A referee from the Algarve Football Association (AFA) was kicked by a player during a match in Portimão between the youth teams (‘juniores’) of Mexilhoeira Grande FC and Ginásio Clube de Tavira last Sunday (January 28).
The referees of the match were trying to “resolve a conflict” when one of them ended up being “kicked in the abdominal area by a player from the visiting team”, the group of football referees (NAFAM) said in a statement, adding that the victim had to receive medical care at the hospital.
In a statement, the referees demand “an immediate investigation by the competent authorities and sports entities” to ensure “necessary measures are taken against the assailant and to prevent future incidents of this nature”.
