Police are investigating after official Daniel Sweeney was rushed to hospital with a broken jaw, a fractured eye socket and multiple stitches in his nose.
A selfie from the hospital showed Sweeney, a married father of two in his mid-40s, with tape over his nose, severe swelling to his eye and dried blood around his nose and mouth.
It is alleged that three Mullingar Town players attacked Sweeney during their match in the Combined Counties Football League at Horseleap in Offaly, Ireland, yesterday morning.
A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: "On Sunday 11/11/2018 shortly before 1pm Gardaí from Tullamore were called to the scene of a public order incident at a football club in Horseleap, Co. Offaly.
"It’s understood a match referee (male, 50s) was physically injured when a disturbance broke out during a football match. The injured man was taken to Tullamore hospital by ambulance for treatment.
"His injures are not thought to be life threatening.
"No arrests have been made to date and enquiries are ongoing."
Paul Malone, secretary of the referees' Midlands Branch which oversees the area in which the alleged attack took place, said: "The pictures don't do justice to his face.
"He is not allowed to eat or talk. He can drink through a straw for the time being.
"In my refereeing, I have never seen this kind of assault. It's an absolute disgrace and all over a game of football."
Social media users were shocked at how Sweeney's face looked.
One wrote: "This is a sick and vicious act."
Another posted: "No ref of any sport at any level deserves that."
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