NSW Police investigating horrific referee attack captured on film

A Sydney referee has been rushed to hospital and left with sickening injuries after a disgusting attack captured on camera.

A man 25-year-old man has been arrested over a horrific attack on a Sydney referee that was captured on camera.

NSW Police have confirmed they are continuing to investigate the incident, described as an alleged assault of a referee which happened at a Men’s Premier League football match between the Greenacre Eagles and Padstow Hornets on Friday night.

The Daily Telegraph first reported the match official suffered a broken jaw and had four teeth knocked out as a result of the attack. He is being treated after being taken to Liverpool Hospital in south west Sydney.

The newspaper reports the alleged attacker was a suspended player who attended the match as a spectator.

But on Sunday afternoon, NSW Police confirmed a 25-year-old man had been arrested at 2:40pm and the man was “assisting police with their inquiries”.

The disgusting attack was captured on film. Picture: Supplied.

The man filmed punching the referee was eventually pulled away. Picture: Supplied

Vision of the attack has horrified football fans and has quickly spread across social media. One version of the video has more than 76,000 views on Twitter.

The video, which lasts for more than two minutes, shows a referee being punched to the ground before he is punched several more times while lying helpless on the turf.

The man seen punching the referee in the video was eventually pulled away from the injured whistleblower.

Blood could be see spattered on the referee’s shirt. Picture: Supplied

The referee was visibly distressed. Picture: Supplied

The video shows the referee saying: “I broke my jaw, I broke my jaw”.

NSW Police said in a statement: “A man has been arrested over the alleged assault of a soccer referee in Sydney’s south west.

“Just before 10.30pm on Friday (28 April 2023), a spectator allegedly confronted a referee at the conclusion of a soccer match at Padstow Park.

“It’s alleged the man assaulted the referee by punching him multiple times in the face and kicking him to the head.

“Other spectators intervened and assisted the referee while the man fled the scene.

“Police were alerted and officers from Bankstown Police Area Command commenced an investigation.

“The referee, a 45-year-old man, was taken to Liverpool Hospital suffering an injury to his jaw.

“Following inquiries, a 25-year-old man was arrested at Bankstown Police Station about 2.40pm today (Sunday 30 April 2023).

“The man is assisting police with their inquiries.”

Earlier, the police urged any witnesses who had not yet spoken to police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

News.com.au has contacted NSW Ambulance for further information. Football Australia is yet to comment publicly on the incident.

Originally published as NSW Police investigating horrific referee attack captured on film