Video has emerged appearing to show a Miami police officer punching a woman in the face at an American college football match.

The woman, named by police as 30-year-old is seen being carried out of the stadium by four officers. As she is hauled out, she attempts to slap one male policeman across the top of the head.

He responds by punching her powerfully in the face.

The woman, who is being carried on the shoulders of the four police officers, appears to be physically stunned by the punch, falling back on to the other officers carrying her.

The footage appears to have been taken during a match between the Miami Hurricanes and Virginia Tech Hokies at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday night.

Shared by tens of thousands on social media, the video prompted widespread anger and calls for the police officer, who was named only as Detective Ross, to be sacked.

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One wrote: “Excessive force. Girl’s drunk and flailing harmlessly. No need to hit her like that.”

Another said: “He needs to be fired. Trained professionals need to be held to a higher standard.”

Others, however, suggested the woman was wrong to have attempted to hit the officer, and suggested his response was “natural”.

Alvaro Zabaleta, a Miami-Dade Police Detective, told The Independent: "Promoting a safe and secure environment during any special event is our primary concern. After responding to a disturbance, the person in the video was being removed from the event by our officers for being disorderly. She was subsequently arrested for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Disorderly Conduct/Breach of the peace.

"Supervisory personnel are aware of the video and are reviewing the incident to ensure compliance with our policies and procedures.”