Saint Brabin Facing Police Enquiry

Brabin confronts fan
By webmaster/rheolwr y wefan
November 20 2003

T.N.S. captain Gary Brabin is facing a police and club enquiry after an alleged assault on a Rhyl fan following last Saturday's Welsh Premier defeat to tbe Lilywhites at Treflan.

Rhyl fan, Ian Endres, claims the fiery midfielder approached him at the final whistle and punched him on the chin. Mr Endres told the Rhyl Journal he experienced some ringing in his right ear after the incident and was given a check up by the TNS physio at the ground, and then went to hospital for an x-ray but fortunately nothing was broken. He later reported the incident to the police, and they are set to launch an enquiry.

The incident appears to have flared up from Mr Endres taunts at Brabin during the first half. The lifelong Rhyl supporter admitted "Brabin was sent off the week before and when he got booked in the first half for a foul on one of our players, I shouted at him 'You're at it again' and he shouted something back. But in the second half, I didn't have any problems with him, so I was as surprised as anyone when he came over at the end of the game."

T.N.S. have since released an official club statement which said: "Total Network Solutions FC has started an investigation into the circumstances that led to an alleged incident at the end of TNS's home game against Rhyl at Llansantffraid on Saturday involving TNS player Gary Brabin. The club will respond accordingly once the facts surrounding the alleged incident are known."

Welsh Premier secretary told the Daily Post on hearing the alledged incident: "Certainly, if a player has assaulted a spectator, then it will be a disciplinary matter for the FAW. We would have to have evidence that the incident occurred. But this sort of behaviour we do not condone."