POLICE and soccer officials are probing a brawl at a junior soccer game in Hartshead which left a linesman unconscious.
The 51-year-old volunteer linesman ended up in hospital with head injuries after the incident at the Hartshead versus Shelley Under 13 game.
Now the matter is under investigation by West Yorkshire Police and the West Riding County FA.
Police were called to the School Lane pitch in Hartshead on Sunday, October 7, at 3.10pm, following allegations of a fight between two players at a match that was watched by 50 spectators. The match was abandoned.
A police spokesman said the linesman had gone to intervene in the fight when a spectator ran across the pitch and allegedly slapped the linesman across the face.
She said: “Another spectator then pushed the linesman causing him to fall over. As he fell he hit his head and lost consciousness.”
By the time the ambulance crews arrived at the ground in Hartshead, the linesman had regained consciousness and was taken to hospital with head injuries.
Hartshead were leading 5-3 in the RCD Huddersfield Junior League under-13s Division IVA when the referee abandoned the match with just five minutes to go.
The injured official was treated by paramedics on the pitch before being taken to Dewsbury District Hospital.
An eyewitness said: “From nowhere a spectator came forward and the linesman was knocked to the ground.
“By this time both sets of club officials had rushed to the scene, along with the referee.”
Another shocked spectator said: “This is not what you expect to see on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of a junior football match.”
Police said a 16-year-old boy and a 40-year-old woman had been arrested and released on police bail pending further inquires.
Julie Fox, secretary of Hartshead JFC, said the incident was being investigated by the West Riding County FA and they were unable to comment further.
