Gardai are investigating an alleged attack on a soccer referee which has left him hospitalised with a broken rib.
The referee, who is a member of the Louth branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society was hospitalised after the incident in a North Eastern Counties Football League game in Dundalk last night.
The incident that took place five minutes from the finish of the game at the Muirheavnamor Sports Ground in Dundalk between Bay Celtic and visitors BJD United from Ballyjamesduff in county Cavan.
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A player from the Bay team could be seen lying on the ground, and the referee appears to signal for the physio to come on to attend to him.
In the moments that followed, the referee appeared to be targeted by a person who sprinted across the pitch, leapt into the air and with both feet off the ground, kicked the ref in the midriff.
One onlooker said: "It is fair to say the few spectators there were stunned by what had happened."
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."
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.
"The scoreline was 1-0 in favour of Bay at the time. Following receipt of reports on the match the NEFL committee shall conduct an investigation."
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