A man has been arrested on suspicion of serious assault after a football referee was attacked during an amateur match in Lancashire.

The man sustained “significant injuries” while officiating a South Lancashire Counties league game between Platt Bridge FC and Wigan Rose on Sunday 2 October, Wigan Police said.

He was assaulted when he gave one of the players a red card, Wigan Today reported.

He is said to have sustained a broken nose, four broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, a broken collarbone, concussion and whiplash.

Police said a 24-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday “on suspicion of the serious assault of a referee”.

The incident was one of two that happened last weekend, the Football Association said.

It is supporting those affected and investigating as a “matter of urgency”.

The FA said in a statement: “We are aware of incidents of assault on a match official and a player during matches played this weekend in Lancashire.

“We have been very clear that all forms of anti-social behaviour, abuse and assaults on match officials and participants are completely unacceptable and we will not tolerate this in the game.

“We are investigating the incidents as a matter of urgency, working with Lancashire FA who are liaising with the police and supporting the match official and player affected.”

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