THE MANAGER of a junior football team has slammed parents after they flashed lights into the eyes of children to put them off taking penalties.

Knuzden Junior FC boss Derek Slater is to appeal to the Lancashire FA against the final score which saw the team defeated in the shoot-out.

Trouble broke out during Friday's match against Moston Brook under 13s at the Lancashire FA County ground in Leyland for the County Cup Final.

Moston Brook's 12-year-old goal keeper was sent off during the shoot-out for alleged comments made to the referee. Shortly after Moston manager, Michelle Woodall, and her assistant ran on to the pitch and confronted the referee.

Then during the shoot out, parents went behind the goal and directed lights from mobile phones into the eyes of Knuzden players as they stepped up to take a penalty.

Mr Slater, whose team plays in the Blackburn and Darwen District Junior League, said: "We want to clear our name because our supporters played no part in that.

"We were absolutely disgusted with what happened. It was an utter disgrace.

"The players were frightened, they didn't want to go out to take the penalties because of what was going on.

"They were being intimidated by parents who were swearing and using the flashes off their mobiles to put them off.

"We don't want to be associated with that kind of behaviour.

"With hindsight we should have taken the boys off the pitch because it wasn't fair to send our boys out into a cauldron of hate. "The parents should be hanging their heads in shame."

"This kind of behaviour brings shame on football. We have appealed against the result. We are hoping to hear the outcome early next week."

Mrs Woodall said she was unable to comment on allegations about her behaviour pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Lancashire FA officials are to study the referee's report. David Burgess, chief executive of the Lancashire FA, said the association was "not happy" with events during the penalty shoot-out.

Hayley Mather, the FA's discipline officer, said an emergancy youth committee meeting would be held on Wednesday to decide what action to take.