Referee Joe Johnson opens up about his struggles following Hartlepool United's 2-0 defeat to Dover Athletic and dealing with racist abuse

Johnson is perhaps infamous in the eyes of Hartlepool United fans after officiating their 2-0 defeat against Dover Athletic at Victoria Park last September.

The match was shamefully overshadowed by allegations of racist abuse directed at Dover striker Inih Effiong following the opening goal.

Johnson’s handling of the situation and the match as a whole drew significant criticism.

That would take its toll on the Merseyside based garage manager, who went on to officiate just three further National League matches over the next few months before taking a leave of absence from the game.

Ryan Donaldson, Nicky Featherstone and then Hartlepool manager Craig Hignett were sent off during the match after Johnson failed to award the home side a second-half penalty.

While the referee later admitted that he should have awarded a penalty after Gime Toure was fouled inside the area, he is still struggling to comprehend the events that unfolded towards the end of the first half.

The racially charged abuse from the Town End led to a confrontation involving both sets of players and fans which threatened to abandon the game.

"I've struggled with trying to understand what happened... and understand if it was my fault," Johnson said.

"I got caught in the middle trying to calm the players down. I'm stood between them and the spectators and realised I was blocked in by the barriers – it was a dangerous position so I got out of the way.

“I physically could not push any more players back. You can't manage the unmanageable.”

The match was stopped for around eight minutes as both sides contemplated whether to continue.

Johnson was reluctant to abandon the match, as he told BBC Sport: “I didn't want to be the first ref to abandon a match for racism.

“The focus would have been on me. The managers and players decided upon themselves to resume so that got me out of the dilemma, but if I was more confident I would have called it off.”

After a lengthy exchange of notes with the FA’s match observer following the full-time whistle, the referee was subject to further abuse from fans as he was escorted out of Victoria Park.

“On the Sunday morning I filed the match report to the FA and was in a daze producing it,” Johnson recalled.

“I didn't go to work at the garage on the Monday and took a sleeping pill that night. The whole thing hit me the following day and I didn't go to work for the rest of that week.”

And given the impact refereeing has had on Johnson’s life outside of football, he’s unsure whether he’ll be able to return.

"Refereeing cost me my first marriage because I was committed to it," he continued.

“I missed kids' birthdays because I spent so much time away. I want to come back because my heart tells me to, but could I referee a game tomorrow? Definitely not – I don't know if I ever can again.”