Pitch made to ban smoking at soccer matches

CBC

The Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association wants to ban smoking within 50 metres of any youth game following complaints from referees and parents that the air is being fouled by sideline smokers.

« There were a couple of incidents last year where a referee had to stop a game because somebody had lit up … right on the sideline and it was wafting onto the field, » association president Alastair Gillespie said Monday. « We’re doing this for the protection of the kids. »