Search the Community

Pissed ref hauled off [Youtube]oeSxVujpRRU Belarus Football Federation suspend drunken referee By Telegraph staff Last Updated: 12:40pm BST 10/07/2008 A prominent international referee has been suspended for alleged alcohol abuse after he had to be helped off the pitch at a Belarus league match. YouTube: Drunk referee escorted from pitch Premier League Transfer Talk Sergei Shmolik, who officiated at Wembley for England's 6-0 victory over Luxembourg in 1999, was escorted off the pitch, ostensibly because of back pain, at the end of Saturday's match between Vitebsk and Naftan. Blotto: Shmolik gleefully waves to the crowd as he is escorted off the pitch The stadium crowd were stunned by Shmolik's peculiar behaviour. The referee was hardly moving by the end of the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, as he officiated the game from the centre circle, refusing to go to his pocket for any cards throughout. Russian television footage shows Shmolik, only last year voted the best referee in Belarus, waving to the crowd as he staggers off the pitch, attempting to brush off an official's attempts to prop him up. The 43-year-old was later was taken to the hospital for a test, which showed high levels of alcohol in his system. The Belarus football federation said Shmolik's case will be subject to a disciplinary committee. "I haven't seen a drunk referee before. It's just beyond my comprehension," said Belarus national coach Berndt Stange, who was at the game. A Belarus Football Federation spokesman said: "We cannot comment until the end of investigation into what happened in Vitebsk. At the moment Shmolik is suspended from his refereeing duties." The clincher in the deal is when he moves very sharply to brush away the offered help of another guy...... someone with a dodgy back does NOT move that quick How did he get that far? was this not seen by his linesmen and 4th official in their changing room before the game?

TB reports that his wage demands may scupper his move to Galatasaray. Does anyone else agree we should have a 'new policy' - NEVER to buy from the French league: French players who come over to England, not just for us, seem to be particularly money-oriented and have a poor attitude. Anelka, Diouf, Cheyrou, LeTallentless, Diao (i'd partly exclude Cisse although his attitude wasn't always what it ought to have been). Look at Malouda at Chelsea, who can't stop moaning about the weather or the physical side of the game - talk about dodging a bullet there, Rafa (and it wasn't really worth falling out with Rick over this bloke!). Gallas has an attitude problem; Diarra from Portsmouth too. Ben Arfa and Nasri strike me as being cast in the same mould. Of course you get exceptions like Makalele, but I say no more mercenary, cheese-eating surrender monkeys from across the Channel!