Red-carded soccer player jailed for driving car onto pitch at referee

LONDON - A red-carded amateur footballer has been jailed for six months for driving his car onto the pitch and forcing the referee to dive out of the way.

According to the Daily Mail, Joseph Rimmer swore at David Harkness when he dismissed him and as he walked off he told another player he was going to run the referee over.

He then drove his Range Rover across one pitch, where another game was taking place, to where his team were playing, causing terrified players and spectators to scatter.

As the ref hid in the goalmouth area, 28-year-old Rimmer did ‘donuts’, twice spinning his 4×4 around in 360 degree circles.

Jailing and banning him from driving for two years, Judge Brian Lewis said: “This was a disgraceful incident. It will not be tolerated and that message must be absolutely unequivocal. I do not accept it was simply conduct to get the game abandoned. You were driving the car to frighten people, terrify them.”

Rimmer, from Melling in Merseyside, snapped while playing for Lonsdale against Southport and District league rivals Harrington in February. (ANI)