Ref suspended for showing mercy to losing team…. ends game early at 31-0

Baseball has a mercy rule, whereby if one team gains a substantial lead (usually 10 runs) the game is stopped and the leading team declared the winner. But one referee in Italy has found football has no such sympathy.

After Persiceto 85 found the net for the 31st consecutive time in under an hour against Ponte Ronca, the Italian official in charge of the U14 game decided he had seen enough and abandoned proceedings.

The referee determined that Ponte Ronca wouldn’t be able to score 32 goals in the remaining half hour, and after conusltation, both the teams and officials agreed.

Unfortunatley for him the Bolognese Football Association didn’t, and the referee was suspended.

But the AIA insist it is not a punishment, just a ‘reminder’.

“We understand his decision, but the rules must be followed.

“This suspension is not a punishment, but it is intended as a stimulus for him to do better in future.

“It’s a break for reflection which will be useful for him to grow.”

To make matters even worse for Ponte Ronca, the AIA has ruled the match must be replayed. Yahoo Sport