A young female referee was violently attacked during an amateur football match, leaving her injured and forcing police to intervene, with the sickening footage emerging on social media.
The incident happened during a Copa Potrero elimination match between Cooperativa Libertad and La Banda del Moy in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, on Saturday, January 17.
Video footage shows several people entering the pitch and confronting referee Victoria Cruz, 20, before she is pushed to the ground, dragged by the hair and struck as players attempt to intervene and separate those involved. Police attended the scene following the outbreak of violence, which also left player Rodrigo Ortega, 24, injured.
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According to police reports, Victoria suffered minor injuries, while Ortega sustained injuries to his groin and left leg and was taken by ambulance to Hospital Penna for medical assessment.
Authorities said the individuals responsible for the assaults have not yet been identified and the investigation remains ongoing.
Following the incident, La Banda del Moy issued a public statement on social media apologising for what happened and stating they would take measures to prevent a repeat.
The statement said: “We are going to take responsibility for our own actions and take measures so that this does not happen again
“We are a team that has been playing for 10 years, and unfortunately this is the first time something like this has happened.”
The Independent Referees Association of Bahia Blanca also released a statement condemning the violence and confirming its support for the referee. It said it strongly condemns the of the acts of violence” suffered by Cruz.
“We stand with and offer our full support to Victoria, reaffirming that there is no place for violence on or off the field of play.
Gustavo Ruiz Díaz, director of the Independent Referees School of Bahía Blanca, said after the incident the young girl “is very shaken.”
“Victoria suffered many blows to the head. She even fainted and was taken for a CT scan,” he told Todo Noticias, adding “currently has a lot of head pain and a very sensitive scalp.”