A grassroots football game was abandoned after someone put poo in the ref’s shoe.
The match, between Selby’s Malt Shovel and Old Malton St Mary’s, got underway as normal on Easter Saturday (19 April) in Malton.
At half time, Malt Shovel FC were leading 2-1. Then the referee went to his changing room and found that someone put the poo both in his shoe and on his T-shirt.
The referee then abandoned the game, citing fears for his safety. As yet the culprit is not known.
A spectator at the game told YorkMix that some believed the hostility may have come from someone from the Selby contingent after the referee awarded Old Malton a controversial penalty, which they scored.
However, others have argued that the 2-1 lead to Selby suggests someone from the Malton side was responsible for the disgusting act.
Facebook football community groups documented the incident online, along with this TikTok video.
The Oldham Groundhopper also shared a statement highlighting the incident. The post read: “Yesterday the match between Old Malton & Malt Shovel in The York Football League Premier Division was abandoned at half time.
“The referee decided to abandon the game due to someone going into his changing room and rubbing 
“Due to fears for his own safety the match did not continue.”
Adam Newell, a groundsman for Old Malton, wrote on X: “Well in all my days being involved with football I am mind blown as to the actions of some individuals.
“Our match was abandoned at halftime time as when the ref went into his changing rooms someone had
“I seriously wonder the mentality of people.”
The North Riding Football Association, which oversees the York League, is now said to be investigating the matter.
Although some users saw the funny side of it with over 100 laugh reactions, others were disgusted and blamed this type of behaviour on why it’s so hard to find referees these days.
Some of the comments read:
- “I refereed for over 20 years, gave up when the sendings offs and cautions were becoming more for abuse and threats of violence towards me than they were for on field offences. People are moaning about the quality of officials at the top level but incidents like this are the reason refs are quitting and not enough coming through.”
- “Don’t care how bad the ref was (and being a ref I have slated a few in my time for being picky and poor) there is simply no excuse for this. It’s disgusting, it’s cowardly and it’s pathetic.”
- “Players and fans moan, but none of these are willing to take up the role. If they did, they would see how different the game looks when you are in the middle.”
It’s not yet confirmed as to when the game will be rescheduled.