Referee and young footballers assaulted on pitch

The incident happened at Roade Football Club on Sunday

A referee and two players were assaulted during an under-13s football tournament, police said.

Northamptonshire Police are investigating the incident at Roade Football Club, near Northampton, on Sunday afternoon.

Several players from two under-13 teams became involved in what police described as a "verbal altercation" at the end of the tournament.

When the referee tried to intervene, a man came on to the pitch, dragged the official from behind and assaulted him.

It is also alleged that another man assaulted two of the young players.

Roade FC was hosting a tournament for visiting teams at the time and one of its officials said on social media that the incident did not involve its players, parents or officials.

The police have urged any witnesses of the assaults to get in touch.