Diamonds boss Sandy backs referee and says abusive spectator should 'hang their head in shame'

The Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division fixture was called off at half-time with Diamonds leading 1-0, with ref Julia Kings unable to take charge of the second half after she was subjected to abuse from the sidelines towards the end of the first 45 minutes.

Both clubs have appealed for witnesses to the incident to come forward, with the culprit as yet unidentified.

Despite the frustration of the match being cut short, Sandy fully backed the stance of the referee, and said the supporter in question should 'hang their head in shame' for what they did.

Speaking to @AFCRD, Sandy said: "The referee made us aware that somebody in the crowd had personally abused her verbally.

"She came over initially to say that the person needed to be removed otherwise she would abandon the game, so that person was removed and we have carried on.

"She has then called us in at half-time and just said she didn't feel that her head was 100 per cent in it, and she didn't want to referee the rest of the game if she felt she wasn't completely right.

"So first and foremost, I condemn what has happened because there is no place for it in football and I feel really sorry for the referee that it has actually happened to her.

"The referee felt she wasn't in a place to continue, so we have to accept that.

"We are disappointed from a football perspective because of the way we played, but there is a bigger thing here.

"People should come to work and feel safe, and not have to be abused, so whoever it was I hope they hang their head in shame. They should not be welcome at football games."

The abandonment saw Diamonds drop to third from bottom in the Midlands Division table, with Bourne's 2-1 win at Loughborough Students seeing them move above Sandy's team, who looked to be on course for a win of their own before off-field events took over.

Bruno Andrade had fired Diamonds into a 36th-minute lead from the penalty spot and Sandy felt his side were in control of proceedings, only to be left with nothing to show for their efforts.

"It is a real shame because I feel that is our luck a little bit at the minute," said the Diamonds boss..

"We have come away, set up a game plan, and in that first half we were outstanding, other than the first 10 minutes when Coventry caused us a couple of problems.

"But then we grew into the game and I felt we were on top, and missed a couple of chances before getting a deserved goal. The lads are really frustrated, but it is what it is."

Diamonds are due back in action on Saturday when they host high-flying Lichfield City, and they are at home again three days later when Rugby Town are the visitors to Hayden Road on Tuesday night (Nov 25).