some really good people, but the mums - I was like, glad you’re not my mother.”

An official at another club, also a mother in the sport - granted anonymity given fears of reprisal - said the behaviour of some mothers had become a major issue and needed addressed.

“People need to start getting called out for this atrocious behaviour before it gets so bad that spectators aren’t allowed to stand on the sidelines anymore,” the official said.

“I’ve been a victim of that. Mums who turned around to my 73-year-old mum and got in her face saying things like ‘yeah look at that, look at the f---ing scoreboard’ and screaming in her face.

“I said, ‘women, it’s under-13 football. Let’s just tone it down, carry on with the game and cheer for our team. We don’t have to get into arguments.’

“We shouldn’t have to go to watch our kids play and fear that we’re going to be verbally or physically abused by a spectator. And that’s how it’s feeling with a lot of parents I’m speaking to – and the majority of it is by women.”

Originally published as Mum in wheelchair caught up in junior footy fight that hospitalised 20yo daughter