Dad allegedly beat up boy at rugby match

Published Aug 27, 2014

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Johannesburg - The Golden Lions rugby union is to hold a closed disciplinary hearing next week after a father allegedly beat up a schoolboy during a rugby match.

Golden Lions amateur rugby manager Pieter Visser confirmed on Wednesday morning that a fight broke out on Saturday at a rugby match between the under-18 teams from the Roodepoort rugby club and the Germiston Simmer rugby club in Florida.

The Beeld reported that following a red card given to a player from the Roodepoort side, his father stormed the field and beat up King Edward VII School (KES) pupil Matthew Germishuizen.

“It’s an allegation at this time, it hasn’t been fully confirmed,” Neels van Aswegen, the chairman of the Roodepoort rugby club, said today.

Van Aswegen described the fight as a “free-for-all” and said it was probable there were more people involved, including people from the Germiston Simmers side.

“I can’t really elaborate because of the disciplinary hearing that's going to take place from the Golden Lions side. We're still busy getting all the affidavits together.”

Visser said the closed hearing will take place in Ellis Park on Tuesday and the union will take a “zero tolerance to rugby abuse at all levels”.

He declined to provide further details on the matter as he said it could prejudice the hearing.

Police confirmed a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm was opened at the Florida police station.

“The suspect is not yet arrested and the investigation is still continuing,” said police spokeswoman, Warrant Officer Nonhlanhla Khumalo.

Matthew’s mother reportedly told Beeld that her son suffered a concussion, broken cheekbones, a broken nose and a black eye.

The paper reported that he underwent surgery to fix his broken nose on Tuesday.

The Star

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