Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21557Assault

Gardaí investigate alleged assault on referee at Dundalk soccer match

A referee was kicked in the midriff by a person who sprinted across the pitch and leapt into the air during a North East Football League Division One match at Muirheavnamor Sports Ground in Dundalk, Co Louth, at approximately 9.40 pm on 6 April 2023. The man, a member of the Louth branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society, was hospitalised with a broken rib and the match was abandoned five minutes from the finish. The incident was captured on video and widely shared on social media. Gardaí, the FAI, the NEFL, and Sporting BJD are all investigating, and no arrests have been made.

  1. Reported7 Apr
    3 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A referee was kicked in the midriff by a person who sprinted across the pitch and leapt into the air, and was hospitalised with a broken rib.
Where
The incident took place at Muirheavnamor Sports Ground (also spelled Muirhevanamor) in Dundalk, Co Louth.
When
The incident occurred at approximately 9.40 pm on Thursday 6 April 2023.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are investigating the alleged assault and no arrests have been made.
  • The FAI, the NEFL, and Sporting BJD are also conducting their own investigations into the incident and the abandoned match.
Other details
  • The referee is a man and a member of the Louth branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society.
  • The match was a North East Football League Division One game between Bay FC (Bay Celtic) and Sporting BJD (BJD United) from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan.
  • The incident occurred five minutes from the finish and the match was abandoned.
  • The incident was captured on video showing the referee falling to the ground after being struck.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe referee was hospitalised with a broken rib. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe referee was kicked in the midriff by a person who sprinted across the pitch and leapt into the air. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí are investigating an alleged assault of a referee at a soccer match in Co Louth on Thursday evening. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe referee attended hospital on Friday due to injuries sustained in the incident. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA person was seen running at the referee and kicking him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe incident was captured on video showing the referee falling to the ground after being struck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA referee suffered a broken rib. (extra.ie)
  • whatThe referee was 'Kung Fu kicked'. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Muirheavnamor Sports Ground in Dundalk. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe incident took place at Muirhevanamor, Dundalk. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred at 9.40 pm on 6 April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred at approximately 9.40pm on Thursday night. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe FAI is also investigating the matter. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe NEFL said it would be launching its own investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSporting BJD said an investigation is under way and the club will co-operate with the NEFL. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating the incident. (extra.ie)
  • otherThe referee is a member of the Louth branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe match was between Bay Celtic and BJD United from Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe incident took place five minutes from the finish of the game. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe NEFL committee is conducting an investigation into the abandoned match. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe match was a North East Football League Division One league match between Bay FC and Sporting BJD from Ballyjamesduff. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Apr2023
    Reportedextra.ie, its first report
    Gardai Investigating As Referee Suffers Broken Rib After Being 'Kung Fu Kicked'

    Article body is essentially empty (contains only search-widget template code); all details are limited to the headline.

    victim
  2. 7 Apr2023
    Reportedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Garda and FAI investigate attack on soccer referee at match in Co Louth

    Initial report of the assault; Gardaí and FAI investigations launched; NEFL and Sporting BJD also conducting their own inquiries; no arrests made.

    victim, malesuspect
  3. 7 Apr2023
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardaí probe alleged attack on soccer referee during match in Dundalk

    Initial report of the alleged assault; no arrests made; NEFL investigating the abandoned match.

    victim, malesuspect