AFC ST AUSTELL midfielder Marcus Martin has been charged with improper conduct and suspended after allegedly attacking a referee during a South West Peninsula League game on Tuesday night.
Martin, who won the FA Vase with Truro City in 2007, was sent off after reacting angrily to a late penalty being awarded against his side in midweek game with Tavistock. It is alleged that he reacted to the red card by attacking referee Stuart Kane.
St Austell, fighting for the SWPL title, lost the game 4-1 and handed the advantage back to rivals Bodmin Town but it was the incident involving Martin that overshadowed the result.
The former Exeter City man – who played in the FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2005 – has been suspended from all football and football activities while the Cornwall FA investigates an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 which covers improper conduct against a match official.
Last season’s FA Vase semi-finalists have also suspended Martin and apologised to ref Kane after the incident at the club’s Poltair Park ground.
St Austell chairman James Hutchings said: “Following the unsavoury events that occurred during the game on Tuesday night following the dismissal of Marcus Martin, the club would like to place on record that it is does not condone such behaviour in the game in any way.
“Marcus Martin has now been suspended by the club with immediate effect and we will be working with the FA and SWPL very closely while a full investigation is carried out.
“The club would also like to apologise publicly to all in attendance at the game, the FA, the SWPL and also to the match referee Stuart Kane who is a well espected match official throughout Cornwall and Devon.”
A Cornwall FA statement added: “Following the receipt of reports from the match officials at a game between AFC St Austell and Tavistock AFC on Tuesday 26th April 2016, Cornwall FA have issued a charge against Marcus Martin of AFC St Austell for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 – Improper Conduct against a Match Official (Including physical contact/ violent conduct/and threatening and/or abusive language behaviour).
“Mr Martin has been suspended from all football and football activities with immediate effect. AFC St Austell and Mr Martin have two weeks to respond to the charge.”
