FA Cup clash DELAYED as referee is substituted after injury… with PA appealing for new official over tannoy
AFC WIMBLEDON against Dagenham & Redbridge was halted in bizarre circumstances.
The FA Cup second round tie was just 10 minutes old when referee Craig Hicks needed treatment for a leg injury.
He was seen to for two minutes, before it was decided he could not continue.
After 14 minutes, he subbed himself off – with a replacement official needed.
Incredibly, just moments later, AFC Wimbledon made a PA announcement appealing for a ref.
Over the tannoy, it was asked: “Do we have a qualified official in the crowd?”
Finally, after 18 minutes, a referee did appear at the Cherry Red Records Stadium and replaced Hicks.
The man who took on the role was the original fourth official, Greg Rollason.
He was seen heading down from the main stand, to the tunnel area, to talk with the officials about taking over from Hicks.
Then, he headed to the centre circle where he was seen limbering up and then blowing the whistle to continue the game.
Rollason’s first decision had to made four seconds after the restart, when he awarded a free kick for a push against the home side.
Amusingly, the home team’s fans then chanted: “You’re not fit to referee.”
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The situation was reminiscent of last month’s clash between Charlton and Wrexham.
There, referee Sam Purkiss went down twice before finally having to come off the pitch with a knee injury.
Football fans’ humour, again, kicked in as he left the pitch.
The fans chanted: “You’re not fit to referee.”