Police investigate alleged assault on referee during non-league football match
Monday 25 November 2019 07:44, UK
Police are investigating after a referee was knocked unconscious at a non-league football match in Surbiton, which led to it being abandoned.
Sky Sports News understands the alleged incident took place during a game between Sporting 50 and AFC Sutton Common Rovers on Saturday.
The match official was treated by paramedics at the venue and his injuries are non-life-threatening.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told Sky Sports News: "Police are investigating reports that a man in his 40s was assaulted while refereeing a football match at a sports ground in Surbiton.
"Officers were called to the venue in Kingston Road, Tolworth, at 15:16hrs on Saturday, 23 November.
"London Ambulance Service treated the man at the scene. His injuries are non-life-threatening.
"The suspects had left the ground by the time of the officers' arrival. There are no arrests at this time and enquiries continue."
AFC Sutton Common Rovers condemned the incident, describing it as "highly regrettable, wholly unacceptable and completely unforeseeable".
They added: "Both clubs' priorities were to swiftly ensure the welfare of the official until he was deemed fit enough to make his own way home."
Sporting 50 said the incident came as the result of "an unprovoked attack from one of the opposition", which they called "distressing".
