A MAN has been arrested after the referee of a North Yorkshire Saturday league football game was assaulted on the pitch.

The referee was overseeing the Scarborough League trophy final at Pickering Town FC ground between Eastway Sports from Scarborough and Goal Sports from Rudston.

Late in the game, with Goal Sports 2-1 up and with Eastway having had several players sent off, a man ran onto the pitch and 'shoulder charged' the referee.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We were called at about 9pm on Wednesday, March 29 to a report that a man in his 60s had been assaulted during a football match in Pickering.

"Officers attended the scene, and at 11.50pm the same day, a 23-year-old man was arrested at a property in Eastfield on suspicion of wounding with intent."

Police said the man was taken into custody and the referee needed hospital treatment for a shoulder injury.

The teams play in the Scarborough and District Saturday League.