Sickening footage has emerged of the moment a referee is attacked and his jaw broken at a soccer match in Padstow.
The match on Saturday night in the Bankstown Premier League was thrown into chaos after a suspended player allegedly assaulted the match official, tackling him to the ground and knocking out some of his teeth.
Footage of the event was later sent to radio station 2GB, who passed it on to New South Wales Police.
Authorities then issued a statement announcing an investigation, adding they believed the referee was allegedly assaulted following a “verbal altercation” with a spectator.
The attack occurred during what appears to be a break in play in the match between the Greenacre Eagles and Padstow Hornets.
Players and supporters from both teams can be seen in the footage rushing to pull the spectator away from the referee who can be heard repeatedly calling out “he broke my jaw.”
Despite the intervention, the man makes several attempts to resume his attack, running back and forth as he tried to get past bystanders defending the official.
At one point the he even picks up a chair and gestures as if he will throw it, before one of the players steps in to prevent him.
The match official is seen to by players and supporters who offer him water and try to have him sit down as blood is seen streaming from his mouth and onto his shirt.
The referee was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he received treatment for a broken jaw. It is understood he also lost four teeth during the alleged assault.
NSW Police from Bankstown Area Command are leading the investigation into the attack and have issued a plea to the public for more information.
“Any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” they said in a statement.
News Source: www.skynews.com.au
