A Surrey man who allegedly punched a woman in the face at a youth soccer game last month has been charged with assault.

The charge against Jan Nizaar Ali comes after a dispute among parents broke out on the sidelines of the soccer game at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver March 16 at around 6 p.m.

According to West Vancouver Police, the spat erupted after a parent picked up a game ball that had rolled out of bounds.

A player on the opposing team alleged the parent was holding on to the ball to run down the game clock, police said.

The fight escalated and a 45-year-old woman from North Vancouver was punched in the jaw.

West Vancouver Police were called to the area, where they found a group of parents blocking a vehicle from leaving the parking lot at the sports fields.

The group was apparently trying to prevent Ali, who allegedly hit the woman, from driving away.

Ali was arrested and released on a promise to appear in North Vancouver provincial court.

His next court appearance is scheduled for May 22.

This story has been updated to include the name of the person charged.