– This session here is violence. I went straight to the ground. It could have gone even worse. Even though it’s just a coke bottle, it arrived at a good speed. One is not prepared for this to happen in Norwegian football. That’s what football referee Rohit Saggi says the day after he was hit by a bottle on his way into the dressing room after Monday’s match between Stabæk and Vålerenga. Saggi suffered a concussion after the bottle-throwing. The bottle was thrown from the stands by a spectator, a 14-year-old boy. He has now been reported to the police. Football referee Rohit Saggi wants to deal with the unculture around football. Believes the adults must take more responsibility for the young The experienced referee from Drammen points out that he is not looking to hang the youngster who threw the bottle at the Nadderud stadium. But he wants to use the incident to create debate and deal with the unculture around football. – We are at too bad a level when it comes to harassment and incitement of referees, asserts Saggi. He says it can be a challenge to leave the pitch when the home crowd feels the referee has not been on their team. The comments are often ugly and the atmosphere aggressive. – The majority of the audience are adults. And I wonder: Do these adults do the same at home in the living room when the children misbehave or they experience injustice? He believes that the young people at matches are influenced by a large group of adults who stand and bow to the referee. – This 14-year-old was not born with these attitudes and characteristics. The young learn this somewhere. – Completely unacceptable Today, Saggi met with the Norwegian Football Association to discuss the incident and what needs to be done in the future. NFF general secretary Karl Petter Løken reacts strongly to the fact that an Eliteserie referee was hit by a bottle. Photo: Line Slotnes / Line Slotnes – It should be safe to be at a football match, whether you are on the pitch or in the stands. This is completely unacceptable, he says. Saggi emphasizes that it is not the first time they have met about the referee situation, but that this became very precarious after yesterday’s incident. – We have to talk about how to protect the referees of the future, all the 10 to 14-year-olds who go out on the field where parents stand on the sidelines and scream … unimaginably negative things at the referees. Message from the referee to the adults Saggi says more attention needs to be created around the work being done on referee recruitment as well as the importance of removing incitement. – Attitudes are created somewhere. The adults must understand their own role, the influence they have on young people. – What do you want to say to the adults who stand and shout? – My message to them: Be conscious of what you say. Breathe twice when you feel anger and injustice. Then the words will perhaps be more well chosen. RECEIVING TREATMENT: Rohit Saggi receives medical attention after being hit by a bottle. After the match, he showed off his injuries. Photo: Skjermdump/TV 2 and news/Hans Solbakken Soon cup matches again Rohit Saggi was diagnosed with a concussion after the bottle throwing. The swelling has gone down and the blood pooling has calmed down. – The form is good, much better than yesterday – then the headache was quite strong. Now I just have to take the time to help and I’ll be up and nodding again, says Saggi, who hopes to be back where he thrives best, on the pitch. – A concussion is a concussion, so I can’t train as much now. But I aim to be back midweek next week. Then it’s the third round in the cup, concludes the sane football referee.
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Soccer referee from Drammen had a cola bottle thrown at his head – 14-year-old reported – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
