Boy, 14, kicked in head during football brawl 'could have died' says mum

18 January 2024 , 06:57

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Boy, 14, kicked in head during football brawl 'could have died' says mum

A teenager who was violently kicked in the head by a man when a fight broke out at an amateur football match “could have died”, according to his furious mum.

Samuel McCarte, 14, and his friends had been playing near a match between Forgewood AFC and Ravenswood AFC in Coatbridge, Scotland on Sunday. After the final whistle, the lads became involved in an argument with a number of Forgewood players and a fight broke out. During the melee, Samuel was punched several times in the face before being dragged to the ground and kicked in the head by one of the players, still wearing his football boots. Horrifying footage showing a referee blowing his whistle several times as around 15 people are grabbing and pushing each other was shared online, sparking an investigation by Police Scotland.

Victim Samuel McCarte with his terrified mother, Danielle, who has called for justice

Samuel's mum Danielle McCarte, 41, told the Daily Record: “Words can't even describe the feeling in my body. It's every parent's worst nightmare if something like that happens to their child.

“I'm shocked and disgusted men could treat children like that. Samuel could have died in that attack. When we showed the video to police they said it can be fatal to kick someone in the head when they are on the ground like that. It is called a 'death blow'.

“The boys explained they had been on the pitches playing football when they were confronted. Some words were exchanged before one of the adults grabbed Sam by the collar and punched him several times in the face. They kept continuously punching Sam, then another team-mate tried to grab him around the waist to pull him to the ground.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Footage of the fight in which Samuel was kicked in the head

"Sam is an amateur boxer. He's a solid boy, so he didn't go down very easily. But when the guy grabbed him, Sam pushed him away - and that's when they all jumped him. They grabbed him and kicked him on the body and the head."

Samuel was taken to hospital after the beating where he was treated for concussion. He has a large, swollen lump on the back of his head and has bruises all over his body. The third-year pupil at Coatbridge High School has been kept off school while he recovers from his injuries, which doctors warned could have been a lot worse.

An eyewitness to the incident added: "The children were at St Ambrose playing football. A few other boys were having some banter with the Forgewood AFC players and after the match, there were even some high-fives and fist bumps.

Amateur boxer Samuel was punched several times in the face and kicked in the head

"Then one of the boys was threatened. He defended himself but was tackled to the ground by a player and then he was kicked up and down the park. Two children ended up being beaten to the ground by a group of adults - punched, kicked and stamped into a bloody mess. Adults doing this to kids is unacceptable."

Danielle continued: "I showed the doctors the video of the vicious attack and they were shocked he had managed to come out of it the way he did. They were absolutely amazed he didn't have any more serious injuries.

"He had red marks all over his neck and body and a large lump at the back of his head and scuffs under his hairline and the front of his head, but the worst of his injuries have been muscular pain and pain in his bones. I now want those responsible to be charged. I want them named and shamed and I want justice for this."

Forgewood AFC, a team based in Motherwell, lost the match 5-1 to Ravenswood. The two amateur football teams play in the Airdrie and Coatbridge SAFL. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 6.10pm on Sunday, January 14 2024, a report was made to police of an assault on two male youths at football pitches in Coatbridge earlier that day. Enquiries are at an early stage."

Forgewood AFC, Ravenswood AFC and the Scottish Amateur Football Association have been approached for comment by the Mirror.

Antony Clements-Thrower