A referee was knocked over following a mass brawl in an FA Cup qualifier on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred during a match between Ashford Town Middlesex and Eastbourne as the home side advanced to the next round courtesy of a 3-2 win after extra-time.
But the encounter was plunged into darkness just after 10:30pm, when the floodlights at Ashford’s Robert Parker Stadium switched off.
That was due to them not being allowed to run any later because of restrictions imposed by Heathrow Airport – which is just under a mile away.
While no light could be seen on the pitch, red mist descended among the players as a full-scale brawl ensued between them which resulted in the referee being felled.
Fans could then be heard shouting as they attempted to identify who was responsible for harming the match official.
A referee was knocked over following a mass brawl in an FA Cup qualifier on Wednesday night
The incident occurred during a match between Ashford Town Middlesex and Eastbourne
Speaking to talkSPORT on Wednesday morning, broadcaster Ian Abrahams, who attended the match, said: ‘It was one of the most bizarre games we’ve been at.
‘The reason why the lights went out is quite a bizarre story.
‘These are brand new lights that have been put up at Ashford Town – a club right next to Heathrow Airport. There are three or four clubs in and around the perimeter fence of Heathrow Airport, and Ashford Town is one of them.
‘So you’re right by the runway and all night planes are literally taking off 30 seconds apart.
‘These brand new lights have gone up, but because it’s a residential area and it’s near the airport, they have to agree that the lights won’t be on after 10:30 at night.’
He then proceeded to explain how the fight came about, which the referee became inadvertently involved in.
Abrahams added: ‘The minute the lights went off, there was a free for all in terms of a brawl amongst the players and what seemed like the staff.
‘And the referee – I don’t know what he was doing – but he was walking right by the players.
The encounter was plunged into darkness just after 10:30pm, when the floodlights at Ashford’s Robert Parker Stadium switched off
‘And as some of the Eastbourne Town players moved away to try and sort of avoid being involved in the brawl, they knocked the referee over.
‘But he goes down in his stormers and then seems to grab his ankle like he’s been tackled – it was just hilarious!’
