Metalurgi punished for referee assault
Wednesday, October 2, 2002
Article summary
FC Metalurgi Zestaponi have been banned from playing matches at home until the end of the season.
Article body
Georgian club FC Metalurgi Zestaponi have been awarded a technical defeat and banned from playing matches at their stadium after fans attacked match officials in a league game last weekend.
Referee attacked
Metalurgi's match against FC WIT Georgia Tbilisi was halted with about 15 minutes to go, when a group of fans burst on to the pitch and attacked referee Ioseb Kakhiani and assistant referee Kakhaber Tbileli.
Banned until the end of the season
The incident happened after visitors WIT took a 3-1 lead and Metalurgi will now not be allowed to play at the Central stadium until the end of the season. The club have hinted they may play their remaining six home games of the season in Samtredia at the Erosi Manjgaladze Stadium.
WIT tied for second
Additionally, Metalurgi player Alexandre Shekriladze has been banned for a year and fined €500 for attacking the referee both physically and verbally. The rulings, made by the Georgian Football Federation, means that WIT are now tied for second place in the Georgian Premier League with FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi and FC Torpedo Kutaisi, just three points behind leaders FC Dinamo Tbilisi.
