Police called to investigate violent, unprovoked attack on local footballer

Victoria Police is believed to be investigating a brutal coward punch which has left a local footballer with facial injuries after being struck by a spectator in Melbourne’s outer east. Watch the shocking footage.

Police have been called in after a suburban footballer was coward-punched from behind on Saturday.

Footage has emerged of a man jumping the fence and striking a Hampton Park player as he watched play from the interchange area while waiting to return to the field.

The incident happened in the reserve-grade game between Hampton Park and Doveton at Robert Booth Reserve.

It’s understood the player who was struck suffered a facial injury.

It’s also believed the person who punched the victim and the person who filmed the video are not part of Hampton Park.

“Officers responded to reports a 28-year-old man was assaulted at a sporting venue on Somerville Road about 2pm,” A Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“Police arrived on scene; however, both the victim and the offender had already fled the area.

“Officers and paramedics later attended a premises in Hampton Park where the victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“No arrests have been made and investigations remain ongoing.

“It is believed parties are known to each other.”

Southern Football Netball League CEO Lee Hartman said Hampton Park had alerted the league to the incident and said it had been referred to the police.

“I believe it involves two people from the same side … it’s become a police matter so we are letting them deal with it at this stage,’’ Hartman said.

Hampton Park declined to comment when contacted today.

Victoria Police encouraged anyone with further information to contact Crime Stoppers.