Touch judge punches prop

That's a bit like man bites dog, but it happened in unpleasant circumstances in Port Elizabeth, and it's hard to blame the touch judge.

At the grounds of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, which incorporates the old University of Port Elizabeth, the university played against Progress in a senior club match.

In the first ten minutes of the match, the touch judge, Eric Smith a referee of 17 years experience, had reportedly seen Progress prop Jacques Baartman repeatedly punch a university player. It was close to Smith who put his flag out to indicate foul play.

Smith reported: "I held out my flag and recommended to the referee that the player be shown a red card and sent off the field. After that, the player walked right up to me and spat into my face."

Smith reacted to this and - instinctively, according to himself - hit out at Baartman. Baartman then hit Smith who had "two black eyes and injuries to his nose and lips".

Smith continued: "After the incident, I felt it would be better for me to go home. Some spectators followed me to my car. Had it not been for Progress officials who accompanied me I have no doubt that they would have caused me harm."

The match continued, apparently without incident.

Baartman appeared before a disciplinary hearing and was suspended for six months for punching and two years for spitting at the referee.

The touch judge is now to appear before a disciplinary committee.