Scott Keast was left injured by an incident that occurred at a soccer match where he was a goalkeeper. He is photographed at home Wednesday, December 9, 2009. (Sun Media/Marcel Cretain)

WINNIPEG -- A Winnipeg soccer goalie still suffering from injuries sustained during an on-field incident last summer is disappointed league officials have not taken action against the player who allegedly hurt him despite the fact the player is facing criminal charges.

The incident happened July 13 during a Manitoba Major Soccer League game at Vince Leah Community Centre when a 23-year-old Polonia S.C. midfielder allegedly stomped on the neck of Greg Scott Keast, goalkeeper for the Kildonan Cavaliers.

Keast, 32, was left with serious bruising and what he and doctors thought at the time was a broken hyoid bone in his neck.

Police said the Polonia player was arrested Aug. 11 in connection with the incident and was released on a promise to appear in court.

Keast said he was shocked at the time the referee only assessed the Polonia player a yellow card and allowed him to remain on the field.

Constant pain

The goalie, who said he's still in nearly constant pain and hasn't been able to work his job as a courier, isn't pleased the league has allowed the midfielder to keep playing.

"There's still thousands of people playing soccer that this guy could do it again to or someone else could and the league is not protecting anybody," Keast said. "That's scary."

Brent Boulter, president of the MMSL, said the Polonia player hasn't been suspended as no incident was reported to the league by the referee in the game report. He said the league will allow the courts to deal with the matter.

The Polonia player facing charges said too much has been made out of what he said was an accidental collision.

"This is kind of like a joke," the Polonia player said. "The referee said nothing happened. I don't know why (Keast) blew it out of proportion like this. It was like a regular thing that happens on the soccer field."

Keast said he and numerous doctors remain baffled about his injuries. Doctors now say the hyoid bone in his neck was not broken, contrary to the first diagnosis. He is continuing to see specialists to try to diagnose and address the condition.

jason.halstead@sunmedia.ca