Tugun Seahawks fan says he was upset at losing the season, that’s why he punched the referee
A footy diehard has revealed why he decided to jump the fence to the oval and start swinging at a 20-year-old referee after pleading guilty in court.
QLD News
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A TUGUN Seahawks fan was so upset his team had lost the competition for the third year running that he jumped the fence and swung two punches at the referee.
Only one of Matthew Richard Woods’ punches connected with 20-year-old umpire Zak Emilio Stewart.
Woods pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday to common assault and interfering with a sporting competition.
He was fined $1000 and no conviction was recorded.
Woods was given nine months to pay.
The 27-year-old was at the Gold Coast league reserve grade final between Tugun Seahawks and the Currumbin Eagles at Cbus Stadium on October 16.
The clash went into extra time and the Seahawks lost 30-28.
After the loss, Woods jumped the metre-high fence and sprinted onto the field behind police before swinging at the referee.
The second punch connected with Mr Stewart’s chin.
GF footy 😬
— Dominique Loudon (@dloudon9) October 16, 2021
Ref just got king hit. pic.twitter.com/DcymaktHeB
Woods was immediately swarmed by police, arrested and ejected form the stadium.
He was wearing a Tugun Seahawks shirt at the time.
About 4500 people including children and families had purchased tickets to the football game.
It is understood Woods was intoxicated at the time.
Woods’ lawyer Rijald Hadzlalic, of Mackie Legal, said outside of court: “He is thoroughly remorseful and disappointed that he put the club in such an embarrassing position.”
After the incident a Tugun Seahawks insider said: “This idiot has never played for Tugun and is not one of us.
“Anyone can put on a Seahawks shirt but that doesn’t make them a Seahawk.
“His actions are a disgrace and he will never set foot in our club or at our ground again, that’s for certain.”
Gold Coast Rugby League also launched their own investigation into the incident.
OCTOBER 17: A TOP cop says they will examine security and “threat assessments” for every Gold Coast rugby league game after a fan allegedly thumped a referee post-match.
A 27-year-old man has been charged by police after entering the field of play and allegedly assaulting a referee during the Rugby League Gold Coast senior grand finals at Cbus Super Stadium.
The man, in a Tugun Seahawks shirt, entered the field at the end of the Reserve Grade grand final on Saturday. The Currumbin Eagles defeated the Tugun Seahawks 30-28 in extra time.
He had approached one of the match officials in the middle of the field, where he allegedly threw a punch, before being pinned down by police.
Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman on Sunday said the male had been released from custody, adding: “These men and women are just completing their job and making decisions on any relation to the sport. It is not on a member of the public to take matters into their own hands and jump onto the field of play.
“It is not something we do on the Gold Coast. Every game we complete a security assessment. That is not only for the players and officials but for everyone who attends. We will look at maintaining security operations for every game and we will make a threat assessment for every game,” Supt Wildman said.
“Unfortunately a 27-year-old male took it upon himself to gain entry into the playing arena at the conclusion of the game and proceeded to assault the referee by throwing a punch, which luckily grazed the official. It was extremely serious in nature,” he alleged.
“There were two alleged offences, one was entering the playing arena of the stadium and the second, a common assault complaint was made by the referee. The referee is OK, I am told.”
The man has been issued with a notice to appear in Southport magistrates court on November 1.
A Tugun Seahawks insider said the alleged attacker was not a genuine fan but had disgraced the club.
“This idiot has never played for Tugun and is not one of us,” he said. “Anyone can put on a Seahawks shirt but that doesn’t make them a Seahawk.
“His actions are a disgrace and he will never set foot in our club or at our ground again, that’s for certain.”
Rugby League Gold Coast chairman Peter Daley said the league would launch its own investigation once the police matter was resolved.
Gold Coast Rugby League Referees Association president Mike Gordon was “not prepared to make any comment” until after court.
‘Never set foot in our club again’: Spectator accused of ref assault
A disgruntled football fan has been charged with assault after storming the field at the end of a Gold Coast rugby league final and allegedly throwing a punch at a match official.
The man, wearing a Tugun Seahawks shirt, approached the match official soon after the Gold Coast Reserve Grade siren sounded at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Currumbin Eagles won the match 30-28 after former Seahawk Scott Bunt kicked the matchwinning penalty goal in extra time.
Police immediately swarmed the man following his alleged punch, pinning him down before escorting him down the tunnel.
Police said the man had been issued with a notice to appear in court to face a charge of common assault.
The man, 27, will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on November 1.
Gold Coast police acting chief superintendent Rhys Wildman said police were at the ground and quickly pounced on the man.
“Unfortunately, he was able to reach the match official and allegedly land a glancing blow before he was restrained by officers and escorted from the field,” he said.
GF footy 😬
— Dominique Loudon (@dloudon9) October 16, 2021
Ref just got king hit. pic.twitter.com/DcymaktHeB
A Tugun Seahawks insider said the alleged attacker was not a genuine fan but had disgraced the club.
“This idiot has never played for Tugun and is not one of us,” he said.
“Anyone can put on a Seahawks shirt but that doesn’t make them a Seahawk.
“His actions are a disgrace and he will never set foot in our club or at our ground again, that’s for certain.”
Rugby League Gold Coast chairman Peter Daley condemned the on-field incident.
“It was a great game of rugby league spoiled right at the end,” he said.
“I believe it was one of the supporters in the stands.
“Obviously there will be a police investigation and once that is concluded we’ll do our own investigation and suspend where necessary.”
The ugly incident marred what was otherwise an incredible game of rugby league between the two teams, which included multiple lead changes and chances for both teams to snatch victory in extra time.
It was Tugun’s third straight Reserve Grade grand final defeat, and Currumbin’s second consecutive grand final victory.
Originally published as Tugun Seahawks fan says he was upset at losing the season, that’s why he punched the referee
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