WATCH: Portsmouth referee Mr Marmite tells "crying" haters to "get over it"
A Portsmouth referee, known as “Mr Marmite”, has told “crying” haters to “get over it” after his latest ban for social media comments.
Con Da Costa has been handed a suspension of 154 days and slapped with a £90 fine by Hampshire FA after comments he was accused of making on May 2 that were flagged by an “anonymous whistleblower”. But he told The News he did not make the gender-related comments after being “hacked”.
The Paulsgrove referee, who has received multiple bans and fines from Hampshire FA in recent times, will serve the ban from August 26 when his current suspension finishes. He was banned earlier this year for 126 days from April 22 for improper conduct.
Mr Da Costa is also in hot water from the authority after continuing to referee despite his suspension. He was charged over the matter after he said on social media: “Mr Marmite has another friendly tonight. He’s that bad he’s wanted by all. You got to love it.”
However, the 52-year-old told The News he was allowed to referee games due to him now being a “free agent” who is no longer registered with Hampshire FA.
The social media comment that landed him the recent ban said: “I am also free to referee any games if needed. Men, women, gays, (lesbians). I’m your man/woman.” But Mr Da Costa said: “I 100 per cent did not put this comment about gender on. If you read all my posts this is not my style or words. Both my Facebook accounts were recently hacked.”
Speaking to The News he said he had never done anything wrong when banned or fined for misconduct. He said: “They’ve banned me again, I don’t know what for. I’m just making comments on social media telling the truth. I say it as it is. Obviously it’s offended some people and then they just get upset. They just want to get over it.
“I’m not a yes man, I'm not like other refs. I go on the pitch and do the job. I’m good at it, everyone knows I'm good at it. Everyone wants me to do their games all the time. Hampshire FA are upset about my comments. I'm just telling the truth.
“If a referee makes a mistake it’s highlighted…I just explain myself on social media what they’ve done wrong and they’re upset and they go crying to Hampshire FA. All I’m doing is putting a bit of banter on there and they’re crying. Even when I put I’m the number one ref I get about 50 bites (responses) straight away.
“I’ve been doing it for 23 years and have been getting four or five cup finals a year so I can’t be that bad.”
He went on to say the current crop of refs have been described as “rubbish” by coaches from various teams before adding: “If they want to try and stop me they can try but I’m not registered. I'm freelance. I’m Joe Bloggs. It’s just like a player refereeing a game. If I’m there, why can’t I do the game? You either love me or you hate me. That's why I’m Mr Marmite.”
Hampshire FA’s disciplinary commission found Mr Da Costa guilty of two charges of improper conduct. In the panel’s written response they said it was an “extremely serious case, particularly in light of the participant’s disciplinary record”.
The verdict continued: “The commission noted four previous offences of misconduct this season alone. The participant’s position is further worsened given the current offences have been committed during the currency of an active suspension imposed for a previous aggravated offence.
“A disciplinary record of this kind for a match official is truly exceptional in the opinion of the commission. The record shows a considerable inability and/or unwillingness to comply with the rules applicable to a participant and it was clear to the commission previous sanctions have not acted to deter repetition of repeated similar misconduct.”
As previously reported last year, Mr Da Costa fell foul of Hampshire FA after his social media post on a controversial decision to award Hamble Club a penalty in their 1-1 draw with Wessex League rivals AFC Portchester in August.
The main post that landed him in hot water, alongside a video of the incident, said: “No words can explain this. I am embarrassed to call myself a referee. I apologise to all. Not even me (who was the referee).”