England cricketer slammed with a one year ban for physically harming the umpire

In a local derby match in England between Fawley and Hythe on July 7 in the Hampshire Cricket League, it has been reported that a player headbutted the umpire. It was a Hythe player who was umpiring during his team’s batting innings and turned down an appeal for LBW. Soon after the incident happened. The matter escalated quickly and the Police were called in, the match that was being played at the New Forest Academy in Long Lane Holbury was as a result abandoned.

Jason Ford who is a member of the Fawley Cricket Club has thus been banned for 17 matches. A statement published on the League’s official website mentioned the disciplinary action against the player. As per the League chairman’s Denis Emery, a 17-match ban means he will be out of action until July 2019.

Would’ve banned for life

“He had never been in trouble before. If he had he would have received a lifetime ban – and quite rightly so,” Mr Emery, of Romsey was quoted as saying by dailyecho.co.uk.

Writing on social media, CricketWickets added: “This is sadly the latest in a string of unsavoury incidents and threatening behaviour that has crept into the amateur game; a cricket bat has also been thrown at an umpire this season.”

Chris Tona, chairman of Fawley Cricket Club in a statement said: “The individual involved was immediately suspended by the committee pending a full disciplinary meeting.

“The club have contacted the Hampshire Cricket League chairman to report the incident and are working on providing an accurate statement of events to the League Disciplinary Committee.

“The club cannot comment any further while there is an ongoing police investigation,” he said. “We have a very clear code of conduct which is displayed in our club pavilion and on the website and we expect those standards to be maintained at all times.”

No arrests

A police spokesman clarified that no arrests were made in the case and mentioned: “The investigation is ongoing.”

For all the latest cricket news and other updates follow CricTracker.