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A footballer was arrested and charged with assault just minutes after walking onto the pitch for a crucial match.

Lloyd Nessbert was playing for STM Sports in the Welsh Amateur League play off final at the Cardiff City Stadium when he came off the pitch to change his boots.

The right back, whose team was playing South Wales Senior League Pontlottyn FC for the rare chance of promotion to the Welsh League, was then met by two officers waiting to take him away.

A spokesman for South Wales Police confirmed that officers were executing a warrant issued for Nessbert’s arrest after he had allegedly failed to attend a court hearing.

According to Wales Online, one fan, who did not want to be named, watched as he was arrested.

“Two minutes into the game, or thereabouts, the right back from STM came over the touchline to change his boots because the pitch was quite slippery, and he probably had the wrong studs on,” he said.

“I didn’t know what it was all about but two officers were in the players’ tunnel. He threw his boots off to look for another pair. They called him over and arrested him."

He added: "It was quite amazing.

(Image: TMC)

“I don’t think the players on the pitch really knew what happened until half time.”

Despite losing their right back so early in the game, STM managed to beat Pontlottyn FC.

“They won 4-1 in the end but this was the first half and they were more concerned with getting on with the game,” the source said.

“It was a humdinger of a cup final where winner took all.

“It was played at Cardiff City Stadium because it was the final of the South Wales FA play-off.

“The champions played each other to decide who went into the Welsh League.”

The prize was promotion to Welsh League Division Three and, after the match, STM club official Nigel Bircham said: “It’s a dream come true.

“The Cardiff City pitch clearly suited us as we play on a 3G surface and surface was superb, almost perfect, even though Wales had played on it the night before.”

However Mr Bircham was furious at the way the arrest was handled by the police.

“I felt they handled it utterly disgracefully," he said.

“I was very cross because it could have ruined my game.

“Clearly it is common knowledge that they arrived in the tunnel and they wanted him pulled off the pitch.”

He said the police did not arrive until after the game started.

“We were in the changing rooms and there was not a sign of them,” Mr Bircham said.

“It was only after the game kicked off that they turned up.

“They could have ruined people’s weekend, which was unnecessary.”

He spoke to the officers before Nessbert was arrested.

“They were not going to listen to what I had to say,” Mr Bircham said.

“They were there to do a job. They could have dealt with it before so the person was not named as a player or left it and done it after.

“What’s the point in waiting for kick off? I said that to them.”

The night before Wales beat Belgium 1-0 at the Bluebirds 28,000 seat venue.

A police spokesman said: “South Wales Police can confirm that Lloyd Nessbert, 27, has been arrested and charged with assault and failing to answer to court.

“He has been released on police bail."

Lloyd Nessbert did not respond to requests for comment.