IPSWICH No.1 Jason Doyle is under investigation after giving Leszno fans the finger!
Poland’s Ekstraliga bosses are waiting for a full report from the referee at the Bulls’ stormy clash with Krosno before deciding whether to take disciplinary action against the Grand Prix star.
And they will also decide whether to penalise the Leszno fans who taunted Australia’s World Cup winner after he controversially left during the winter following two seasons at the club.
Doyle, on his first match against his old club, couldn’t have had a hotter reception.
Supporters at the Alfred Smoczyk Stadium whistled the announcement of his name and the noise became almost deafening as he was barracked every time he went on track.
They sang the old ABBA hit ‘Money, Money, Money’ in an obvious reference to their belief that Doyle left for a more lucrative contract from their rivals.
And 2017 World No.1 Doyle, 37, couldn’t resist reacting as he did a victory lap at the end of his fifth and last ride of the night in heat 14, popping a wheelie and giving the fans a one-finger salute.
He was peppered with plastic bottles, beer cups and specially printed paper dollar notes which had an image of Doyle’s face on them!
The gesture went unpunished by the meeting referee but later Leszek Demski, head of the Ekstraliga referees, said: “To be honest, I haven’t seen such behaviour but replays will show everything.
“If this is the case, Jason Doyle will certainly face disciplinary action. The referee has the right to punish a competitor for unsportsmanlike conduct but we are not talking about disqualification because it was after the race.
“A yellow card could have been awarded for unsportsmanlike behaviour.”
The PGE Ekstraliga press officer Przemysław Szymkowiak confirmed that the league’s Adjudication Committee will study the referee’s report and look at video of Sunday’s meeting before deciding what, if any, action should be taken against the Doyle or the Leszno club for their fans’ actions.
Doyle’s heat 14 win (his second in a ten point tally) looked to have given his new team the points as they went into the final race leading 43-41 but a last heat maximum from Grzegorz Zengota and Janusz Koldziej clinched a dramatic 46-44 opening day victory for Leszno.
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.