A NORTH Yorkshire footballer is facing a potential ten-year ban from the game for allegedly assaulting a referee after being sent off for disputing a goal in a cup tie.

Police were called to the open-age Scarborough & District FA Junior Cup clash between Ryedale outfit Heslerton and Seamer Sports reserves in the Scarborough & District League following a report that Seamer player Liam Lowery had knocked referee Kevin Crick to the ground.

The match was abandoned and North Riding County Football Association, the game’s regional governing body, have now issued an FA disciplinary charge which, if proven, could lead to a suspension from all football of between five and ten years. The player, who is suspended pending the outcome of the charge, has 14 days to respond.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “Officers were called at 3.20pm on Saturday, following the report of an assault on a 53-year-old man at a football match at Sands Lane, West Heslerton.

“As a result of the incident, the victim was knocked to the ground and suffered a mouth injury, which required dental treatment, and a graze to an arm.”

North Riding CFA chief executive Tom Radigan would not confirm details of the charge without notification it had been received.

He said: “We’ve received a report of an incident involving a Seamer Sports player and a match official.

“A charge is to be issued against the player and he will have 14 days to respond.”

The match was abandoned in the 73rd minute with Heslerton leading 4-2, having just scored.

A match report on Heslerton Football Club’s Facebook page said of the fourth goal: “What happened next shocked us all. Seamer’s players claimed offside but the ref was having none of it it (which) led to one of their players being sent off for abusive language.”

The match report then alleges that the player struck the ref leaving him on the floor.

“Credit to the referee he was willing to continue the game but shortly after decided it was best to abandon the game,” the match report concludes.

Gary Dixon, Seamer Sports club secretary and second-team manager, was unable to say whether Lowery would dispute the FA charge.

“Liam has apologised to me and asked to pass on his apologies to the team for being sent off and the actions that resulted in the game being abandoned. As a club we cannot condone that and I will speak to him about his future involvement.”

Mr Lowery did not respond to attempts by The Press to contact him.