UCSB soccer player Peter McGlynn on Wednesday issued an apology for shoving a referee at the conclusion of Sunday’s loss to UC Davis, and the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office announced it would be filing charges against the Gaucho defender.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Lee Carter told Santa Barbara news web site Noozhawk that its office will be filing misdemeanor charges of battery on a sports official against the fifth-year senior on Wednesday
Carter said McGlynn will be scheduled to appear in court in about two weeks, and the charges hold a maximum sentence of one year in county jail and a $2,000 fine.
McGlynn shoved referee Reed Christy in the back, knocking the official to the ground, following the Gauchos’ 2-1 overtime loss against UC Davis on Sunday at Harder Stadium.
UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg, who was arguing with Christy at the conclusion of the game, claiming that UC Davis should have been called for fouling his goalkeeper on a long throw-in that led to the goal, pushed McGlynn away from Christy before two university police officers took the player to the ground, handcuffed him and escorted him out of the stadium.
Video of the incident can be found HERE
McGlynn was released from the university police office about an hour later.
UCSB’s loss was the fifth in the last six matches for UCSB and all but eliminated them from postseason play.
McGlynn issued an apology for his actions on Tuesday afternoon via his Twitter page: “I would just like to take this opportunity to express how deeply I regret the incident I was involved in on Sunday. My actions were completely my own, and now I will accept the full consequences of the matter.
“Not only did I let myself and my family down, but also my team, the coaching staff, the athletic department, UCSB, the alumni, and everybody from the Santa Barbara community, and I would want to say to all involved how very sorry I am.
“I am very sad to leave a program of the highest integrity behind with a tarnished reputation because of my selfish and immature actions. I am completely embarrassed to end such a fantastic chapter in my life in such shame.
“I would like to wish the best to the program in continued success and dominance, as the amazing support from the students and the community truly deserve. I want to also express my gratitude to everybody for their kind messages of love and support, and will never forget how you all helped me through this ordeal. Go Gauchos.”
On Monday, UCSB removed McGlynn from the soccer team, suspended head coach Tim Vom Steeg for Wednesday’s game at Sacramento State and pulled the Gauchos from participating in any postseason play no matter how they do in the next two matches at Sacramento State and Cal Poly.
The Gauchos will have a streak of 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances end. During that streak they finished as national runner-ups in 2004 and won the national championship in 2006.
“I hold everyone in our program responsible for representing the university in a positive manner at all times — top to bottom,” UCSB Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mark Massari said in a statement on Monday.
