Football referee assaulted during match in Tuusula

A football referee was violently assaulted during a men’s fourth-division match in Tuusula on Monday, forcing the game to be abandoned, according to the Football Association of Finland (Palloliitto).

The referee, Salim Ghandagha, was punched in the face and kicked in the head after showing a red card to a player from visiting team FC Eagles. The incident began when Ghandagha issued a second yellow card to the player, who had already been booked once. The team captain protested, using abusive language, and received a second yellow card himself.

Enraged, the player sprinted toward the referee, struck him in the face, and kicked him in the head as he lay on the ground. Ghandagha briefly lost consciousness but later managed to end the match. He was taken to hospital but sustained no serious injuries.

The Football Association of Finland immediately imposed a temporary ban on the player, a rare measure reserved for severe cases. The association’s head of competition, Pekka Soini, called the incident highly unusual and deeply regrettable. A criminal report has been filed, and a full disciplinary process will follow once all parties have been heard.