A footballer was arrested in Argentina after allegedly punching a referee in the face and knocking him to the ground during a regional league match.
The incident happened in the 35th minute of a game in Capitan Bermudez, when the score was 1-1. Referee Hugo Walter Masuelli had just sent off Barrio Quinta player Jorge Godoy for a foul near the edge of his own penalty area.
Footage recorded from the stands shows Godoy running towards Masuelli before striking him once in the right cheekbone. The referee fell on to the grass as the force of the punch prompted shocked reactions from spectators.
Police officers providing security at the match immediately entered the pitch and detained Godoy before he could leave the ground.
According to The Sun, the 35-year-old player was taken to the local police station and placed at the disposal of the duty prosecutor. His team-mates reportedly tried to prevent officers from taking him away, but he was eventually escorted from the stadium.
Masuelli, who is 53, received medical attention at the scene before being taken to a local health centre for further examinations. The match was suspended after the assault.
The match took place in Argentina’s regional football system, with Barrio Quinta the visiting side and Santa Catalina the home team.
Barrio Quinta condemned the incident in a statement.
“Our club considers any type of assault, threat, insult or violent behaviour, whether inside or outside the pitch, to be completely unacceptable,” the club said.
“These actions do not represent the values we promote or the sportsmanship that should prevail in every match. We also express our solidarity and support for the referee concerned, as well as for everyone affected by the incident.”
Santa Catalina said it would not file a report of its own. Instead, the club said it would wait for a decision from the Sanlorenzina Regional Football League and its disciplinary board.
The confrontation has attracted widespread attention on social media, with video of the punch showing the moment police intervened and removed the player from the field.
At the time of writing, Godoy remained in custody at the police station while the authorities considered the incident.
