Footballer sacked for throwing punch at fan

However the lessons of that day do not appear to have permeated every level of the game, with a non-league footballer yesterday having been sacked by his club after appearing to throw a punch at an opposition fan following a dismissal.

Goole FC player Karl Colley stormed into the supporters’ section after he was sent off in their home match with Coalville at Victoria Pleasure Grounds in East Yorkshire. Video footage of the incident showed the 30-year-old defender make three attempts to confront the dissenting fan, appearing to throw a punch at him.

The Football Association has said it will look into the incident today, while Goole have told Colley he will not play for them again.

Goole secretary Andrew Morris said: “Straight after the game he was sacked. This is a shame because we’re just a group of volunteers. It’s disgusting and embarrassing.”

A statement on Goole’s website said yesterday: “After the deplorable incident at today’s home game against Coalville Town, we can confirm that the player responsible has been released by the club.”

After the confrontation, Colley was led away by the club’s kitman Graeme Smith and their assistant manager Curtis Woodhouse, now a professional boxer but a former Sheffield United and Hull City midfielder. Woodhouse later tweeted: “Thought id seen it all, I now have #football.”

This morning, Goole’s manager David Holdsworth left the club after agreeing to stand down.

Chairman Baron Bloom said: “We leave as friends, it’s just a parting of the ways and I’m very happy to have worked together.”

Curtis Woodhouse has been appointed caretaker manager.

The club said Holdsworth’s departure was “unrelated” to the weekend incident and added it would “assist in full and await the outcome of any FA and Evo-Stik League enquiry”.