A football referee ended up in hospital after he was stabbed in the back during a post-match brawl.
Footage filmed from a balcony overlooking the hard outdoor court shows how the tussle escalated.
An object is seen being hurled at someone as the shouting intensifies.
Spectators and players from both sides get stuck in as they shove and punch their way around the pitch.
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As one man in particular bears the brunt of the violence, the person filming exclaims: “They’re beating the hell out of him.”
The skirmish took place immediately after an amateur match in San Sebastián, Spain, around 8pm on Sunday (9 Jun).
According to the authorities, an individual stabbed the referee from behind with a bladed weapon in the midst of the scuffle.
It’s unclear if the stabbing was caught on camera, as it’s impossible to see the moment amid the confusion.
The injured official was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital, as reported on Need To Know.
A gruesome snap shows how he was left with blood pouring from two gaping puncture wounds in his back.
Local police quickly identified the young perpetrator.
According to reports, he wasn’t arrested, but he’s now under investigation for knife crime.
Local media haven’t named him or the victim.
![A football referee was hospitalized after being stabbed in the back during a post-match brawl in San Sebastián, Spain. The attacker is under investigation for knife crime.](https://needtoknow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Football-ref-is-stabbed-in-back-during-post-match-brawl.jpg)
According to reports, the referee and most of the players, who are non-federated, are South American.
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