There were disgraceful scenes in an amateur football match in Argentina at the weekend when a female referee was attacked by a male player. Watch the shocking footage below:
The incident occurred in a lower league game between Garmense and Deportivo Independencia in Tres Arroyos, Buenos Aires.
Female referee Dalma Magali Cortadi, 30, was punched by Garmense player Cristian Tirone, 34, moments after she had shown him a red card for verbal abuse.
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After Cortadi had sent Tirone off and also issued a yellow card to one of his teammates, the third division player ran up and cowardly punched the official in the head from behind, causing her to fall to the floor.
Tirone then had to be pushed away by a linesman to prevent him from continuing his assault.
Argentine outlet La Nacion have reported that several police officers came onto the pitch and arrested Tirone immediately after the attack.
The report claims Cortadi had be treated in hospital after the assault, forcing the match to be suspended.
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She has now called for Tirone to be permanently banned from football.
"You have to kick him out forever," Cortadi told Ole.
"He should never be in any club. He is a violent person. He must also be in his daily life. I saw it on the video: a normal person does not do what this man did.
"No person deserves this. We don't go to the pitch to be beaten. I hope he pays for what he did."
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Meanwhile, Tirone's club Garmense have issued a public statement condemning his actions.
"Given the events that occurred this Sunday during the Third Division soccer match that took place in the city of Adolfo Gonzales Chaves between Garmense and Independencia, during which a player from Garmense physically assaulted the woman who officiated as referee, the Club expresses its strong rejection of this action, which is at odds with the spirit that is intended to be instilled with the practice of this sport," read the statement.
"The Institution expresses its solidarity with the referee who was attacked, expresses its apologies, makes itself available to her and commits to continue working to eradicate violence in all its forms and train athletes with values such as: discipline, camaraderie, commitment and, above all, respect and tolerance."
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Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in a lower league match across the border in Brazil.
Rafael Soriano was dismissed from his role as manager Desportivo Ferroviaria after headbutting lineswoman Marcielly Netto during a match against Nova Venecia in the fifth tier of Brazilian football.
Rory O'Callaghan