Man charged after allegedly grabbing boy, 11, by the NECK at a junior soccer match – ‘very serious matter’

A 46-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly grabbed a young child by the neck at a junior soccer match.

Police said the man, believed to be a parent from a visiting team, allegedly approached the boy, 11, who was playing in a match at Abbeville Park at Mindarie in Perth‘s north on May 25.

The man has been charged with one count of impeding another person’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the neck.

The child did not require medical treatment.

The Mindarie Football club has since labelled the alleged conduct a ‘serious incident’ and are believed to be supporting the child and his family.

‘While passion and competitiveness are part of football, we must always remember the game is for the players — especially the children,’ club president Lee Hughes said.

The man has been charged with one count of impeding another person’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the neck (stock image)

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell also described the alleged incident as a ‘very serious matter.’

‘For someone to allegedly have laid their hands on another person’s child is extremely disturbing, as a parent of kids and someone who loves the game very much,’ the former A-League star told ABC Radio Perth.

Harnwell added it was an isolated incident.

‘We have something like 1,500 to 2,000 games going on every weekend and we certainly don’t hear about anything like this occurring,’ he said.

‘We do a lot of work with our clubs to support them, to support good behaviour at games and training sessions.

‘(Our aim is) to make sure everybody who attends a football match understands the expectations that are placed upon them.’

In a statement, Football West told the ABC they would co-operate with police on the alleged matter.

The man is due to appear in the Joondalup Magistrates court on June 6.