Grimsby Town player Stefan Payne was sent off at half-time for headbutting his own team-mate during Saturday’s League Two fixture against Bradford City.
Payne clashed with team-mate Filipe Morais, with The Mariners 1-0 down, after the half-time whistle was blown as the players were trudging back towards the changing room.
Morais can be seen gesticulating at Payne only for the the 29-year-old to turn round and lean his head into the Portuguese winger.
With the scarcely believable scenes taking place in front of the referee, official James Bell quickly ran over and brandished Payne with a straight red card.
(Image: @James_Dart /Twitter)
Grimsby Town’s official Twitter account posted: “Town fall behind at the end of the first half…which has seen Payne see red for headbutting Morais at the end of the half…unforgivable.”
And their opponents could barely believe what they had seen either, tweeting: “A truly bizarre end to the first half. Stefan Payne headbutts Grimsby team-mate Filipe Morais following an argument. Referee James Bell follows Payne into the dressing room and dismisses him. Crazy.”
Anthony O’Connor had scored for the home side just three minutes prior to half-time which could explain why tempers were flaring.
(Image: @James_Dart /Twitter)
Grimsby currently sit bottom of League Two, some seven points off Colchester in 22nd.
A recent run of draws and a win had provided some hope to Town’s fans but Saturday’s visible show of disharmony in the squad will do little to help their relegation fight with just eight games remaining.
At time of writing the score remained 1-0 to Bradford City.
