In one of the most bizarre red cards in soccer history, an amateur soccer player in Australia earned himself a red card at the weekend for refusing to remove an intimate piercing.
Aaron Eccleston, playing for Old Hill Wanderers against Swinburne University reserves, saw red for the offense in the first-half of the Sunday League match in Melbourne.
A video of the incident has emerged on YouTube, showing the referee taking Eccleston into the changing rooms before re-emerging to officially show him the red card.
"During the first half, our player was struck in the groin by the ball, and left the field to receive attention," read a statement on the Old Hill website.
"At this point the referee became aware that the he had a body piercing.
"He subsequently received two yellow cards, firstly for re-entering the field of play without the referee's permission, and secondly for privacy reasons being unable to prove that he had removed the piercing."
Under local rules in Melbourne, players are required to remove ear and nose piercings. Eyebrow piercings are required to be taped over but there is no rule for more intimate piercings.
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| Aaron Eccleston argues with the referee before being sent off Photo: YouTube |
Aaron Eccleston, playing for Old Hill Wanderers against Swinburne University reserves, saw red for the offense in the first-half of the Sunday League match in Melbourne.
The Englishman suffered inexplicable pain for a few moments when the ball hit him in the private area, leading to the revelation of his genital piercing.
A video of the incident has emerged on YouTube, showing the referee taking Eccleston into the changing rooms before re-emerging to officially show him the red card.
"During the first half, our player was struck in the groin by the ball, and left the field to receive attention," read a statement on the Old Hill website.
"At this point the referee became aware that the he had a body piercing.
"He subsequently received two yellow cards, firstly for re-entering the field of play without the referee's permission, and secondly for privacy reasons being unable to prove that he had removed the piercing."
Under local rules in Melbourne, players are required to remove ear and nose piercings. Eyebrow piercings are required to be taped over but there is no rule for more intimate piercings.
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