I ONLY GAVE THE REF TWO SOFT PUNCHES

THE first schoolboy to get a worldwide lifetime ban on playing football for punching a referee said last night: "I've been made a scapegoat."

Arsenal supporter Nick Taylor, 15, hit referee Terry Lowrie on the cheek and jaw following a heated match. But the 6ft 2in goalkeeper refused to apologise, saying: "Some players who earn millions get away with much, much worse... and I get banned for life."

And he denied that his on-field antics were inspired by his favourite striker, Arsenal hot-head Patric Viera, who was given a six- match ban last season after being sent off for spitting at a rival player - and now faces a new ban after being sent off yesterday for violent conduct against Sunderland.

Nick earned his own ban after West Wales side Aberaeron Under-15s lost 5-2 against arch rivals Newcastle Emlyn in the South Ceredigion Junior Football League. He was also told to pay pounds 500 compensation to Terry, 48.

The schoolboy, who wants to join the Army when he turns 16 next March, added: "I didn't hit him hard and I was wearing my goalkeeper's gloves. It wasn't as if he fell over or anything - he hardly moved."

Nick, whose bedroom is decorated with footballing trophies, said Terry refereed the game well in the first half. But then he sent off three Aberaeron players and, after leading 2-0, Nick's side began to lose. Nick said: "He sent one player off for asking, 'What was that for?' after he gave a free kick to the other side. Then he sent off someone else for asking, 'Why was that a free kick?'

"And five minutes after that, he sent a third player off for a tackle. I was getting pretty wound up.

"I waited for the final whistle and I went up to him and said, 'What did you think you were doing?'

"He blew the whistle and put his arms up in the air. I just lashed out instinctively.

"It was just a natural reaction, but I honestly didn't mean to hit him. If I had my time again, I'd take a deep breath and count to 10.

"After I hit him, he asked for my name, but I didn't give it and just walked back to the changing rooms.

"I knew I was in trouble and I knew I was going to get banned, but I never thought it'd be for life."

Nick added: "I know what I did was wrong, but a lifetime ban is ridiculous - the punishment doesn't fit the crime, does it?

"I wish the ref would let me say sorry and that we could shake hands and put and end to the matter, but that just won't be allowed to happen." Nick is now paying the compensation at pounds 20 a week from his wages as a waiter at the Harbourmaster pub in Aberaeron, run by his mother Yasmin and stepfather John Evans.

John, 50, said: "I don't condone what Nick did, but he's only 15. He made a mistake and shouldn't be punished so severely. He's a big lad, but he's a gentle giant. This incident was really out of a character."

The 11-stone youngster will be at a the Welsh Guards' Army Cadet Force camp near Shrewsbury this week. He has also taken up Tae Kwon Do and after just three months is already ranked third in Wales for his age.

Nick said: "My greatgrandfather fought in the First World War. My grandfather was in the Royal Engineers in the Second World War. It's my ambition to join the Welsh Guards and that's taking over from football in my life.

"But I still love soccer and no matter how long the ban, no one can ever take that away from me." Terry reported Nick to the Central Wales FA, claiming he was hit twice - a glancing blow on the cheek and a full punch to the jaw.

The ban was imposed by the Central Wales FA, which is affiliated to the Football Association of Wales - itself a member of the game's governing body, FIFA.

Terry said last night: "If Nick was that sorry he should have attended the disciplinary hearing and put his case.

"I am being portrayed as the guilty party in this when all I did was take a couple of punches."

Terry said he could not comment on the lifetime ban, adding: "I did not pass judgment,I just handed my report to the authorities and told them what happened."

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