Riverside soccer fans banned

CHATTAROY — Nobody but players, coaches and officials were allowed at the Riverside-Newport soccer game at Riverside, Tuesday, April 29.

That follows an incident with a jeering Riverside fan who refused to leave the venue when asked to leave by officials at a Thursday Riverside-Medical Lake game at Medical Lake.

No Riverside fans will be allowed to attend Riverside’s May 1 game at Northwest Christian, although Northwest Christian fans can attend.

“Based on their ruling related to the treatment of officials, the soccer officials’ association will only assign officials and our athletes can only play tomorrow versus Newport if we have no spectators (home or away),” Riverside Athletic Director Ryan Bodecker wrote to Newport Athletic Director Brett Mackey Monday, April 28.

“If fans decide to ignore this ruling, it will result in a Riverside forfeit and games being abandoned. We also ask that you please don’t gather in the parking lot during the game. We understand this is a tough outcome but ultimately the only way we can play is if we have officials. Please respect the decision by the officials’ association,” Bodecker wrote.

Bodecker is a former Priest River coach.