CALLS have been made to ban alcohol at children's football matches after a booze-fuelled rammy that has led to the end-of-term football tournament being cancelled.

Parents became involved in a verbal ding-dong at the Glasgow Catholic Schools FA semi-final that saw a P7 youngster called a "wee w***" by a drunk dad.

Things got so out of hand the match was abandoned - but parents claim it would never have happened if everyone had been sober.

Gary McDougall's boy Robbie, representing St Anne's Primary, was involved in the altercation, which saw him given a red card.

Gary, from Dennistoun, said: "Robbie is not a dirty player but he was involved in a 50/50 tackle that the referee decided was a red card.

"While the ref was making his decision, a dad from the other school, St Paul's, started shouting abuse at my boy from the sidelines.

"He called Robbie a 'wee w***' and things got more heated from there with the guy threatening me.

"The upshot is that none of this would have happened if booze was not available."

The match was between St Anne's Primary, in the Gallowgate, and St Paul's Primary, Shettleston, and held at Maryhill Juniors.

Parents from both sides, including Gary and Robbie's mum, were eventually asked to leave the ground.

The other parent is believed to have apologised for their behaviour.

And St Anne's Primary head teacher Wendy Barr and coach Michael Miller appealed the red card but this was upheld by committee.

Now local councillor Martin McElroy has contacted Glasgow City Council's licensing board to ask what powers the authority might have to limit the sale of alcohol at school football matches.

He said: "Unfortunately, some parents spectating were quite obviously drunk and the players, mostly 11 and 12 year olds, were subject to verbal abuse and threats from the sidelines.

"We have very specific controls over the sale of alcohol at the highest professional levels, right through to the amateur leagues yet unfortunately there is little done to protect players and other spectators at juvenile games."

But Frank Gallacher, President of the Glasgow Catholic Schools FA, which also allows non-denominational members, said there was nothing they could do to stop parents drinking alcohol.

He added: “Maryhill Juniors has given us the use of their club for the past 13 years without incident.

“We do not sell alcohol. However, there is a social club on site and a pub 50 away as well as an off-licence so alcohol can be consumed at any time.

“No one saw any parent notably under the influence of alcohol at the match. Kick off was at 7pm and the incident occurred at 7.30pm so any alcohol would have been consumed prior to the game beginning.

“Mr McDougall and his partner had to be asked to leave the game and Mr McDougall was escorted from the premises by a committee member before the gates were shut on him.

“The match had to be abandoned, which was very upsetting for all the boys involved.

“Eye witness accounts of Robbie’s foul were all taken into account and a committee meeting held to consider the appeal. Everything was properly constructed.

“His parents seem unwilling to accept it and he is trying to discredit the league by going to the press.

“We can all certainly learn lessons from this incident but they cannot turn back the clock.”

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “We are extremely disappointed by the behaviour of a small minority of parents who attended the football match and was sadly witnessed by all the pupils.

“Their disgraceful behaviour resulted in the referee asking them to leave the ground and the match being abandoned – this is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

“The children have also missed out on their annual end of term football tournament as a result of the parents’ actions.”