Bacup Borough manager to appeal after player was sent off 'for call of nature' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Bacup Borough manager to appeal after player was sent off 'for call of nature'

9:31am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in News By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

A BACUP Borough player was sent off for allegedly having a pee at the side of the pitch.

However, manager Brent Peters said he didn’t believe match officials at the North West Counties League Premier Division game at Stone Dominoes saw the incident involving Gareth Wager and will respond to the FA when they get in touch.

“It’s a strange one and I have never come across anything like that in my time in football,” said Peters.

“If Gareth has done it I will come down on him like a ton of bricks because it is not what you can condone from a player.

“But I have spoken to the player and he says he was just stretching his hamstring on the barrier around the pitch – not going to the toilet.

He said he thought the assistant referee was alerted by the Stone dugout but the incident happened while the referee was booking Lee Oldham.

“I was certainly not aware of any incident involving Gareth.

“We have had players sent off for mistaken identity in the past and when we have got hold of the FA about it they have asked for video evidence.

“It’s non-league football, we don’t have that sort of technology. It’s not like the Mario Balotelli incident when they looked at the tape and charged the player.

"But if they are to charge Gareth they need evidence that he did what he is accused of.

“It is an offence for any player to leave the field of play without permission but I have to be honest and I did not see Gareth leave the field of play.

“I can only imagine that Gareth was dismissed for leaving the field, other than this I am unable to comment.”