STARTLED players were forced to break up a footballing fracas after their teammate was allegedly punched in the face - by the referee!

The Lancashire Football Association are to hold an inquiry after reports that match official Russell Daley lashed out during a Pendle Sunday Charity League clash between Clayton Arms FC and Paak FC at Hole House, Colne.

Clayton centre half Darren Yates, 28, thought he was going to be shown the yellow card for dissent over a disputed goal.

Instead the referee is alleged to have marched over and thumped him, leaving him with a fat lip and a cut on the side of his face.

The other players dived in and pulled the men apart and the game was abandoned.

Now league chiefs are to send a full report on the incident to the LFA, which will consider what action to take.

The amazing bust-up happened after Clayton, who were only fielding ten men, went 7-0 down in the first round of the Rotary Cup. Darren said: "The seventh goal had gone in and it was offside.

"I said 'come on ref, that was offside' and he turned round and told me to shut it. He said he had been playing when I was in nappies and I said something back.

"He took his book out of his pocket and I thought I was going to get a card. He hit me twice but the other players restrained him."

"I've never seen anything like it before. People give referees hassle all the time and they either get booked or sent off, not thumped.

"The referee wanted to continue the game but we'd had enough and we walked off."

Mr Waddington and Mr Daley gave reports on the game, which was held at Holt House, Colne, to the Charity League during its normal monthly meeting last night.

Darren, 28, has played for the Nelson pub club since it was formed three seasons ago. Before than he played for Dawes FC in Nelson. The incident has not put him off the game. "I just enjoy the game," he said. "This won't stop me playing again."

He has made a complaint to the police but said he would not make a decision on whether to press charges until he saw what action the Lancashire FA took.

The club wants Mr Daley banned from the game, both as a referee and a player.

Clayton's club secretary and full-back Chris Waddington said: "Daley was a good player in his time but I don't want him playing football any more."

Mr Daley was not available to comment.

A woman at his Nelson home said he did not want to talk about the incident.

League secretary Ron Eyre said: "It is highly upsetting. It has never happened before.

"All the details have been passed on to the Lancashire Football Association following a league meeting last night. It is out of our hands now and I cannot comment any further."

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