A footballer is facing a lengthy ban after punching and kicking a referee in retaliation for being sent off.
Footage shows Enrique Rivas striking the official in the back of the head as he doubled over and fell to the turf.
As referee Sebastián Gómez dropped to his knees, Rivas kicked him in the side before a teammate grabbed hold of him.
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The raging player broke free and charged back towards the chaos, shoving another teammate, who tripped over the referee and landed on the ground.
Rivas was eventually restrained again and escorted away from the melee.
The ugly scenes unfolded at the Yoly Cáceres football ground in El Calafate, Argentina, on Sunday (15 Jun).
Argentinos del Sur were leading 1-0 at the time thanks to a sixth-minute strike from José “Coco” Tapia.
But the match descended into chaos when Gómez showed a straight red card to Academia Cañadón player Rivas for attacking an opponent.
Enraged by the decision, Rivas turned on the referee, forcing the immediate suspension of the Primera División Apertura semi-final.
Gómez was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital for further medical attention, as reported by Need To Know.
Police have launched an investigation, while the Southern League’s Disciplinary Tribunal will decide Rivas’ punishment and determine how the suspended semi-final will be concluded.
The incident comes less than two months after another Argentine footballer attacked a referee during a match in Funes.
On 18 April, shocking footage showed Gastón Acosta calmly approaching referee Jesús Campreher before suddenly unleashing a vicious right hook, followed by a second punch.
Campreher instantly crumpled to the ground and lay motionless as stunned players looked on.
The attacker then casually walked away while opposition players rushed to assist the injured official.
The assault took place during stoppage time of a Primera B clash between Defensores de Funes and 7 de Septiembre, with the home side leading 1-0.
Campreher suffered a fractured nasal septum and was briefly knocked unconscious by the punch.
The 28-year-old later said the violence erupted after he ruled that a challenge inside the penalty area was fair.
The match was abandoned, police were called to the ground, and Acosta was arrested at the scene.
