Gardai is investigating an alleged assault on a football referee which led to him being admitted to hospital with a broken rib, reports The Mirror.
The referee, who is a member of the Louth branch of the Society of Irish Soccer Referees, was taken to hospital following the incident during last night’s North Eastern Counties Football League match in Dundalk.
The incident occurred five minutes after the end of the match at Dundalk’s Muirhavenmore Sports Ground between Bay Celtic and visitors BJD United from Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan.
A player from the Bay team can be seen lying on the ground and the referee motions for the physio to take care of him.
Moments later, the referee was targeted by a man who ran across the pitch, leapt into the air and kicked the referee in the navel, with both feet off the ground.
One onlooker said: “It is fair to say the few spectators there were stunned by what had happened,” reports The Mirror.
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardai are investigating an alleged assault that took place at Muirheavnamor at 9.40 pm last night. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing,” reports The Mirror.
A NEFL statement said: “The NEFL committee have been made aware of the abandonment of Thursday nights division 1 league match between Bay FC and Sporting BJD after 85 minutes,” reports The Mirror.
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