Roscommon GAA investigating alleged assault of referee

Roscommon GAA has confirmed an investigation is under way into an incident involving a referee during a minor championship match yesterday evening.

The referee, who was officiating at the underage game in Ballyforan, required medical attention after he was allegedly assaulted during the second half of the game.

An ambulance was called and the match was subsequently abandoned.

In a statement this morning, Roscommon GAA said it was aware of the incident at an underage match yesterday evening and would like to wish the referee involved a speedy recovery.

Roscommon GAA said it strongly condemns "any behaviour that puts any of our match officials at risk".

It said the county's competitions control committee would begin a full investigation into the incident.

Gardaí said they are aware of a video circulating on social media of an alleged incident at a sports ground in Co Roscommon and are conducting inquiries into the matter.

The incident has been condemned by Minister of State for Sport Jack Chambers, who called for a swift investigation.

He said anyone who is found responsible for deliberately harming a match official needs to be held to account.

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Mr Chambers wished the referee a speedy recovery and said a "very strong message must go out that abuse of match officials is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by anyone in our game".

The club whose venue the game was played at issued a statement to offer their full co-operation with the Roscommon CCC investigation.

The statement