Footy dad gets boot after bust-up

A DAD has been banned from attending junior rugby league matches in Ipswich for a year after he became involved in a bust-up with young players.

The man was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute and of “disorderly, insulting or objectionable conduct” at a hearing of the Ipswich Junior Rugby League.

The hearing was told the man, whose son plays for Brothers under 16s, became involved in a “slanging match” with a Springfield under 16 player in a match on July 31.

The match had to be called off when the pair almost came to blows and the parent was ordered to leave.

The man's son has been de-registered for the rest of the season (which has a maximum of three games remaining) as a result of his father's behaviour.

Ipswich Junior Rugby League issued a statement last month warning that a “zero tolerance” approach was being introduced towards bad behaviour both on and off the pitch.

“There was an alleged slanging match of words between the Springfield bench and a Brothers parent,” Ipswich Junior Rugby League chairman Brendan Bowers told The Queensland Times.

“It became fairly heated with some pushing and shoving by both parties.

“As a result the parent was removed from the scene and the match was called off.”

The Springfield player received a suspended sentence at the hearing for his part in the altercation.

The parent, who has not been named, was found not guilty of assault or acting with aggression.

In Brisbane, junior rugby league clubs the Albany Creek Crushers and Aspley juniors have been employing police and security guards to keep the peace.

While such incidents seem to be becoming more prevalent in junior rugby league, in Ipswich it has become less so according to Mr Bowers.

“In the last few years the Ipswich Junior Rugby League has clamped down on this type of behaviour,” he said.

Mr Bowers said tough penalties and close work with clubs had reduced the problem.

“We've certainly dictated to club their rights and responsibilities to the sport and the players,” he said.

“The clubs have assisted. We won't tolerate this type of behaviour.

“We want it to be a sport everyone can enjoy so we had to take a stand.

“In the last few years we have hired police for grand final day but that's more of a pro-active measure and has worked fantastically.”