The bosses of Wisbech and King's Lynn Town erupted with fury after both sides had men sent-off during a friendly match.
The hosts' Callum Reed was sent for an early bath for a crunching tackle on Jake Jones in the second half while Lynn's David Bell saw red as a result of his actions during the 20-man brawl which followed. The unsavoury incident spoiled the warm-up game, which the visitors won 3-1, and could leave the Fenmen and Linnets without their key midfielders for three games at the start of the term through suspension.
Lynn boss Setchell said: 'I went to see the ref (Martyn Holmes) at half-time because I didn't think he was refereeing the game very well. I felt that Sam Mulready was stamped on first half blatantly.
'I'm not trying to blame Wisbech or anyone but their number six (Nick Bishop) was going round kicking our players. I said to the ref 'how many times are people going to kick people before someone gets hurt?
'Callum Reed's tackle was disgusting. That could have been a career wrecker. (Dan) Quigley (Lynn player) seeked retribution with his tackle (on Jacob Smith) which wasn't any better and then there was a 20-man brawl where both sets of players were involved. Reed got sent off for the tackle, rightly so, if he'd have sent Quigley off I probably couldn't have had complaints.
'But to pull Belly out of a 20-man brawl, well I think the ref's got it all terribly wrong. But he'll have been able to go home and tell his missus he sent David Bell off and that'll go right high on his CV.'
Wisbech took the lead through Danny Beaumont before goals from George Thomson, Michael Frew and Jones won it for the Linnets.
Wisbech boss Dick Creasey said: 'The referee could have been sensible. It's a pre-season friendly. He could have just pulled me and Setch to one side and said 'get him off, get him off, because if not I'm going to send them off'. I think he's got it all wrong. Their lad (Quigley) made the bad tackle and has not got nothing. Unfortunately he's going to send them in so that means Setch and I are going to lose a player for the start of the season. I think the referee wanted to be the star.'
Quigley and Fryatt also picked up bookings for their part in the huge talking point.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here