Muslim Cricket Players Assault 19-Year-Old Umpire...

CRICKET fans watched in horror as a teenager umpiring a South Yorkshire match was allegedly punched, kicked, and hit with stumps by players angry at his call of 'Not out'.

Police were called to the Quaid E Azam Sunday Cricket League match between Sheffield Alliance Cricket Club and Bradford Shimla at the Phoenix Ground in Brinsworth, Rotherham.

It is understood the attack on umpire Matthew Lowson, aged 19, happened
in the last ball of the 35th over, when the Bradford team appealed for a catch and the umpire gave not out. Matthew, from Grenoside, Sheffield, told The Star he did not want to comment because he had referred the matter to the league's executives.

He said: "I'm not going to say anything until I know what the league is going to do." But one horrified spectator said: "I saw around four to eight players surrounding the umpire and repeatedly hitting him with fists, kicks and stumps. "Players from the opposition team had to intervene and use themselves as human shields to protect the young umpire from being severely injured.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The Bradford team ran towards their vehicle and fled. "The police were informed by spectators and the umpire, who was in shock, was comforted by spectators watching another match on the side wicket." The supporter added: "I've never witnessed anything like it in my 30 years of watching and playing cricket.

This was appalling behaviour - action needs to be taken to prevent officials being assaulted." A police spokeswoman confirmed officers attended the ground on Pavilion Lane, Brinsworth, at 4pm on Sunday. She said: "Three men are accused onf confronting the umpire and it is believed one of them may have struck the umpire in the face."

Stuart Granger, chairman of South Yorkshire Cricket League Umpire's Association and secretary of the English Cricket Board's Association of Cricket Officials for the South Yorkshire Branch, said: "This club must be banned from all cricket and the players must appear before a disciplinary committee for the league. "We shall be seeking to have them expelled. We are not prepared to accept this against a 19-year-old lad.

"This is totally unacceptable in any level of cricket. It is totally against the spirit of the game. Players should have respect for their colleagues, umpires and other players." The game was organised by the Quaid E Azam Sunday Cricket League.The Bradford-based league is organised by amateurs who rented the pitch from Rotherham's Phoenix Cricket Ground.

No-one from the league or either club was available to comment. Today Barnsley-born umpiring legend Dickie Bird condemned the incident and said he hoped strong disciplinary action would be taken against any players found to have taken part.

He told The Star: "Cricket is a civilised sport played by gentlemen. It saddens me to hear of anyone being attacked on a cricket field over a decision. What is the game coming to?"