A general brawl took place on Sunday January 5 during an ice hockey match, between Cergy-Pontoise and Grenoble, in the U20 Espoirs League.
A scandalous end to the meeting. The U20 Espoirs League ice hockey match between Cergy-Pontoise and Grenoble last Sunday was the scene of a general brawl at the Aren’Ice, but also an attack on a referee.
Towards the end of the match, several players gathered to fight. The referees then separated everyone. And as the players returned to the locker room, a player from Val-d’Oise approached the referee and physically attacked him. He was finally brought under control.
This Monday, the French Federation reacted to the incident. “The commission for infringements of the rules of the game considered that an investigation was necessary and therefore relinquished the file in favor of the disciplinary commission of first instance, as provided for by the regulations of the FFHG.” Concerning the player, “he is therefore prohibited from participating in sporting events organized or authorized by the FFHG, pending notification of the decision of the disciplinary body which will intervene at the end of the investigation and after hearing of the parties involved in this matter.”
Violence against referees is increasing in ice hockey. Last October, two young referees were attacked by a coach during an U13 match in Division 1, and a linesman was hit by a player. Finally in the Magnus League, the meeting between Bordeaux and Angers was marked by a violent altercation between two players and an official.
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