Referee left 'disgusted' by violent scenes at cup clash

Broughton player-manager Jason McCrindle, 32, spat on Tollcross Thistle forward Lee Heinemeir as he passed the player to take a throw-in amid bitter scenes in their Edinburgh Amateur Logan Cup tie.

McCrindle's foul display, which was missed by the match official, caused him to resign at the final whistle.

But following the game, referee Jim Ramage condemned unsavoury elements among the Broughton support, which he said threatened to stab Tollcross players at the end.

A probe will now be launched into the incidents, which marred the second round tie.

Today, disgraced McCrindle apologised for his behaviour, which he said was "stupid, childish and out of character" - but insisted that he was reacting to jibes and intimidation from the opposition players.

"I 100 per cent regret what I did," said the Broughton boss, who joined the club from Rosyth Recreation at the start of the season.

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"I reacted in a way I shouldn't have and I maybe should have pulled their manager to one side and told him what was happening. When I went to take a throw-in I was elbowed in the back and then I was stood on when I went to retrieve the ball.

"I reacted, it was out of character and I shouldn't have done it. I hold my hands up. I went to apologise after the game but the guy wasn't interested."

Tollcross manager Alan McKay dismissed allegations of foul play and said: "I didn't hear any of our boys verbally threatening him (McCrindle] - only calling him a 'scumbag'.

"I could only imagine that we were wound up after being gobbed on. I pulled Lee Heinemeir (the victim of the spitting incident] away to tell him that (McCrindle] was wrong."

But, he said he wouldn't like to see the player-manager hung out to dry for his actions.

Mr McKay said: "He deserves punishment from the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur Football Association (LEAFA), but not from any higher level. People do things that were wrong that they then regret, and whenever I've come across Jason previously he's always come across very well."

Match referee Jim Ramage failed to spot the incident, but criticised the behaviour of the Broughton support, which he said left him "disgusted". He said: "They were an atrocious mob. I actually heard one of them say, 'You're going to get stabbed' to one of the Tollcross players.

"There was vile language and their conduct was disgusting - but I didn't go over because I might have started a riot."

McCrindle said he would have thrown out any supporters shouting threats on to the pitch, but claimed not to haveheard anyone doing so.

LEAFA secretary David Ramage said: "We will hold an investigation, but we have to wait for the referee's report and other reports to come in.

"Once that's done we will decide what disciplinary action, if any, should be taken."

Punishment could range from fines to bans, he added.