Referee pays for gesture
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Article summary
One of Norway's senior referees has been suspended for making an obscene gesture to a supporter.
Article body
One of Norway's senior referees has been suspended for making an obscene gesture to a supporter.
One-match ban
Roy Helge Olsen has been handed a one match suspension after losing his temper after Strømsgodset IF's 3-2 home defeat against first division rivals Tromsø IL and making a gesture to a home supporter as the crowd abused him on his way back to his dressing room.
'Referees are also people'
Olsen promptly made an apology for his actions, saying: "Referees are also people, and sometimes we react like that." However, Strømsgodset sent an official complaint to the Norwegian Football Association who have taken him off duty for this weekend's games.
Long service
Olsen has been a senior referee in Norway for many years and has often been on international duty.
