SINGAPORE: The police are looking into a case of voluntarily causing hurt after a referee was allegedly assaulted during a National Football League (NFL) Division One game on Sunday (Oct 21) at Yishun stadium.

The referee, 37, suffered a minor injury to the neck.



He was taken conscious to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, said the police, adding that they were alerted to the case at 6.42pm on Sunday.

According to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), the "alleged assault incident" involved the referee and a Gymkhana FC player during a match with Katong FC.

"The police were notified, and arrived at the venue shortly to take statements from relevant parties and witnesses, including club officials and match officials," FAS general secretary Yazeen Buhari said in response to queries.



A Channel NewsAsia reader who was at the stadium said he saw a player "manhandle the referee during the game and there was a commotion soon after".



"The referee was injured and could not continue to officiate the game. He was then replaced by another referee. Police and ambulance were called in to attend to the matter," he added.



The FAS-affiliated NFL is Singapore’s second-tier football league after the professional Singapore Premier League (SPL).



Last year, an NFL Division One match between the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association and Yishun Sentek Mariners ended in a mass brawl, with social media footage showing players throwing punches at each other.

FAS said it has started a disciplinary process in response to Sunday's incident and offered support to the referee.

Mr Yazeen said FAS will take "strong action against the perpetrators and protect our match officials from any form of abuse, let alone assault".

"The FAS takes a very serious view on any behaviour that taints the sport and brings it into disrepute," he added. "As the matter is under investigation, we are unable to make any further comments."