The Sussex-based referee caught up in an NBL storm has insisted: "This won't put me off taking charge of games."

Steve MacQueen, the Canadian who also plays for Brighton Cougars, was one of the men in grey during the now infamous Conference tussle between Kingston Wildcats and Teesside Mohawks.

In fact it turned into rather more than a tussle. Sparks flew after MacQueen ejected Wildcats player/coach Soloman Ayinla for throwing a ball in the face of rival Ralph Bucci.

Eye witnesses alleged Ayinla then instructed the rest of his team to foul out and ruin the game.

There was a series of fouls by Kingston players in the second half and they finished the game with just three men on court while Teesside, resting all five starters, cruised to a rather hollow 131-60 win.

MacQueen has revealed he has been praised by an assessor for his handling of the game but admits it is not an experience he would want to repeat.

He said: "I thought I was doing a good job. Most of the Teesside players did too and a few of the Kingston side said 'good call' at times.

"A lot of the fans were telling me to get back to America but to be honest whether I had been in the States or Canada or Spain I would have made the same calls.

"I didn't hesitate about tossing their coach out of the game. The only thing I didn't do properly was the signal and I got told about that afterwards.

"I heard the rumours that he had told the rest of the team to foul out and make a mockery of the game.

"We ended up calling something like 17 fouls in the fourth quarter.

"There was no way around it. They were blatant fouls. If we hadn't called them there would have been a fight.

"I filled in a report and I got support from (referees chief) Richard Stokes.

"He is more than supportive of my game management and how I handle myself on court.

"I have done conference and division one games and they are confident in my ability.

"I had an assessor watching me at Kingston. He has done top European games and he said was I was above average in various categories. Given that was only my sixth game in this country I was pleased with that."

Even MacQueen, a pretty confident individual, admitted he waited in the changing rooms until most of the crowd had dispersed.

However he insisted he had no problem with some of the comments flying his way from the stands.

He said: "People pay their admission money and they are allowed to yell.

"As long as it isn't swearing and it isn't going to upset young kids I don't mind.

"I certainly don't like to resort to ejecting players but I didn't have any choice. Ayinla blatantly threw the ball at Bucci from four feet away.

"There would have been a fight if that had happened on a court in Harlem or somewhere.

"Sometimes if I get stick I say to the fans 'why don't you try reffing?'

"I've been taking charge of games for ten years and something like this will not discourage me."

MacQueen is ambitious to take charge of BBL games but is currently giving the whistle a rest as he struggles with a sore ankle.

The injury limited his role in Cougars' league win at Thames Valley B last weekend.

He has also missed two refereeing appointments to ensure he is as fit as possible for his club's play-off push in NBL division two south.