A FOOTBALL referee was allegedly attacked and pushed to the ground during a match last Saturday.

The incident happened just two weeks after another player allegedly threatened to knife the same official.

Geoff Moody, from Newington, near Sittingbourne, has now quit refereeing at least until the end of the season after Saturday’s attack.

Ten minutes into the second half of the Rochester & District League division four match between Upchurch-based Three Sisters and G&M Roofing of Cliffe, a G&M player started swearing after a tackle.

The player continued swearing even when warned by Mr Moody, said Three Sisters captain Matt Parsons.

“It came out of the blue. The player squared up to him and pushed him hard around the upper chest area,” he said.

Mr Parsons said the shocked referee hit the ground hard with his head and stayed there for a couple of minutes.

He added: “We went to help him and stood between him and the player. When he got up we took him to the dressing rooms and he said the match was abandoned. We agreed with his decision.

Mr Moody declined to comment, saying the matter was in the hands of the police.

A Medway Police spokeswoman said: "We are investigating the allegation that this happened and are taking statements as well as talking to witnesses."

Two weeks ago Mr Moody abandoned a Sheppey Sunday League match between Sheppey side The Phillippa and Woodcombe Sports when he was allegedly threatened with being knifed after awarding a penalty against The Phillippa.